BTS’ Suga admits drunk driving charge during police interrogation

BTS member Suga enters the Yongsan Police Station in central Seoul on August 23 to be questioned by police about his charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. (YONHAP)

According to police, Suga of boy band BTS “admitted” to the charge of drunk driving an electric scooter during a three-hour interrogation on Friday.

The 31-year-old BTS member, whose real name is Min Yoon-gi, was questioned at Yongsan Police Station in central Seoul on Friday about an alleged drunk driving case that occurred on August 6.

He arrived at the police station at 7:45 p.m. on Friday, 17 days after he was caught driving an electric scooter while under the influence of alcohol in central Seoul.

Suga bowed his head to the reporters who were waiting for the BTS member to arrive at the station.

“I am sorry that I have been a huge disappointment to so many people and fans,” the BTS member told reporters, bowing to the camera. “I will faithfully cooperate with the investigation. Again, I am truly sorry.”

BTS member Suga enters the Yongsan Police Station in central Seoul on August 23 to be questioned by police about his charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. (YONHAP)

He did not answer reporters’ questions about why he did not appear for questioning earlier or whether he really only drank a glass of beer and entered the police station.

At around 10:53 p.m. he left the station and after the interview he apologized to the reporters again, saying: “I am very sorry that I have disappointed everyone with my misconduct.”

“I deeply regret and regret my actions,” he said, and again remained silent on reporters’ further questions about what he had told the police or why he had not come to the station earlier.

According to police, Suga was questioned about why he was driving the scooter while under the influence of alcohol, how much he drank, who accompanied him while drinking, whether he had insurance and more.

BTS member Suga enters the Yongsan Police Station in central Seoul on August 23 to be questioned by police about his charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. (YONHAP)

On August 6, the singer was first investigated for allegedly driving an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol in the Yongsan district of central Seoul on the same day.

Suga and his agency BigHit Music came under fire for allegedly trying to downplay the damage in the drunk driving case. In their apology the day after the accident, they said the singer was riding an electric stand-up scooter rather than an electric scooter with a seat. The agency later stated on August 8 that it “will fully meet its responsibilities depending on how the authorities categorize the vehicle.”

When Suga was caught driving under the influence, his blood alcohol level was 0.227 percent, high enough to revoke his license – a penalty that is imposed at a limit of 0.08 percent.

The singer is currently doing his military service as a social worker. In this role, he usually has a regular working day and can go home after work.

The BTS member’s service is scheduled to end in June next year. The military administration said it would not punish Suga because the incident did not occur while he was on duty.

BY YOON SO-YEON ([email protected])