BTS boy band member Suga, born Min Yoon-gi, has apologized after being fined for driving a scooter while under the influence of alcohol late Tuesday night.
In a post shared on Weverse, a fan platform owned by K-pop company HYBE, the 31-year-old music star said he was “very heavy-hearted and sorry” for disappointing his global fan base.
According to Reuters, Suga rode the scooter for 500 m (1,640 feet) before a police officer saw him fall from the vehicle outside his home in Hannam-dong, an affluent neighborhood in the South Korean capital Seoul. In his post, Suga said he thought the ride was a short distance and that he did not know that citizens are not allowed to ride an electric scooter while drunk.
“I was breathalyzed and had my license revoked and a fine,” said the musician. “Although no one was injured and no property was damaged, this is entirely my responsibility and I have no excuses.”
According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, police reported Suga’s blood alcohol content at 0.08%. Seoul Yongsan Police Station said Suga will be charged with violating traffic regulations, according to the Korean publication. Maeil Business Newspaper.
“I apologize to everyone who was hurt by my negligence and misconduct, and I will make sure this does not happen again in the future,” Suga’s post said.
The apology came after BTS’s HYBE-owned label Big Hit first announced the incident on Wednesday and apologized on Suga’s behalf.
“We apologize for the disappointment caused by our artist’s inappropriate behavior. As a public servant, he will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action by his employer for disturbing public order. We will be even more careful in the future to ensure that such incidents do not recur. Thank you very much,” the statement said.
BTS has been on hiatus since 2022. The band members pursued various solo projects, including lucrative fashion campaigns, before all seven members entered military service. In South Korea, all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 35 are required to serve in the military. The band members are expected to reunite as a group in 2025.
Suga is currently serving as a social worker as part of his military service. The singer began his service in a front-line boot camp in December 2022 before being deemed “unfit for regular combat duty” and taking up his current post in September 2023. According to ForbesKorean media reported that this was likely due to shoulder surgery Suga had in 2020.
