SEOUL, South Korea: BTS member Suga, whose real name is Min Yoon-gi, was fined approximately $11,465 by a South Korean court for driving an electric scooter while intoxicated. The incident occurred on August 6, when police found the 31-year-old singer next to his scooter with a blood alcohol level of 0.227%, nearly three times the legal limit. As a result, his driving license was cancelled.
The Seoul Western District Court issued the fine last Friday, matching the prosecutor’s recommendation. Under South Korean law, driving with a blood alcohol level over 0.2% can result in a prison sentence or a fine of up to 20 million won.
Though Suga is currently serving mandatory military duties as a social service agent, the offense falls under civilian law, as it occurred outside of his military hours. In response, Suga publicly apologized, stating he had “tarnished” BTS’s name and expressing deep remorse for his actions.
The BTS group has been on hiatus since 2022, with its members fulfilling South Korea’s military service requirements.
