BTS member Suga faces prison sentence for drunk driving

Suga, 31, was reportedly found lying on the ground in Seoul’s Yongsan District on Aug. 6 after what appears to have been an accident, according to South Korean media.

Like the other band members, Suga has paused his music career to fulfill compulsory national service. He has been serving as a public service worker since September 2023, an alternative form of South Korea’s compulsory military service.

Suga reportedly told law enforcement that he had only drunk one glass of beer before driving. His agency, BigHit Entertainment, stated that the singer was riding an electric kickboard, which could result in an administrative fine. The artist subsequently posted an apology to the public and his fans, admitting to riding the kickboard and announcing that his driver’s license had been confiscated.

As reported by Donga Ilbo, the Yongsan Police Station measured Suga’s blood alcohol content at 0.227% when they checked him. The legal limit of 0.08%.

Korean media pointed out inconsistencies in Suga’s and his agency’s statements. The Korea Times reported that the artist was riding a motorized scooter, not a low-speed kickboard.

Additionally, the news outlet questioned the claim that a blood alcohol level of 0.227% could result from just one glass of beer, describing it as an “unbelievably high number.”

South Korean law stipulates that individuals driving electric vehicles while under the influence of alcohol face the same penalties as those driving cars.

Under South Korean traffic laws, which applies to drivers of cars and electric scooters alike, drunk drivers with a blood-alcohol level of 0.2% or higher could be fined 10-20 million won, or receive a prison sentence of 2-5 years.