BTS's Suga arrives at police station for questioning, apologizes for alleged DUI

Social Affairs

BTS's Suga arrives at police station for questioning, apologizes for alleged DUI

Published: 23 Aug. 2024, 19:55 Updated: 23 Aug. 2024, 22:00

YOON SO-YEON
yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr

BTS member Suga enters the Yongsan Police Station in central Seoul to be questioned by police on his DUI allegation on Aug. 23. [YONHAP]

Suga of boy band BTS bowed his head down and apologized for drunk-driving an electronic scooter.

"I am sorry for the big disappointment I have become to so many people and fans," the BTS member told reporters at Yongsan Police Station in central Seoul, where he arrived on Friday at 7:45 p.m. to be questioned over an alleged DUI incident that took place 17 days ago.

"I will faithfully cooperate with the investigation. Again, I am truly sorry."

He refused to answer other questions from reporters such as why he did not come in for questioning earlier or whether he really had just one glass of beer, and entered the police station.

The BTS member is currently fulfilling his mandatory military service as a social worker. He went to work on Friday morning as usual, according to media reports.

BTS member Suga bows his ahead to apologize for driving an electronic scooter under the influence at the Yongsan Police Station in central Seoul, where he arrived at around 7:45 p.m. to be questioned by policeon Aug. 23. [YONHAP]

Reports were made earlier this week that he will be attending the police questioning on Thursday, but his agency HYBE denied the news but did not confirm the final date.

Suga was investigated for the first time on Aug. 6 for allegedly driving an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol in Yongsan District, central Seoul, the same day.

Suga and his agency BigHit Music came under fire for allegedly attempting to minimize the harm in the DUI case, stating that the singer was driving an electric stand-up scooter instead of a seated electric scooter in their apology the day after the accident. The agency later stated on Aug. 8 that it "will fully abide by the responsibilities depending on how authorities decide to categorize the vehicle."

The singer's military service role as a social service agent involves a regular daily work schedule, allowing him to return home after work hours. The BTS member is scheduled to complete his service in June next year.

Suga’s blood alcohol level when he was caught driving under the influence was 0.227 percent, high enough to qualify for a revocation of his driver’s license — a punishment imposed from a threshold of 0.08 percent.

BY YOON SO-YEON, KIM MIN-YOUNG [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]