BTS Suga's DUI Incident:
Allegations of Downplaying Arise... Agency's Explanation Sparks Controversy
Allegations have been raised that Big Hit Music, the agency of BTS member Suga, attempted to downplay his drunk driving incident.
The controversy is spreading as the agency's use of the term 'kick-board' and explanation of the travel distance have been revealed to differ from the actual situation.
According to Big Hit Music and the Seoul Yongsan Police Station on the 8th, Suga was caught by police after falling while driving an electric scooter in a heavily intoxicated state around 11:27 PM on the 6th in Hannam-dong, Seoul. Suga's blood alcohol concentration was confirmed to be at a level requiring license revocation (0.08% or higher).
The key points of contention are as follows:
- Issue with the description of the vehicle: Suga and Big Hit Music used the term 'electric kick-board', but the police confirmed it was an 'electric scooter' with a seat. This goes beyond a simple difference in terminology and could lead to differences in legal punishment.
- Travel distance controversy: Big Hit Music stated that Suga traveled 'about 500m', but the actual estimated distance was confirmed to be about 1.5km. This shows a significant discrepancy between the agency's explanation and the actual situation.
- Difference in legal punishment: While both electric kick-boards and electric scooters are classified as motorized bicycles, drunk driving on an electric kick-board results only in administrative action, whereas drunk driving on an electric scooter is subject to criminal punishment.
As the controversy grew, Big Hit Music stated,
"We realized that classification can differ according to the performance and specifications of the product, and the scope of responsibility for accidents can also differ," and "We apologize again for not examining closely and speaking hastily."
However, they have not yet provided additional explanation regarding the travel distance.
A legal expert pointed out, "In a DUI case, the type of vehicle and travel distance are important factors in determining the level of punishment," and "The fact that the agency's initial response differed from the truth could be problematic."
Meanwhile, Suga is currently serving as a social service worker and is scheduled to be discharged in June next year.
This incident is expected to affect his service.
This incident is once again raising awareness about celebrity drunk driving. It is also leading to critical discussions about how agencies handle crises, suggesting potential changes in how the entertainment industry responds to incidents in the future.
