Suga (Min Yoon-gi), a member of the K-pop group BTS, was involved in a traffic incident where he fell from an electric scooter near his house in Seoul's Hannam neighborhood on Tuesday, after having drinks.
The singer was fined and his license was revoked, after he failed a breathalyzer test.
Suga admitted to the incident and issued an apology, expressing remorse for his actions.
In South Korea, electric scooters are classified as personal mobility devices, and their use is restricted to those above 16 years old with a motorcycle license.
Drunk riding is prohibited, and violators can face legal penalties similar to drunk driving a regular vehicle, including fines, potential imprisonment based on blood alcohol levels, and administrative penalties such as license suspension or revocation.
Big Hit Music, BTS's agency, issued an official statement apologizing for Suga's behavior, expressing disappointment, stating that disciplinary measures would be taken against him to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Due to a shoulder injury, Suga is serving as a public worker instead of an active soldier during his mandatory military service in the South Korean army, expected to end in June 2025.
The singer is known for keeping his personal life private and being reserved. He has stayed away from social media and reunited with BTS members after Jin's departure.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: NYTimes, SCMP, CNA, Times of India, Straits Times, India TV News, El Siglo de Torreón, Yahoo, ET Today, Liberty Times Net, Heraldo de México, Viva, Revista Quem, Harian Terbit.