On August 6, 2024, BTS member SUGA, whose real name is Min Yoongi, was reported to be riding an electric scooter under the influence. Despite the apologies his agency, Big Hit Music, and Suga himself have released, this DUI has become an international media sensation that Korean news media has been covering extensively and even excessively. Here’s a breakdown of what’s been happening so you can decide for yourself whether these actions fit his crime.
BigHit Music Releases Apology
On August 6, BTS’s agency, BigHit Music, released a statement on Suga’s DUI. They reported that Suga used an electric scooter to travel home while intoxicated and was caught by police after he fell after moving about 500 meters. A police officer conducted a breathalyzer test, which resulted in Suga receiving a fine and his license being canceled. The statement also noted that no one was hurt and no property damage occurred. Nevertheless, the agency apologized for Yoongi’s inappropriate behavior and announced that he would receive appropriate disciplinary action from his workplace for causing a public disturbance.
Suga’s Apology on Weverse
In an apology he gave on the fan platform Weverse, Suga paused and reflected on his actions. He explained that he violated the Road Traffic Act due to getting complacent. Without making any excuses, he claimed the incident was entirely his responsibility and apologized to everyone hurt by his careless actions. He also promised to be more careful in the future to prevent such things from happening again.
Inaccurate News Reporting and Subsequent Outrage
On August 7, the media channel JTBC’s News Room released CCTV footage of an unidentified man riding down the main road on an e-scooter and falling. The network claimed the man was Suga. The man in the video was shown speeding, which differed from the statement Big Hit Music had released earlier. The difference between the statement’s account and the CCTV footage of the incident led to a public outrage towards Suga and a smear campaign calling for his resignation from BTS. Big Hit Music was likewise accused of minimizing Suga’s actions.
Police Investigation Proves Otherwise
Following JTBC’s news reports, both the media and netizens began to harass Suga over his actions. Police investigation revealed that Suga was riding his scooter on a pedestrian footpath and wasn’t speeding, contradicting JTBC’s claims. The network later faced backlash from fans and netizens for misrepresenting Suga’s case. While the network did apologize on-air, many people disregarded it because it wasn’t a formal apology and the damage had already been done.
The Facts Of The Case
The real CCTV footage of Suga’s accident was released much later. As reported by TV Chosun, Dong-A Ilbo, and OSEN, the video showed Suga riding the electric shooter with a small seat and his helmet on. He was moving slowly along the sidewalk towards his home at Nine One Hannam. After passing by a group of men and taking a left turn into the driveway of his building, he and the scooter became unbalanced, causing him to fall over. When he fell over, his helmet was unlatched.
He paused before standing up and retrieving his helmet. He put it back on and lifted the scooter as the three men, revealed to be the police, appeared and conversed with him. The real CCTV footage confirmed the original official statements released by Big Hit Music and Suga, including the 500-meter distance he traveled while inebriated.
ARMY Fights Back
In 2018, the BTS fandom, also known as ARMY, initiated The Purple Ribbon Project, which was designed to safeguard BTS members when they arrive at crowded airports. In the wake of the controversy surrounding Suga’s DUI, the fans have revived the project to fight back against the inaccuracies of JTBC’s report, the heavy media coverage of the DUI, and the subsequent smear campaign against Suga that followed.
Suga Arrives at Police Station for Questioning
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Suga arrived at the police station on Friday, August 23, at 7:45 p.m., 17 days after his DUI. There, he apologized once again; however, the police and he refused to answer any reporters’ questions. The police revealed that Suga received threats that if he didn’t make an appearance, the media would make his life miserable, and chastised the media for making those threats.
Suga entered the police station for investigation, stayed three hours, and left. The Yongsan Police Station denied the media coverage of Suga’s DUI case and refused to have a photo line for the reporters. Police bluntly told them that Suga would be treated the same way as any regular suspect in a DUI case. Many find the press’s actions unjust and hope they’ll back down from this obsessive coverage.
Final Thoughts
After the misleading reports and smear campaigns, ARMY and other South Korean citizens hoped people would wait for the investigation to conclude before making statements and resorting to harsh actions. There is no denying that BTS has brought glory to the country, globalizing K-Pop. Regardless of that, however, Suga’s treatment doesn’t seem to align with his crime; hence, the wait for the frenzy to die down continues.
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