Editor-DN
Seoul:
K-pop star Suga, a member of boy band supergroup BTS, has been fined 15 million won ($11,500) by a court for driving drunk on an electric scooter. A Seoul Western District Court judge issued the fine in a summary judgment last week after his case was handed over to prosecutors, a court official said Monday.
In August, the songwriter and rapper apologized for the incident, calling it “reckless and inappropriate behavior,” and police also revoked his license for driving an e-scooter while intoxicated.
Suga rode a scooter and tripped while parking at night, according to his label Big Hit Music, which is part of K-pop firm HYBE. The label also states that he failed a breath test administered by police to measure his blood alcohol level.
Since announcing their hiatus from group projects in June 2022, BTS members have continued solo activities before beginning military service.
Suga, 31, is busy doing social service to fulfill his military duty commitment.
The drunk driving incident is the latest example of how K-pop artists can sometimes lose their clean image.
The case prompted some BTS fans upset by his actions to send wreaths near the HYBE headquarters, with messages on boards calling for him to quit the band.
Those notified of summary judgments may apply for a regular trial to challenge the judgment within seven days.
Suga’s label did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(Other than the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
