BTS Sugar, drunk driving an electric scooter… “I feel sorry”

Police: “Scooter with saddle on kickboard”
Arrested investigation at license revocation stage
Currently serving … Release in June next year

Suga (real name Min Yoon-gi, 31, photo), a member of the group BTS, who is currently a social worker, was caught by the police after returning home drunk on an electric scooter and lying down on the sidewalk near his house.

According to Yongsan Police Station in Seoul, a report was received at 11:14pm on the 6th that a man was lying down on the pavement near the entrance to an apartment building in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu , Seoul, smells of alcohol. The police who arrived at the scene took the man to the local police station and confirmed that he was Suga during a breathalyzer test. As a result of the measurement, it was determined that his blood alcohol level was at a level that would cause his license to be revoked (0.08% or higher), and he was booked on driving charges​​​​ drunk under the Road Traffic Act.

In an article posted on the fan community on the 7th, Suga said, “After drinking at dinner last night, I rode home on an electric skateboard. I fell alone while parking the electric kickboard in front of my house, and a police officer was nearby, and as a result of a breathalyzer test, my license was revoked and a fine was issued on me “I feel very heavy and sad,” he said, explaining the situation at the time. The group said that Suga traveled 500 meters on an electric kickboard while wearing a helmet.

In this regard, an official from Yongsan Station said, “No administrative action has been taken regarding the driver’s license yet,” and “At the time, Suga was traveling on an ‘electric scooter,’ which is a type of vehicle with saddle attached. to an electric toll board.” Usually, if you are caught riding an electric toll board while drunk, you will be fined 100,000 won and your license revoked, and no be able to get your license again for 6 months to 1 year. In the case of electric scooters, apart from the fine, you can be imprisoned for between 1 and 2 years or a fine between 5 million and 10 million win

Suga has been working as a social worker since last September and is scheduled to be released in June next year. However, it seems that the working time will not be extended as a result of this incident. An official from the Military Personnel Administration explained, “For social service workers, anything that happens outside of working hours (9am to 6pm) is effectively considered civilian and subject to separate laws.”

Reporter Joo Hyun-woo woojoo@donga.com
Reporter Sa Ji-won 4g1@donga.com