JTBC Newsroom has apologized for falsely attributing someone else’s video footage to BTS member SUGA.
As a result, the Daechwita rapper faced massive backlash for lying about riding the ‘electric kickboard’ to downplay the incident.
JTBC Newsroom released CCTV footage on August 7, claiming it showed BTS’ SUGA riding an electric scooter. However, the video showed a different person riding a scooter on the road near Nine One Hannam in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, heading towards Namsan. The individual in the footage was misidentified as SUGA.
New evidence revealed that SUGA was riding his scooter on the sidewalk in front of Nine One Hannam. This was on the opposite side of the road from where the other person was seen.
A detailed comparison of the evidence showed notable differences in the route, wheel size, and location. This confirmed that the CCTV footage did not feature the BTS rapper, as initially claimed.
After the accurate CCTV footage was released by DongA Ilbo, JTBC was brutally criticized by fans for false reporting and damaging the artist’s reputation.
JTBC admitted to their mistake and apologized, saying, “On August 7, Newsroom reported on BTS member SUGA’s drunk driving incident. At that time, we aired CCTV footage of an individual riding an electric scooter across a main road. However, the police investigation confirmed that the person in the footage was not BTS SUGA, we apologize for the confusion caused.”
On the night of August 6, SUGA was booked for drunk driving on an electric scooter on the sidewalk. He faces charges under the Road Traffic Act for drunk driving. A police investigation is next for SUGA, after which any penalties will be determined.