According to CCTV footage released by Dong-a Ilbo on August 14, Suga was riding an electric scooter near the main gate of Nine One Hannam in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, around 11:10 PM on August 6, when he fell while making a left turn. Police officers who were patrolling the area found Suga on the ground, checked if he was intoxicated, and allowed him to go home after conducting a breathalyzer test.
The silhouette of the electric scooter that Suga was riding has become a topic of discussion among netizens. Contrary to what was previously reported, the vehicle appeared to be more similar to a kickboard than a scooter. The vehicle in question is actually marketed online as a “foldable electric kickboard,” capable of reaching speeds of up to 30 km/h. This is comparable to the top speed (25 km/h) of most electric kickboards provided by rental services.
Netizens had mixed reactions to the footage. Some criticized Suga for riding on the sidewalk, saying, “Even if it was slow and resembled a kickboard, riding on the sidewalk is clearly wrong.” Meanwhile, others disagreed, stating, “The real problem is that vehicles like these can disrupt traffic flow, so riding on the road is more dangerous.”
Additionally, some criticized the media outlets that initially reported the incident, saying, “They made it sound like he was speeding on a motorcycle when he was just riding slowly on a kickboard with a seat.”
The “scooter vs. kickboard confusion” was a major issue at the beginning of this controversy. When Suga’s drunk driving incident was first reported, the police initially informed the media that he was riding an electric kickboard while intoxicated. The agency also issued an apology regarding the kickboard. However, when the police later clarified that it was actually an electric scooter, public opinion quickly turned negative. This led some netizens to suspect that the initial report was a deliberate attempt to downplay the situation. Although both kickboards and electric scooters are classified as “automobiles” under the Road Traffic Act, making it illegal to operate them under the influence of alcohol, electric scooters, which have a higher top speed, carry additional penalties such as fines of up to 10 million KRW or imprisonment of up to two years.
Source: Daum
