Joe McConnell
Suga of K-pop boy band BTS has apologized after being fined for driving an electric scooter while intoxicated.
In a social media post, the 31-year-old said he was “very sorry and disappointed” for bringing his fans “disappointing news.”
In the post, the rapper explained that he had “violated the traffic law” when he returned home to Seoul “thinking the distance was close” and “[forgot] that it is not possible to use an electric scooter under the influence of narcotics.”
“I fell while parking my e-scooter in front of my house and there was a police officer nearby,” he wrote.
“They gave me a breathalyzer test and then revoked my license and gave me a ticket.”
According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, police found his blood alcohol level to be 0.08%.
He added: “While no one was injured and no property was damaged, the responsibility lies entirely with me and there is no excuse.
“I apologize to those who were hurt by my negligence and misconduct and I will ensure that this never happens again in the future.”
The wildly successful boy band is currently on hiatus as its members complete their military service.
Suga started his service last year and works as a social services agent after being declared unfit for regular combat duty.
Local media reported that the star’s alternate service was likely related to the shoulder surgery he underwent in 2020.
BTS’s record label, Bighit, also issued an apology for the scooter accident.
“We express our sincere apologies for the incident involving BTS member Suga and his electric skateboard accident,” they said in a statement.
“We apologize for the disappointment caused by the artist’s inappropriate behavior.
“As a social services officer during his military service, he is willing to accept any disciplinary action from his workplace for causing a social disturbance.
“We will pay more attention to ensure that similar incidents do not happen again in the future.”
