BTS fans divided over K-pop star Suga’s drink-driving incident

SEOUL – K-pop sensation BTS’ dedicated fan base, known as Army, is sharply divided over BTS member Suga’s recent drink-driving incident.

While some fans express disappointment and call for his departure from the boy band, others argue that such criticism is excessive and that the 31-year-old rapper should be given privacy to deal with the situation.

Suga, whose real name is Min Yoon-gi, was booked by South Korean police for

riding an e-scooter while under the influence

on Aug 6. His blood alcohol concentration was 0.227 per cent, one of the highest recorded levels among K-pop stars.

Suga, who

enlisted in September 2023,

is currently fulfilling his mandatory military service as a social service agent, a role that typically involves a regular schedule, allowing him to return home after working hours.

“What he did was wrong and there’s no excuse for it,” said a South Korean BTS fan, surnamed Han, on Aug 12. “Suga is not just an average K-pop idol. He’s a global star with immense influence and he knows this better than anyone. It was a reckless act.”

Some fans have taken their discontent further by sending protest wreaths to the headquarters of Hybe, the label behind BTS, in Seoul on Aug 13, urging Suga to leave the group. The wreaths bore messages such as “Leave, Min Yoon-gi”, “You let go of our hands first” and “Resign before you face the press”.

Protest trucks urging Suga to depart from BTS were spotted near the Hybe building on Aug 16.

The protest was a spontaneous act by individual fans rather than an organised effort by the fandom, said South Korean press reports.

International fans have expressed concern for Suga’s well-being, asking that he be given space to avoid excessive stress.

“I am concerned about Suga’s mental and emotional health because of situations that he has discussed regarding his past struggles with mental health,” Ms Cassie Stewart, a BTS fan in Connecticut, United States, said on Aug 15.

Ms Mary Lutkus, another BTS fan in the US, said: “There’s no question this was a crime, and the legal consequences should fit the offence. But what’s shocking and infuriating is the vitriol and cruelty that the South Korean public seems to enjoy directing at any celebrity who shows they are a fallible human being.”

Korean music critic Lim Hee-yun pointed out that the high expectations placed on K-pop artistes by South Korean fans are deeply rooted in the K-pop culture.

“International fans need to understand that the foundation of K-pop is built on extremely high ethical standards,” he said. “The unique appeal of K-pop wouldn’t exist without these strict expectations.”

Mr Lim also highlighted the unique context of drink-driving in South Korea, especially when it involves prominent figures like BTS.

“In South Korea, there’s a particularly strong backlash against drink-driving, as seen in cases like that of trot singer Kim Ho-joong. Laws like the Yoon Chang-ho Act reflect how seriously this issue is taken here.”

The Yoon Chang-ho Act was enacted following a tragic incident in 2018, when a young man named Yoon Chang-ho was killed after being hit by a drunk driver.

Kim, 32, was arrested in May 2024 over an alleged hit-and-run accident while driving under the influence.

“As artistes who have elevated the nation’s prestige, BTS are held to a higher ethical standard, even more so than Olympic champions,” Mr Lim said. “This is why the public reaction is so intense.” THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK