Interest is mounting to see if Suga, a member of BTS whose real name is Min Yoon Gi, will be the first BTS member to appear in a police lineup after recently making headlines for riding an electric scooter while intoxicated.
The Yongsan Police Station in Seoul announced on Sunday that they plan to summon Suga for questioning shortly. The investigation is being coordinated with his agency, Big Hit Music, and the Military Manpower Administration, as Suga is currently fulfilling his military service as a social service agent.
Suga was found lying on the ground after falling from an electric scooter in the Yongsan area last week. Police who responded detected the smell of alcohol and took him to a nearby precinct. At the time, his blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was recorded at 0.227%, well above the legal limit of 0.08% for license suspension, leading to both a fine and the revocation of his driving license.
Initially, Suga claimed he had "a drink of beer and drove briefly," but the confirmed level of 0.227% is reported to be among the highest for idols caught driving under the influence.
Due to his high level of intoxication, the police initially decided not to question Suga and allowed him to go home. However, further investigation is planned, focusing on the amount of alcohol consumed and the type of vehicle involved.
Suga and Big Hit Music initially described the vehicle as an "electric kickboard," but the police later clarified it was actually a scooter. This discrepancy led to suspicions that the incident might be downplayed. In response, Big Hit Music stated, "We believed the vehicle used by the artist was a type of scooter with a seat, which is why we referred to it as an electric scooter. We had no intention of minimizing the situation."
As this situation unfolds, there is growing curiosity about whether Suga, currently serving as a social service worker, will become the first BTS member to appear in a police lineup.
Previously, T.O.P from Big Bang is the only idol known to have stood in a police lineup while serving in the military. In 2017, T.O.P faced drug charges while serving as a conscripted police officer. He appeared in a lineup before his trial and read an apology: "My disturbed mental state and misguided thoughts led to a serious mistake." Following the incident, his position was revoked, and he was deemed unfit for re-service as a conscripted officer, completing his military service as a social service worker instead. Facing continued criticism, T.O.P later announced his departure from the group.