SEOUL — Suga, a member of the global K-pop phenomenon BTS, has been implicated in a drunk driving incident involving an electric scooter in Seoul, with a blood alcohol concentration significantly above the legal limit, local police reported on Friday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the incident occurred late Tuesday night in the Yongsan district, where Suga was found on the ground after falling from his scooter. A subsequent breathalyzer test revealed a blood alcohol level of 0.227 percent, nearly three times higher than the 0.08 percent threshold that typically results in a driver's license revocation in South Korea.
The Road Traffic Act in South Korea imposes severe penalties for such violations, with Suga potentially facing a prison sentence of two to five years or a fine ranging from 10 million won (approximately $3,659) to 20 million won due to his high blood alcohol level. Despite claiming to have consumed only about a cup of beer, the legal ramifications for his actions remain significant.
In response to the incident, Suga issued an apology on Weverse, a K-pop fan community platform, expressing remorse for disappointing his fans and committing to take full responsibility for his actions. Suga, 31, has been serving as a social service agent since March, an alternative to traditional military service, with his scheduled discharge set for June of the following year.