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On August 15, 2024, JTBC reported that BTS' Suga might get summoned for a police investigation. The South Korean media outlet stated that the police are deciding the schedule to summon the BTS idol for questioning for drunk driving an electric scooter. It is important to note that JTBC did not mention which police station stated additional investigation.
According to JTBC, the police said,
"Now all that's left is the summons for questioning, and we are coordinating the schedule."
Meanwhile, on the same day, JTBC confirmed that the CCTV they released on August 7, claiming that the BTS idol was speeding on a scooter, was fake. Fans were distressed over the falsification of the news and lashed out at the Korean media outlet for distorting facts.
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Additionally, another South Korean media outlet, Dong-a Ilbo, released the real surveillance footage of Suga on August 15. In the clip, the idol could be seen driving a foldable electric scooter under the speed of 30 km/hr. He drove for about 500m before taking a turn towards the Nine One Hannam complex, where he lives.
While making the turn, he tripped sideways but got up immediately. He was also wearing a helmet while driving.
BTS' Suga's drunk driving incident gets dragged over a week by Korean media
On August 7, 2024, reports surfaced of BTS' Min Yoongi, aka Suga, being fined for drunk driving an electric kickboard/scooter. For the unversed, a foldable electric scooter is a remote-controlled vehicle without an engine or ignition. Its top speed is 30 km/hr, equivalent to riding a bicycle at full speed.
The video clip shared by Dong-a Ilbo showed that Suga was driving the mobility device below 30 km/hr and on the biker's lane, also known as the sidewalk. However, JTBC and other Korean media reported, alleging that the idol was riding a motorized scooter.
The initial report by MBC News on August 7 reported that the idol drove an electric kickboard, and his blood alcohol level was 0.08%, as recorded on a breathalyzer device, according to the report by the Yongsan Police Department. However, Korea Times, Yonhap News, SBS, and JTBC, among others, reported that the "police" said the idol's blood alcohol level was 0.227%.
On August 15, JTBC reported again that the idol's blood alcohol level was 0.227%, which enraged the BTS ARMY. Fans demanded JTBC to apologize to Suga for spreading misinformation.
Amidst all this, a netizen filed a complaint on August 12, demanding the Seoul Regional Military Manpower Administration investigate Suga's ongoing military enlistment and duty records. The netizen alleged that the BTS rapper might have ridden the electric scooter before the incident and taken unnecessary leaves from duty due to drinking.
"The part where Suga explained that he did not realize that he could not use the 'electric kickboard (scooter)' while intoxicated could be an indirect admission that he had driven the same kickboard (scooter) after drinking after completing his service as a social service worker."
He continued:
"In addition, it is possible that Suga was unable to properly perform his service the day after drinking, and it is also possible that the service organization provided convenience to Suga during his service, so a thorough investigation into the truth is inevitable."
The netizen cited Article 43 of Survey of the Status of Social Service Workers, Paragraph 2 of the Military Service Act along with Article 93, Paragraph 3 of the Enforcement Decree of the Military Service Act, and Article 46 of the Enforcement Rules of the Military Service Act to demand an investigation.
They also cited Article 52 of Completion of Status Investigation and Targets, Paragraph 2, and Article 53 Survey Method Paragraph 1 of the Social Service Worker Service Management Regulations, demanding that the Military Manpower Administration report BTS' Min Yoongi's alleged illegal service activities, if any, to the police.
Meanwhile, on August 7, the Military Manpower Administration stated that they would not take any action against the BTS rapper as he was on leave, and the incident happened outside of work premises and duty hours. Min Yoongi enlisted in the military on September 22, 2023, and will return in June 2025.
