Following BTS member SUGA’s recent DUI incident, past instances of the artist drinking during concerts have resurfaced, sparking scrutiny.
On August 9, news broke that SUGA had been caught operating an electric scooter with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.227%, more than seven times the legal limit in South Korea. The incident, which has drawn widespread criticism, has led to a deeper investigation into SUGA’s relationship with alcohol, both on and off the stage.
During various concerts, SUGA has been seen enjoying a drink on stage, a gesture that was often met with cheers from fans. These instances were usually framed as a way for SUGA to unwind and connect with the audience more personally. However, in the aftermath of his DUI, some are questioning whether these on-stage drinking moments should have been taken more seriously.
Korean netizens gathered in a popular online community to revisit SUGA’s past drinking on stage and criticize his actions.
They commented:
“He’s an alcoholic.”
“Is he seriously drinking?”
“Was it a 19+ concert?”
“I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
“What’s with the showing off… It’s so embarrassing. Fans must have cringed too hard even to watch this.”
“This is the result of ‘Yoongi, do whatever you want.’”
“Isn’t his YouTube show also about inviting guests to drink alcohol and talk?”
“A 19+ concert? Is he really drinking?”
“Is he an alcoholic or just stuck in a rebellious phase? Ugh, so cringeworthy.”
“I cringed when he started talking about whiskey… and now, here we are.”
“This is just too much. I once saw a musician do something like this at a rock festival and instantly lost interest. Now I see idols doing it too… what’s the point?”
“I thought it was just a performance where he pretended to drink from a whiskey bottle, but he seems like a real alcoholic. LOL.”
“I get what the obsession with drinking is about.”
“He’s achieved too much at such a young age; it makes sense he might lose his way. There’s probably no one around him who can criticize him. How could he have a clear judgment? He needs to get his head straight.”
“Fans kept enabling him, and now look at this. Someone should have knocked some sense into him. What is he even doing?”
“Was it a 19+ concert?…”
“It wasn’t just a performance; he was drinking constantly throughout the concert.”
“Wait, it wasn’t beer but whiskey????”
“Did I dig too lightly into BTS? I had no idea this was happening. I’m seriously shocked.”
“If he didn’t drink in his personal life and only did it for performance, it would be cool… but LOL.”
“When this came out, fans were commenting about how cool it was and asking him to do it in Korea too. LOL.”
“He’s addicted. Get treatment, but leave the group first.”
“But honestly, isn’t it dangerous to be drinking during a concert?”