Hong Kong’s Suga from K-pop Group BTS Fined for Intoxicated Electric Scooter Incident
In a shocking turn of events, Suga from the popular K-pop boy band BTS has been slapped with a hefty fine of 15 million won ($11,500; £8,600) for riding an electric scooter while under the influence, as reported by various media outlets.
The singer, known by his real name Min Yoon-gi, was charged in August after authorities found him attempting to pick himself up from a fall off the scooter near his residence in Seoul, only to discover that he was intoxicated.
Reports from local media indicate that his blood alcohol level was a staggering 0.227%, significantly surpassing the legal threshold of 0.08%.
A district court in Seoul handed down the fine to the rapper last Friday, along with the revocation of his driving license.
In a statement of remorse issued back in August, Suga admitted to his mistake, expressing regret for his actions and vowing to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
Following the incident, the 31-year-old artist faced criticism from some quarters, with calls for him to step down from BTS. In South Korea, K-pop idols are expected to maintain a pristine public image, but Suga’s supporters also rallied to his defense amidst the backlash.
Currently serving as a social service agent in the military due to being deemed unfit for regular combat duty, Suga remains under scrutiny as he navigates the consequences of his actions. — BBC
