HYBE Allegedly Exposes BTS’s Suga Inciting Greater Backlash Amid DUI Scandal

Netizens are taking issue with a specific part of HYBE‘s statement defending BTS Suga.

Hello, this is BigHit Music. We apologize for the matter of BTS’s member Suga driving home on an electric kickboard while drunk. On the night of August 6, Suga used a helmet while driving an electric kickboard home after drinking. He had driven around 500m before he parked and fell down. Through a police officer who had been nearby, a breathalyzer test was conducted, and as per the results, Suga’s license was revoked, and he was fined. No casualties occurred through the incident; neither was any property damaged. He was escorted home by the police.

We apologize for disappointing many people through our artist’s unsavory actions. As a public service officer, he conducted himself in a manner that caused rife in society, and thus, he plans on duly receiving the appropriate punishment from his workplace. We will be even more cautious to prevent similar matters from occurring in the future.

Thank you.

— BigHit Music

On August 7, a post titled “The Shocking Part Of Suga’s Statement” went viral.

The post was viewed over 30K times in less than an hour after being posted. Its author claimed that a detail in HYBE’s statement–“Suga used a helmet while driving an electric kickboard“–was suspicious.

He took his helmet to go drinking so that he could drive the electric scooter.

— Netizen

In the comment section, other netizens agreed with the OP (Original Poster). To them, the helmet detail indicated that Suga must have taken his helmet with him often when he went out drinking.

• “Then does that mean he took his helmet to go drinking? That’s even worse. I think people who drive drunk are future murderers.”
• “You’re right. If he took his helmet, doesn’t that mean he planned this?”
• “He’s just lucky he hasn’t hit or killed anyone yet.”
• “He’s a repeat offender.”
• “He said he didn’t know it was wrong to drive the scooters while drunk. I wonder how many times he unknowingly did that.”
• “He must have done this often.”
• “It’s so funny that he took his helmet so that he doesn’t die (when he could kill someone else in an accident).”
• “He should’ve walked home or called a cab. Why did he ride the kickboard?”

• “There are instances where there are helmets on the electric scooters, but he’s only claiming that there were no victims. That still makes you an attempted murderer and an alcoholic idol.”
• “It’s a relief that he didn’t hit anybody.”
• “We don’t want your excuses. Leave BTS.”
• “He’s the only one riding a helmet while driving drunk, lol. Whether it was on a sidewalk or on the street, isn’t he lawless?”
• “He must’ve drank alcohol and rode his scooter every day.”
• “I didn’t leave any comments, but what is he saying…”
• “He meticulously drove drunk every day, lol.”
• “If he is going to wear his helmet, why did he drive drunk? It’s his DUI that is the issue. Anyways, there needs to be strict punishment for those driving drunk, including politicians.”

In South Korea, electric kickboards are only available to rent with a license and drivers are bound to many of the same traffic laws as other motor vehicles. According to a report by SE Daily, E-scooters’ fatality rate for traffic accidents is 5.6%, 4.3 times higher than the overall traffic accident fatality rate.