Big Hit’s Inaccuracies Fuels Controversy in BTS’s Suga’s Drunk Driving Incident

The name of BTS is under scrutiny as controversy continues over member Suga, who caused a stir for alleged drunk driving.

On the 7th, JTBC 'Newsroom' released CCTV footage showing Suga driving at high speed on an electric scooter on Hannam-daero in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The incident has led to discrepancies between the statements made by Suga and Big Hit Music (hereinafter referred to as Big Hit), the details released by the police, and the circumstances revealed through CCTV footage.

Suga and Big Hit initially explained that Suga fell in the Hannam-dong area while riding an 'electric kickboard.' However, police reported that Suga was riding a 'scooter with a saddle,' as shown in the CCTV footage. Additionally, it was revealed that the accident occurred on the side of the road, not on the main road, and the distance traveled was over 500 meters, contrary to the initial explanation.

As a result, controversy arose over the perceived discrepancies in the explanations. Big Hit clarified, stating, "We recognized that the classification of the vehicle could vary depending on its performance and specifications and the scope of responsibility for the accident. There was no intention to downplay the matter."

Regarding the explanation that Suga returned home after receiving the cancellation of his license and the imposition of fines on the spot, Big Hit corrected, "It was mistakenly perceived that the matter was closed without understanding that there were future procedures left."

Additionally, RM, another BTS member currently serving in the military, unintentionally added to the controversy. On the 7th, RM shared a post on his SNS about 'The Genius Communities 25 Best Albums of 2024 Sofa' but quickly deleted it. This appears to be due to his delayed awareness of Suga's issue.

Suga was found by police at 11 p.m. on the 6th, having fallen off his electric scooter while allegedly under the influence of alcohol. At that time, Suga's blood alcohol concentration was reported to be over 0.08%, a level that warrants license revocation.

BTS, known for their contributions to promoting national prestige, charitable donations, volunteering, and exemplary military service, now faces criticism due to this incident. Some netizens have even filed complaints with the Military Manpower Administration, demanding an extension of Suga's service and calling for strict action from the military.