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On October 17, 2024, Stephen Colbert from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert talked about BTS' Suga's DUI incident. The show often focuses on US news and politics under the show's segment, "What’s Going On Over There?", where they also discuss the bizarre things that make it to news headlines globally.
In the latest episode of the popular Hollywood talk show, the global TV personality highlighted how the Grammy-nominated BTS rapper, Min Yoongi aka Suga, had to apologize for riding an "electric kickboard" under the influence. Stephen Colbert mocked the South Korean media for treating the idol as a criminal over this.
"There is a scandal as Suga from the K-pop boyband BTS has apologized for driving an electric scooter while intoxicated. For which he was not only fined but also had his license revoked. Wait a second, wait! Koreans need a license to drive one of these? In New York, you will see them ridden down Broadway by a baby eating a turkey leg," he said.
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Stephen Colbert's incredulity was accompanied by laughter from the studio audience, who were watching the broadcast live.
The clip went viral online as BTS fans shared agreement with the Hollywood TV personality over Suga being treated unfairly by the South Korean media. A fan compared the South Korean netizens as a "laughing stock" and wrote on X:
"Knetz nothing but a laughing stock"
The BTS fans discussed how riding a foldable electric scooter aka kickboard is normal in other countries. They stated that they would never "forgive" those who mistreated and slandered the BTS rapper by blowing the matter out of proportion.
"“In NY you’d see a baby riding down broadway on one of these eating a turkey leg." As a new yorker this scandal is so laughable and bizarre to me its so true. It's bizarre anywhere unless you are a member of a certain group in sk. My poor myg I will never forgive those ppl," a fan wrote.
"This needed to be more humiliating for korea... like way more. But happy he covered it... it's just pure stupid! The way they treated this vs other horrible cases..." another fan said.
"I remember full on sobbing after he posted his second apology letter and my mom found me like that so she asked what was going on and when I explained it to her she was like that's it..? Like the whole thing being so unserious but it was made out of proportion for no reason," one fan said.
Others stated that the Korean netizens and media treated the BTS rapper as a criminal when other s*xual offenders are "being defended." Some fans requested international media to "humble" Korean netizens and media.
"In South Korea, falling off an e-kickboard is being fined $11,000, not being greeted is getting discussed in the national assembly while actual r**ists and SA offenders are being defended and sympathized with. International media please humble that country down," one fan commented.
"It’s a gentle, but deserved, mockery of S. Korea over the issue. Truly, outside of irrational, stupid, and exaggerated online spheres, S.Korea’s and S.Koreans’ reaction to & treatment of Yoongi abt the e-scooter matter is (rightfully) an incredulous joke to the rest of the world," another fan wrote.
"This is how everyone who doesn’t have a specific hateful agenda against bts has reacted to this news btw. Laughter and incredulity, and if you ever try and explain the ensuing media circus it invoked to your gp friends they will be absolutely baffled," one other fan added.
BTS' Suga fined $11,500 for drunk driving an electric kickboard, interrogated for 3 hours and slandered by Korean media
On August 7, 2024, MBC Entertainment reported that BTS' Min Yoongi aka Suga was charged with drunk driving a foldable electric scooter/kickboard on the previous night. Reportedly, after he fell in front of his house, a police officer approached him and tested him with a breathalyzer. The idol's blood alcohol level (BAC) was over 0.08%.
The same day the BTS rapper released an apology letter, regretting his actions, and informed fans that his license was revoked. However, South Korean media outlet JTBC released a fake CCTV blurry footage of a man speeding a regular motorized scooter. JTBC claimed that the man in the footage was Suga and his BAC was over 0.227%.
Other news outlets started reporting the same, inviting severe public backlash towards the BTS rapper. The BTS fandom defended the idol and demanded that Korean media verify facts before reporting. On August 15, Dong-A Ilbo released the original CCTV footage that showed Suga driving a foldable electric kickboard. He tripped in front of his house and got up immediately, picking up his helmet.
The CCTV footage debunked JTBC's fake footage and BTS ARMY demanded that JTBC apologize to Suga for misreporting. On August 16, JTBC apologized on national television for confusing people with their unverified report. Nevertheless, Korean netizens sent funeral wreaths outside HYBE, demanding the removal of Suga from BTS.
On August 23, Suga was summoned to the Yongsan Police Station and was interrogated for 3 hours. Korean media gathered outside the police station to allegedly hold an unethical Photo Line to interrogate the idol. A Photo Line is reportedly an unethical media practice that is held to humiliate and put the individual on a public trial.
On August 26, Yongsan Police Station confirmed after consulting with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport that the BTS rapper didn't require a license plate to ride the electric scooter. They added that Suga didn't need a license as well. Nevertheless, he was fined $11,500 (approx.) and had his license revoked.
In other news, BTS' Suga enlisted in the military for alternative duty on September 22, 2023. He will return in June 2025 to resume group activities.
