BTS member Suga fined $11,500 for drunk driving on e-scooter

HYBE

30/09/2024 03:24

SEOUL, Sept 30 (Reuters) - K-pop star Suga, a member of
the boy band supergroup BTS, has been fined 15 million won
($11,500) by a court for drunk driving while on an electric
scooter. 
        A judge at the Seoul Western District Court issued the
fine in a summary judgment made last week after his case was
referred to the prosecution, a court official said on Monday. 
  
    In August, the songwriter and rapper made an apology for the
 incident calling it "careless and wrong behaviour" with police
also revoking his licence for riding the e-scooter while drunk. 
    Suga rode the scooter and tripped when parking at night,
according to his label Big Hit Music, which is part of K-pop
firm HYBE  352820.KS . The label also said he failed a breath
test to measure his blood alcohol level conducted by police.
    Since announcing a break from group projects in June 2022,
BTS members pursued solo activities before starting military
service. 
    The 31-year-old Suga has been engaged in social service work
in order to meet his military duty commitment.
    The drunk driving incident is the latest example of K-pop
performers sometimes falling short of their squeaky-clean image.
    The case prompted some BTS fans upset by his action to send
flower wreaths near HYBE headquarters, with messages on boards
asking him to leave the band.
    Those notified of summary judgments can apply for a regular
trial within seven days to challenge the decision.
    Suga's label did not immediately respond to a request for
comment. 
    
    ($1 = 1,307.4600 won)

 (Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Ed Davies and Christian
Schmollinger)
 ((Hyunsu.Yim@thomsonreuters.com;))