Photo Credit: Suga for Marie Claire Korea / CC by 3.0
BTS’ Suga is facing possible prison time over his drunk driving scooter incident in Seoul last week.
Suga, best known as a member of the K-pop supergroup BTS, is facing potential prison time or a hefty fine for falling off an e-scooter while under the influence of alcohol last week in Seoul.
The breathalyzer test conducted the day of the incident revealed his blood-alcohol level was significantly higher than the legal limit when he was found lying on the ground in Seoul’s Yongsan district on August 6 after an apparent accident.
BTS is currently on a break from music while its members perform their compulsory national military service. The group’s label, Big Hit Music, initially claimed Suga had been riding an electric kickboard — which can reach maximum speeds of around 15mph — at the time of his accident. But it emerged later that he had been riding an e-scooter, with a maximum speed of closer to 20mph.
In an apology posted to the former Twitter, Suga claimed he had been fined and his driver’s license revoked. Under South Korean law, drivers with a blood-alcohol level of 0.2% or higher can receive a fine of around $7,500 or a prison sentence of two to five years.
The penalties for driving an e-scooter under the influence are the same as similar offenses while driving a car. Suga’s blood-alcohol level was revealed to be around 0.227%.
Suga reportedly told police he had consumed only a single glass of beer before the accident, but his blood-alcohol level has been described as “impossibly high” for just a single glass of beer.
BTS is expected to reunite next year after all seven members have completed their military service. Suga is not expected to be made to leave the group over the incident, but Korean culture critics say the band will “struggle to rebuild public trust.” Suga’s case is still under investigation by Korean police.
