Asian Junkie Asian pop. Without discretion.
BTS member Suga is in trouble with authorities after he was booked on drunk …. uh, driving (?) of an electric scooter. Basically, the police reportedly tried to help a guy who fell off his electric scooter while they were on patrol, and in that process they realized he smelled like booze.
On August 7, the Seoul Yongsan Police Station revealed that they booked Suga on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving) and are currently investigating the matter.
The previous day on August 6 in Yongsan district, Suga was riding an electric scooter alone while drunk and fell. Reportedly, a police officer who discovered him and tried to help smelled alcohol and took him to a nearby police station.
BIGHIT MUSIC released a statement apologizing…
“On the night of August 6 (Tuesday), Suga was on his way home in an intoxicated state, using an electric scooter while wearing a helmet. He fell while parking after moving about 500 meters, and the police officer who was nearby conducted a breathalyzer test, resulting in a fine and the cancellation of his license. Nobody was hurt, and no property damage occurred due to the incident, and he was taken home under police custody.
We apologize for the disappointment caused by our artist’s inappropriate behavior. As a public service worker, he will receive appropriate disciplinary action from his workplace for causing public disturbance.”
…and Suga released one on his personal account as well.
“I am very heavy-hearted and apologetic to bring you disappointing news.
After drinking at a dinner yesterday night, I rode an electric scooter home. I violated the Road Traffic Act due to my complacent thinking that it was a short distance and my failure to recognize that using an electric scooter while intoxicated was prohibited. I fell while parking the scooter in front of my house, and the nearby police officer conducted a breathalyzer test, resulting in the cancellation of my license and a fine. Although there were no victims or damaged facilities in this process, it is entirely my responsibility without any excuse, and I sincerely apologize to everyone.
I apologize to everyone hurt by my careless and wrong actions, and I will be more careful in my actions in the future to prevent such incidents from occurring again.”
Suga is currently in the military as a public service worker.
Not sure why people are trending hashtags for him like he was a victim, but I do think in the minds of a lot of people, we immediately think of like those push scooters kids are using. So while it can be hard to fathom this being serious, the motorized part of this means they can get up to 30 mph (or more depending on what it actually was) and people use these on roads and sidewalks, so it could hold a lot of the same risks as operating any vehicle or machine while drunk.
Right now, HYBE’s statement says it’s an electric kickboard (top), but the police say it’s more like an electric scooter (bottom).
Both are not smart to use drunk for obvious reasons, but if it’s something like the latter, it becomes easier to see why it might be treated seriously like driving a motorcycle or car.
Update
CCTV video reportedly of Suga has been revealed by JTBC.
I dunno, man. The size of the wheels makes that shit look closer to a scooter than anything else, but given the interest in this case, I’m sure what exactly it was will come out eventually. Not sure how a electric kickboard with a seat would be classified, honestly.
