On the 7th, a complaint about a 'Warning Disposition (5-Day Extended Service)' appeared on the National Sinmungo
Suga's side reiterates, "This is not a downplay of the incident"
As controversy surrounds BTS member Suga's 'drunk driving,' a petition demanding Suga's '5-day extended service' has been raised.
On the 7th, a verified post requesting additional service for Suga was uploaded on an online community. The author explained the reason for the petition, stating, "The social value of BTS is beyond words," and added, "Therefore, I filed a petition through the National Petition System to the Military Manpower Administration requesting a 'warning disposition (5-day extended service).'"
They continued, "Currently, the Korean military is finding it difficult to maintain its personnel and military organization at the same scale as before due to the decline in the population of men in their early 20s who are subject to enlistment," and added, "In this situation, Suga's 'drunk driving charge' will obviously have a more negative impact on the reality of 'personnel shortages.'"
Furthermore, they emphasized, "Therefore, pursuant to Article 33, Paragraph 2, Item 5 of the Military Service Act (Extension of Service for Social Service Personnel) and Article 29-2, Item 5 of the Social Service Personnel Service Management Regulations (Scope of Disciplinary Violations), we strongly urge that Suga be given a 'warning disposition (5-day extended service)' and other strict penalties."
According to Article 33 of the Military Service Act, if a social service personnel commits acts such as drinking during working hours, gambling, public misconduct, or other disciplinary violations, a warning disposition is given, and for each additional warning, the service period is extended by 5 days. Article 29-2, Paragraph 2 states that "other disciplinary violations" mentioned in Article 33 refer to acts that damage the dignity of social service personnel.
However, the possibility of Suga serving additional duty is low. A Military Manpower Administration official stated in an interview with a media outlet on the 7th, "Social service personnel outside of working hours are considered civilians and are not subject to the Military Service Act."
Earlier, on the previous day, the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul announced that Suga was booked and investigated on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving). Suga was found fallen while riding an electric scooter in the Yongsan district in a drunken state. The blood alcohol concentration test confirmed that Suga's level was at the license cancellation threshold (0.08% or higher).
Photo comparing an electric kickboard (left) and a foldable electric scooter, unrelated to the article content
Following the report, Suga's agency Big Hit Music stated, "Suga was returning home in a drunk state while wearing a helmet and using an electric kickboard, and he fell while parking."
After the agency's statement, suspicions of 'downplaying the incident' arose. This was because the police identified the vehicle as an 'electric scooter,' whereas the agency claimed it was an 'electric kickboard.' The device Suga was using reportedly had no significant difference in appearance from a kickboard but included an added seat where a person can sit.
As the controversy continued, the agency clarified, "There was absolutely no intention to downplay the matter," and apologized repeatedly for "not examining the situation more thoroughly and ultimately speaking hastily." They added, "We will faithfully fulfill our responsibilities according to the classification decided by the investigative authorities regarding the product." They further explained, "Our company judged the product used by the artist to be a kickboard with a seat and thus described it as an 'electric kickboard.' Through additional verification, we recognized that classification may vary depending on the product's performance and specifications, and the scope of responsibility for the accident may also differ."
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