BTS Suga facing 5 years in prison for “drunk driving” on a motor bike + blood alcohol level found to 7 times higher than normal

Article: BTS Suga was ‘0.227% drunk’… Up to 5 years in prison

Source: Kookmin Ilbo

BTS Suga (Min Yoong-gi, 31)’s ‘drunk driving’ alcohol level was been revealed.

According to police on the 9th, Suga was booked on charges of riding a electric scooter while intoxicated. His blood alcohol level at the time was 0.227% when he took a breathalyzer test. This is a level that far exceeds the license revocation standard (0.08 or higher). 

Under current law, a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or higher leads to license revocation, a sentence of 1 or 2 years in prison or a fine of 5 to 10 million won. If this level exceeds 0.2%, the punishment is strengthened to 2-5 years in prison or a fine of 10-20 million won. 

Police also revealed that they found Suga at around 11:27pm on the 6th. He had fallen while riding an electric scooter while intoxicated on the streets of Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. A nearby riot police officer was helping Suga to stop and he noticed the smell of alcohol and took him to a nearby police station. Suga complained of knee pain and told police that “he drank a beer and drove for a bit.”

When media reported his drunk driving, Suga claimed that “he went riding an electric kickboard while wearing a helmet.” While electric scooters are subject to criminal punishment, kickboards are only subject to administrative measures such a license cancellation and fines. There is controversy over whether Suga intentionally lied to downplay the incident.

However, Suga’s agency HYBE explained, “We used the term ‘electric kickboard’ because we judged it to be a kickboard with a seat and during the additional verification process, we came to realize that the classification can vary depending on the product’s performance and specs, and the scope of responsibility for accidents can also vary. We absolutely had no intention of downplaying the matter.”

Suga entered Nonsan Training Center in South Chungcheong Province in March to receive basic military training and is currently serving a social worker. His discharge date is June 2025. 

1. [+589, -14] He’s still in his military service too.. this is quite the sight ~~
2. [+439, -7] So now it’s he only had a beer or two, and only drove 500m..all lies…said it was a kickboard not a scooter and didn’t know driving and drinking was not allowed… more lies. It’s just excuse after excuse.. he even ended it saying that there was no other damage.. 
3. [+327, -18] This thug should be banned from all TV broadcasts!!
4. [+239, -5] Driving a motorcycle with that blood alcohol level is terrible enough already but he’s lying about everything… did he really say he only had a beer or two when it’s 0.227? He’s basically bragging about being exempted from military service while the rest of us enlist as active soldiers. How much did he drink that he got to a .227 alcohol level?! Civil servants get punished for drunk driving outside of working hours but the MMA isn’t doing anything? Are they not a public institution? What so novel about his talents that he’s not separately punished for this? The rest of us would be thrown in military prison. Throw him in jail for more than 5 years so that he can come to his senses!!
5. [+127, -4] Take a taxi~
6. [+126, -15] Did people really think BTS would be any different? 
7. [+107, -4] OMG
8. [+66, -7] Suga Suga.. I think it’s only right that you leave BTS now. You won’t be able to drive anymore, you won’t be able to drink when the members drink on broadcast. Even if you go to the members’ discharge days and give them congratulatory hugs, they’ll be conscious of it. If you perform on stage, you’ll be labeled a ‘drunk driving’ idol.. you literally destroyed everything you’ve built with your own hands!
9. [+55, -1] Drunk driving is a huge issue in our country right now.. it’s really disappointing that a top star like him is taking care of himself like that. 
10. [+120, -3] Whether it’s one drink or ten.. you f*cked up! Just be honest and ask for forgiveness. You’re making this bigger by adding lies to lies?!
11. [+46, -4] Even more lies.. how far is he aiming to go with this?!
12. [+31, -0] Daebak .2? Did he take a bath in alcohol?!
13. [+22, -4] He has zero presence in BTS anyway.. kick him out!
14. [+20, -1] Don’t cause trouble and just withdraw on your own..
15. [+18, -0] It’s time for BTS Zero Suga now.. 
16. [+14, -0] Physiognomy is a science~

Additional source(s): YTN, Money Today, MBN