BTS boy band member Suga, born Min Yoon-gi, apologized after receiving a fine while driving a scooter under the influence of alcohol in the early hours of Tuesday.
In a post shared on Weverse—a fan platform owned by K-pop company HYBE—the 31-year-old music sensation said he was “heavyhearted and sorry” for disappointing his global fan base.
Suga rode the scooter for 500 m (1,640 ft), by Reuters, before a police officer saw him fall from the vehicle in front of his home in Hannam-dong, a wealthy neighborhood in the South Korean capital, Seoul. In his post, Suga said he thought the trip was short and didn’t know that citizens can’t drive an electric scooter while drunk.
“I took a breathalyzer test and subsequently had my license revoked and was fined,” said the musician. “While no one was injured and no property was damaged, this is entirely my responsibility, no excuses.”
Police recorded Suga’s blood alcohol as 0.08%, according to South Korea Yonhap News Agency. The Seoul Yongsan Police Station said Suga is facing charges for violating the Road Traffic Law, according to the Korean publication Maeil Business Journal.
“I apologize to those who were hurt by my carelessness and unfair behavior, and I will ensure this does not happen again in the future,” Suga’s post read.
The apology came after BTS’s label Big Hit, which is owned by HYBE, revealed for the first time Wednesday that the incident occurred and apologized on Suga’s behalf.
“We apologize for the disappointment caused by our artist’s inappropriate behavior. As a public service employee, he will receive appropriate disciplinary action at his place of work for causing a public nuisance. We will take more care to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. Thank you,” the statement said.
BTS has been on hiatus since 2022. The band members carried out several solo projects, including lucrative fashion campaigns, before all seven members began their mandatory military service. All able-bodied men aged 18 to 35 in South Korea must serve in the military. The band members are expected to reunite as a group in 2025.
Suga is currently serving as a social service officer as part of his military service. The singer began serving in a frontline boot camp in December 2022, before being deemed “unfit for regular combat duty,” and assumed his current post in September 2023. According to ForbesKorean media reported that this was likely due to a shoulder operation Suga had in 2020.
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
