BTS is the leading Kpop boy group, gaining global recognition through their music and positive image. However, the group is now in more turmoil than ever as Suga is embroiled in a serious scandal involving drunk driving. Not only has he been criticized by the public, but the idol has also been turned away by his own fans, who are demanding his departure from the group.
As a member of the number one Kpop group, Suga’s blood alcohol level is also at the top!
Celebrities, and especially idols, are held to very strict standards in South Korea. Given their status, they are expected to be positive role models and free from scandals in the public eye. Not every star who gets caught in a scandal loses their career, but their career path would be much smoother without any controversies.
In particular, drunk driving is considered a “serious crime” in the Korean entertainment industry, as not many stars “survive” such a scandal. In addition to legal penalties, stars are often banned from broadcasts and shunned by the audience. In the latest developments, Suga has been bombarded by fans sending wreaths with harsh messages like “Leave the group,” “You’re the one who let us go…” to the company’s front gate, demanding that he leave BTS for damaging the group’s reputation.
Indeed, Suga’s mistake is very serious. The idol’s blood alcohol level reached 0.227%, the highest among celebrities involved in drunk driving scandals. This figure is double that of the second person on the list (Kangta from H.O.T with 0.102%) and nearly eight times the legal limit in South Korea, which is 0.03%. Suga’s vehicle was identified as an electric scooter, which falls under the same penalty category as large motor vehicles like cars. The idol faces a sentence of 2-5 years in prison and a fine of 20 million won (385 million VND).
What’s worse, the bigger sin of HYBE and Suga is lying. In the initial statement, the idol and the company provided details such as “only went 500 meters,” “fell in front of his house,” “rode an electric skateboard.” However, netizens quickly exposed all these claims as lies. CCTV footage revealed Suga speeding on an electric scooter for more than 2km, and he didn’t fall in front of his house as claimed. When he arrived at the police station, the idol claimed he only drank one beer, but his blood alcohol test indicated he had consumed 9-10 glasses.
Facing the harsh public reaction, HYBE tried to “damage control” by issuing an apology for hastily providing misleading information, but it was too late to salvage the situation. Fans were extremely disappointed as the idol, who always promoted positive values, tried to cover up and deceive the public when he made a mistake.
How likely is it that Suga will leave the group?
Stars who operate solo, like Kim Sae Ron, Lizzy (former After School member), who were involved in drunk driving incidents, were banned from broadcasts and lost their careers. As for idols, they face the additional penalty of leaving the group for tarnishing the group’s image. Previous idols who left their groups before Suga’s incident include Lim Young Min (AB6IX), Heo Chan (Victon), Teo (DKB), and Kangin (Super Junior).
But will Suga leave BTS?
Many netizens believe that it won’t be easy for the BTS member to leave the group. The first reason is that while many idols have had to leave their groups due to drunk driving, more have stayed. Idols like Hyesung and Junjin (Shinhwa), Jaejin and Jiwon (Sechskies), Kangta (H.O.T), and Jaejoong (DBSK) didn’t leave their groups after drunk driving scandals. They only took a temporary hiatus and then returned to their activities as usual. Even Kangin (Super Junior) had to stop activities for three years before deciding to leave, and he didn’t leave the group immediately.
The second reason is that although Suga has been abandoned by some fans, the majority still support him staying in the group. Kpop fans are very attached to the original lineup of a group, and losing a member is a big deal. In the eyes of fans, BTS is made up of seven members, and none can be missing. Suga has been with BTS for 11 years and has amassed a large number of loyal fans. These ARMYs will protect Suga from public backlash and don’t want him to leave the group.
In the eyes of most fans, BTS started with seven members and will forever remain seven.
The third reason: BTS is the “golden goose” of HYBE Labels, and the company won’t easily let Suga go. From a powerful entertainment empire, HYBE Labels struggled in 2024 due to a series of controversies, including disputes with Min Hee Jin and NewJeans, plagiarism scandals with ILLIT, LE SSERAFIM’s poor live performance skills, and the personal scandals of chairman Bang Shi Hyuk. HYBE Labels is placing great hope in BTS’s full-member comeback in 2025 to restore the company’s reputation and finances, so they will likely do everything they can to “clean up” and keep Suga with BTS.
Source: K14
