SUGA, of the popular South Korean pop group BTS, was briefly detained by police after operating an electric scooter while intoxicated in Seoul on Tuesday night. As a result, the 31-year-old musician has had his license revoked and paid a fine.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 7th, SUGA acknowledged riding a scooter after drinking at a dinner the night before. “I thought it was a short distance and didn’t realize that you can’t ride an electric scooter while intoxicated, so I violated the road traffic laws,” he explained.
“While I was parking my electric kickboard at the front gate of my house, I fell over by myself,” SUGA continued. “And as a result of the breathalyzer test conducted by a police officer nearby, my license was revoked and a fine was imposed. No one was harmed or any facilities were damaged in the process, but this is my responsibility and I have no excuses, so I bow my head and apologize to everyone.”
According to the police officer in charge of traffic for Yongsan, a district of Seoul where SUGA resides, his blood alcohol content was above license revocation levels, or at least 0.08 percent (via the New York Times).
In a separate statement, BTS’s record label, Big Hit Music, said: “We deeply apologize for causing disappointment and concern to many due to the artist’s inappropriate behavior. We take this matter seriously and will accept any necessary measures from the authorities regarding the behavior that has caused public concern and social disruption. We will ensure that such incidents do not occur again in the future and will exercise greater caution.”
SUGA is currently conscripted to the South Korean military as a social service agent. He is expected to complete his service in June 2025.
