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The K-pop industry has witnessed several idols getting roped in DUI cases. BTS' Min Yoongi aka Suga was entangled in a DUI case for drunk driving a foldable electric scooter on August 7, 2024. His license was revoked for a while and he was also penalized for breaking the Road Traffic Act. It is important to note that the electric scooter's maximum speed limit was 30 km/hr.
Dong-a Ilbo released the CCTV footage that showed that the rapper was driving it much slower than the limit. For the unversed, Suga's electric scooter/kickboard model did not have any engine and was a remote-controlled mobility device. The rapper was seen riding it on the sidewalk for 500m before entering his complex, where he tripped while making a turn.
Meanwhile, netizens compiled a list of K-pop idols from WINNER's Taehyung to 2PM's Jun. K, who were penalized before for drunk driving. Most cases were from before 2019 when the Yoon Chang-ho Law was carried out that allowed the BAC level for a driver to be between 0.05% and 0.10%.
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Later, the law was revised to enforce strong punishment on DUI cases, the legal BAC level was lowered to 0.03% from the previous one.
16 K-pop idols who were penalized for drunk driving their cars
Here's a list of all the K-pop idols who were fined for their DUI cases from 2000 to the present:
1. Kangta (H.O.T.) in 2000
South Korean singer and composer An Chil-hyun aka Kangta was charged for drunk driving in 2000. His blood alcohol level (BAC) test score was 0.102%. As a result, his license was revoked. However, there was no further reported penalty/fine.
2. Eun Ji-won (Sechskies) in 2001 and 2004 (Post-Disbandment)
In 2001, Eun Ji-won from the band Sechskies got into a DUI case. However, there was no report made against him. In 2004, he got into another drunk driving incident and his blood alcohol level record was 0.072%. His license was suspended for 100 days.
3. Junjin (Shinhwa) in 2005
Junjin's blood alcohol level (BAC) record was 0.065%. He got a 100-day license suspension since the older Yoon Chang-ho Law was carried out. Not much was reported about the case back then.
4. Kim Jae-joong (TVXQ) in 2006
Kim Jae-joong was booked for drunk driving in 2006. His blood alcohol level record was 0.071%. Received a 100-day license suspension. This incident occurred before the South Korean government revised the Yoon Chang-ho Law.
5. Shin Hye-sung (SHINHWA) in 2007 and 2022
In 2007, his blood alcohol level was at 0.097%. He got his license suspended for 100 days. In 2022, Shin Hye-sung refused the breathalyzer test and was arrested for sleeping in his car in the middle of the road. He refused to take a breathalyzer test. He was sentenced to 6 months in prison and 1 year of probation.
6. Kangin (Super Junior) in 2009 and 2016
In 2009, Kangin hit a lightpost that fell onto the sidewalk while drunk driving his car. His blood alcohol level was 0.082%. He was tested 6 hours later and got a 100-day license suspension and a 5 Million won fine. In another DUI case in 2016, his alcohol level was 0.05% and his license was revoked for 100 days with a 7 Million won penalty.
7. Lee Jae-jin (Sechskies) in 2011 (Post-Disbandment)
Lee Jae-jin from K-pop band Sechskies hit another car while drunk driving in 2011. His blood alcohol level was 0.087% and he got a 100-day license suspension. This case happened after Sechskies was disbanded. In 2009, he was imprisoned for military duty desertion, where he didn't report to duty for 33 days.
8. Nichkhun (2PM) in 2012
In 2012, Nichkhun crashed into a motorcycle while drunk driving. His blood alcohol level was 0.056%. The idol's license was suspended for 100 days. He was also fined 4 Million won for injuring a motorbike rider.
9. Kim Hyun-joong (SS501) in 2017 (After Hiatus)
After having a drinking session with his friends, Kim Hyun-joong was driving home when he blacked out in his car for almost 15 minutes at the traffic light. His breathalyzer test recorded a 0.075% blood alcohol level in his body. His license was revoked for 100 days.
10. Jun. K (2PM) in 2018
Kim Min-jun, aka Jun. K from the 2nd-generation K-pop group 2PM had a blood alcohol level of 0.074% when police caught him drunk driving his car in Gangnam, Seoul. His license was revoked for 100 days. He debuted as the main vocalist of 2PM in 2008.
11. Moon Joon-young (ZE:A) in 2018 and 2022 (Post-Contract Expiration)
In 2018, Moon Joon-young from ZE:A got his license revoked for getting into a drunk driving incident. However, there was no report on his blood alcohol level, and for how many days was the license suspended. In 2022, he got into another DUI and his BAC was 0.113% and he was penalized 8 Million won. His license was suspended again.
12. Lim Young-min (AB6IX) in 2020
Lim Young-min was booked for drunk driving with a blood alcohol level above 0.08%. His license was revoked, and he departed from the K-pop group AB6IX in June 2020. After the hiatus, he enlisted in the military. The South Korean rapper and singer-songwriter is now signed under Brand New Music.
13. Lizzy (After School) in 2021 (Post-Departure)
Lizzy from the K-pop group After School was booked for hitting her car into a taxi while driving under intoxication. Her blood alcohol level was over 0.08%, for which she was sentenced to 1 year of imprisonment, and her license was revoked. Lizzy was also fined 15 Million won. This happened after she had left the girl group.
14. Rapper NO:EL in 2021
NO:EL was charged with two counts of driving without a license, refusing a breathalyzer test, and obstructing police from their duty. His blood alcohol content was reportedly 0.08%. He rammed his car into a motorcycle, however; he paid the person a settlement. Later, he was prosecuted for drunk driving and attempting to manipulate evidence.
15. Heo Chan (VICTON) in 2022
Heo Chan from the K-pop boy band VICTON was booked for a DUI case, where his BAC level was above 0.08%, His license was revoked and he departed from VICTON. Later, the band announced to continue activity as a 6-member group.
16. Nam Tae-hyun (WINNER) in 2023 (Post-Departure)
Nam Tae-hyun from the K-pop band WINNER was booked for drunk driving his car. Judge Ham Hyun-ji of the Seoul Central District Court decided the idol was fined 6 million KRW ($4,625) and his license revoked. His blood alcohol level was over 0.114%.
Currently, JTBC apologized to BTS' Suga on August 16, 2024, for releasing fake CCTV footage, alleging that the rapper was speeding on the road on a scooter.
