"I am sorry this is happening" — Fans react to BTS' Suga being sent protest wreaths by netizens amid his ongoing DUI controversy

On August 13, 2024, Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that netizens sent wreaths to HYBE and demanded BTS Suga's withdrawal from the band. A protest with wreaths was held over the K-pop idol's ongoing drunk driving controversy.

For the unversed, the BTS member got roped in for a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) case on August 7, 2024. He reportedly fell down in front of his house while trying to park his electric kickboard. A police officer spotted the idol falling down and rushed to assist him. MBC reported that the Yongsan Police Station fined him for drunk driving an electric kickboard with a blood alcohol level of 0.08%.

Meanwhile, the wreaths were adorned with banners and flowers that displayed derogatory captions such as,

"Min Yoongi, leave the team," "You were the one who let go of our hands," and "Before standing in the photo line," (as translated by Allkpop).

For the uninitiated, a "Photo Line" is a public trial in which the accused is asked to appear publicly and is questioned by both the public and media. This humiliating custom is exclusive to South Korea.

Meanwhile, the netizens identified themselves as BTS ARMY and told Kyunghyang Shinmun news that they were protesting as BigHit Music (now HYBE) didn't take any stringent actions against the BTS idol.

"This is not a group action by the fandom, as individuals from BTS sent wreaths. We held this protest because no action was taken after Hybe, BigHit Music, and Suga released false statements."

BTS' fandom was stunned to see this and trended hashtags on X such as "ARMY did Not Send Wreaths," "BTS is SEVEN," and "Suga Stays." One fan wrote on X,

"I am sorry this is happening, Suga. @BTS_twt we love you. Army did not send wreaths."

The fandom united online and trended the hashtags, calling out "BTS-antis" for impersonating ARMYs and protesting against the Haegeum rapper-songwriter.

"The extent of how deranged and obsessive BTS antis can be knows no bounds,,, the fact that ARMYs are NOT abandoning Min Yoongi or succumbing into their narratives is making them FUME,, spending real money to buy funeral wreaths and sending it in the name of "ARMYs" to frame us," one fan wrote.

"And that’s why we are sending #FlowersOfLoveForYoongi ...Red tulips for deep unconditional love, hope and rebirth," another fan wrote.

"Imagine how pathetic those people are who are ready to go to this extent just to make a small issue big and drag an artist who's being supported by millions," one other fan added.

Others highlighted how the K-pop group has been subjected to massive hatred and attacks since they debuted. They also condemned the protest and stated that this act has "crossed all limits of humanity."

"Ever since BTS introduced themselves to us in 2011, antis have never stopped attacking the BTS rap line," one fan commented.

"If I was in korea I would have torn them apart with my teeth istg nothing has made me this mad. They have crossed all limits of humanity or sanity," another fan wrote.

"By sending the wreaths they want to make it seem as if the number of people who agree with them is higher than it actually is or that they represent the feelings of the whole fandom. K-Army already said they don't support the wreaths and did what should be done to remove them," one other fan remarked.

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Is Suga's drunk driving an electric kickboard being blown out of proportion?

On August 7, 2024, MBC reported that Min Yoongi was accused of drunk driving an electric kickboard. Notably, an electric kickboard's top speed is between 25 and 40 km/hr. However, reports surfaced on August 9 that the police clarified that Suga was driving at 30 km/hr.

It is important to note that either way, both speed metrics are equivalent to fast riding a bicycle. However, JTBC released blurred CCTV footage, claiming that it captured the BTS idol riding an "electric scooter." The footage was extremely blurry and the alleged rider wasn't visible at all and the footage ended in a glance. ARMYs were furious and questioned the authenticity of the footage.

They questioned how could anyone tell if that was Suga since nothing was visible at all. However, netizens lashed out at the BTS idol and the CCTV clip went viral online. Later, on August 12, 2024, a netizen filed an anonymous complaint to the Military Manpower Administration against the idol and demanded a thorough investigation against him.

Despite the rapper's immediate apology—where he explained the incident and clarified that he was riding an electric kickboard—the public has been criticizing him for a week.

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Suga has been serving in the military as a social service worker since September 22, 2023. He will return in June 2025 and reconvene group activities.