Suga of BTS admits to DUI charges in police interrogation

Social Affairs

Suga of BTS admits to DUI charges in police interrogation

Published: 25 Aug. 2024, 15:33

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 "admitted to charges" on drunk-driving an electric scooter during a three-hour interrogation on Friday, according to the police.

The 31-year-old BTS member, whose real name is Min Yoon-gi, was questioned at the Yongsan Police Station in central Seoul on Friday over an alleged DUI case that took place on Aug. 6.

He arrived at the police station at 7:45 p.m. on Friday, 17 days after he was caught driving a seated electric scooter under the influence in central Seoul.

Suga bowed his head in front of the reporters that were standing by for the BTS member to arrive at the station.

"I am sorry for the big disappointment I have become to so many people and fans," the BTS member told reporters, bowing in front of the camera. "I will faithfully cooperate with the investigation. Again, I am truly sorry."

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

He did not answer reporters' questions on why he did not come in for questioning earlier or whether he really had just one glass of beer, and entered the police station.

He left the station at around 10:53 p.m., apologizing once again to the reporters after the questioning, saying, "I am very sorry to have disappointed everyone with my wrongdoing."

"I am so remorseful for my actions and I regret it so much," he said, again keeping mum on reporters' follow-up questions on what he told the police or the reasons for not coming to the station sooner.

Suga was questioned over why he drove the scooter under the influence, how much he drank, who he was accompanied by while drinking, whether he had insurance and more, according to the police.

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

The singer 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 a stand-up electric 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."

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.

The singer is currently fulfilling his mandatory military service as a social service agent, a role that typically 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. The Military Manpower Administration said it will not penalize Suga because the incident did not take place while he was on duty.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]