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Suga, a member of the renowned K-pop group BTS, has been fined 15 million won (approximately $11,500 or £8,600) after being caught driving an electric scooter while under the influence. This incident has drawn significant media attention and public scrutiny.
The artist, whose birth name is Min Yoon-gi, was charged following an incident in August, where law enforcement discovered him attempting to rise after falling from the scooter near his residence in Seoul. Upon their arrival, officers determined that he was intoxicated.
Reports from local authorities indicate that Suga had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.227%, a notable increase from the legal limit of 0.08%. The verdict came from a Seoul district court, which issued the fine just last Friday.
Suga publicly acknowledged his wrongdoing in August, stating that he had mistaken the short distance home for a safe time to operate the scooter while impaired. He expressed remorse, emphasizing that he was aware of the legal restrictions against riding under the influence.
“While no one was injured and no properties were damaged, I accept full responsibility for my actions and have no excuses,” he stated. “I apologize to anyone affected by my negligence and will take measures to ensure this does not happen again.”
The incident ignited a mixed response among fans and the general public. Some criticized Suga and suggested that he step away from BTS, given the high expectations for K-pop idols to maintain immaculate public personas. However, a substantial segment of his fan base rallied in support of him during the controversy.
As a side note, the 31-year-old artist is currently fulfilling his mandatory military service as a social service agent, following a determination that he was unfit for regular combat duty.
Source
www.bbc.com