SUGA, a member of BTS, appeared for police questioning in connection with the recent drunk driving incident.
On August 23, the Daechwita rapper arrived at the Yongsan Police station, where dozens of reporters were waiting for his arrival.
He was reported to appear on August 22 and many reporters were waiting outside the police station. However, BIGHIT MUSIC later confirmed that he would not appear for police questioning on August 22.
SUGA arrived at the police station around 7:45 PM, accompanied by his legal representative. With a somber expression and short hair, he wore a black suit. Upon exiting the vehicle, he bowed his head and apologized to fans for disappointing them.
He promised to fully cooperate with the investigations and offered his sincerest apologies. He did not answer any of the reporters’ questions and headed inside the police station.
SUGA was stopped by police on the night of August 6 while riding an electric scooter in Seoul’s Yongsan-gu district. The incident occurred around 11:10 PM near Nine One Hannam, where SUGA lost his balance and fell.
As he was getting up, riot police officers approached him and suspected he had been drinking. A breathalyzer test revealed a blood alcohol level of 0.227%, exceeding the legal limit.
Earlier that evening, SUGA had been drinking with friends at a restaurant and later at his nearby studio, before riding his scooter the short distance to his home, where the incident took place.
After media outlets reported the news on August 7, SUGA and the BIGHIT agency apologized and explained the incident. They received massive backlash for minimizing the severity of the incident by using misleading terms.
Furthermore, CCTV footage released by JTBC and Yonhap News added fuel to the fire, which later proved false. An accurate CCTV footage by DongA-Ilbo shows the 31-year-old rapper riding on the sidewalk and falling in front of his apartment.
With a reported blood alcohol level of 0.227%, he will be potentially facing the same penalties as drunk driving a car. Under South Korean law, driving an electric scooter with a blood alcohol level between 0.08% and 0.2% can lead to a prison sentence of up to two years or a hefty fine of 5-10 million won.
With a level exceeding 0.2%, the penalties become even more severe, ranging from two to five years in prison or a fine of 10-20 million won.
After investigation, authorities will determine the right penalties for SUGA.
