Following BTS Suga's drunk driving incident with an electric scooter, K-pop fans raised a heated debate about whether the idol should just leave the group after weighing the gravity of the situation. 

On August 7, BTS Suga (31), who is currently serving in the military, was caught by the police for driving an electric scooter while intoxicated. 

On this day, the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul booked Suga for criminal charges of violating the Road Traffic Act or drunk driving in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, at around 11:15 PM KST on the 6th. 

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According to the report, the male idol drank with his acquaintances and drove his electric scooter for about 500m before parking and falling on his own. The riot police unit helped him, but after smelling alcohol on him, he took a breathalyzer test at the scene.

He got a result at the level where his license should be revoked. The police have begun procedures for disciplinary action, including license cancellation.When the DUI incident was revealed to the public, the global icon bowed his head through his agency, Big Hit.

However, another controversy arose when the media found inconsistencies in his statement, especially when he said that he drove an electric kickboard rather than an electric scooter with a seat. 
. 

슈가 jtbc에 나온 cctv 이거임 https://t.co/mfTqLCCGi1 pic.twitter.com/leeF07dwjI

— 인스티즈(instiz) (@instiz) August 7, 2024

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Suga was accused of downplaying the incident, saying that using a kickboard would only cost him $85 and license cancellation. On the other hand, a DUI with an electric scooter is subject to imprisonment for 1 to 2 years or a fine of $7.27k. 

When this news spread among K-pop fans, ARMYs (BTS fandom) supported Suga, who attested that they accepted his apology. However, a lot of netizens were not satisfied with how their supporters were treating the case when DUI is a serious crime in South Korea.

 In the past, numerous idols ruined their career for driving under the influence, concluding that Suga should also leave BTS. 

sa3h33 explaining the seriousness of the situation for those who aren't from korea. i hope this helps some people understand. pic.twitter.com/tRkrpk4JSi

— sky 🎀 (@kittysmimi) August 7, 2024

K-Netz even dug into the most recent cases where DUI with an electric scooter cost the precious lives of regular citizens, criticizing Suga and his fans for thinking that the severity of this case should not be taken seriously. 

With BTS Suga's DUI case, netizens' voices demanding that electric scooters be removed are also getting louder.  . 

OH WE LOVE YOU YOONGI 🥹💜 pic.twitter.com/p9fFcRq6a4

— moni⁷ 𖠌 (@sevenrchive) August 7, 2024

Knets find out that the driving distance from the bar where Suga was to his house is more than 500m + knets find other inconsistencies in his apologyhttps://t.co/PUXKw9iVew pic.twitter.com/3Re8PJAZeK

— pannchoa (@pannchoa) August 7, 2024

Meanwhile, Suga will continue serving as a military social worker until June 2025. According to the law, "one must not engage in any conduct that damages one's dignity, regardless of whether it is on or off duty."

Regarding the punishment he might receive from the military, an official clarified:

"It is not a violation of the duty to maintain dignity, as it is drunk driving after work.” 

With such a response, active-duty soldiers were also complaining:

"Then can we also drink and drive after work?”

READ MORE: BTS Suga's Military Service Update: What's He Up To Nowadays?

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Written by Eunice Dela Cruz