BigHit Music Gets Called Out For “Lying” About BTS Suga’s Drunk Driving Incident
Both BigHit Music’s initial statement and Suga’s first apology refer to Suga’s electric scooter as an electric kickboard. Yongsan Police Station clarified that Suga was driving an electric scooter with a seat. BigHit Music has apologized for and corrected details in their first statement. Suga has released a second apology. The police investigation into Suga’s drunk driving incident has now ended.
BTS‘s Suga was discovered operating an electric scooter while under the influence of alcohol on August 6, 2024. A subsequent breathalyzer test confirmed that his blood alcohol level could lead to the revocation of his license.
The South Korean police handling the matter confirmed that Suga’s personal mobility device was not just a kickboard with a lone panel; it had a seat. According to the police’s statement, “it would be a more accurate description to call it an electronic scooter.”
Although the police had called it “closer to an electric scooter,” both Suga’s statement as well as BigHit Music‘s statement call it a “kickboard.” Netizens have begun to call out the company for purposely trying to “lie” and “downplay” the incident.
- “Aren’t they embarrassed to tell a lie that will get found out easily?”
- “Ugh.”
- “Wow…”
- “So they lied?”
- “That’s not a kickboard.”
- “It’s uncommon for a 31-year-old to be confused about a scooter and a kickboard. He probably wrote it like that on purpose, right?”
- “Oops, how embarrassing. Did you commit a DUI? I also ride such a vehicle around, but if I drink, I just drag it alongside myself.”
- “Isn’t he the one who always talks about how he damaged his shoulder by riding a motorcycle?”
- “In his apology and the company’s statement, they both use “kickboard.” LOL, they really tried so hard to downplay it.”
- “It’s so infuriating how they keep trying to mediaplay it as a kickboard… So people would misunderstand and think that he used one of those public rental kickboards.”
- “Gasp.”
- “Ugh, just take a taxi.”
- “Knowing he rode one of these makes his excuse even more unfathomable LOL.”
- “The more he acts up, the worse it looks for him.”
A kickboard in South Korea looks like this…
…while electric scooters or kickboards with seats are closer to the below. They may also contain an internal engine, depending on the model.
The second type of electric scooter requires a driver’s license to operate, and it is subject to the same drunk driving laws as automobiles. As such, an intoxicated e-scooter driver can face the same legal proceedings and punishment that applies to car traffic violations.
