Suga of BTS Raises the 'Strange Challenge' While Sitting in the Driver's Seat Holding a Bottle...

Recent 'Sugar Challenge' Trend on SNS
"Whether Mockery or Fandom, It's Harmful" Netizens Criticize

Group BTS member Suga (Min Yoon-gi) is facing allegations of drunk driving after consuming alcohol, while a challenge has been spreading on social media where people post photos of themselves holding a steering wheel and a bottle of alcohol together in support of him. However, there is growing evidence that this is a fabricated stunt orchestrated by some BTS anti-fans.

Group 'Bangtan Sonyeondan' (BTS) member Suga (Min Yoon-gi) is under suspicion of drunk driving after drinking alcohol. Meanwhile, some people are showing support for him by posting photos of a steering wheel and a bottle of alcohol together on social media in a spreading challenge.
[Photo source=Online community 'FM Korea']

On the 10th, a post titled "The Suga Challenge currently trending abroad" was uploaded on an online community. The author shared several photos along with the explanation that recently, especially on X, photos showing people holding bottles of alcohol inside vehicles under the hashtag "Suga Challenge" have been continuously posted.

The photos posted by the author show X users writing in English phrases such as "I always support Suga" and "I stand with Suga," expressing support for him. This behavior is inconsistent with the usual positive influence and character of BTS's fandom, ARMY. Consequently, suspicions arose that these posts might have been made not by ARMY but by other idol fandoms or anti-fans.

[Photo by Online Community 'FM Korea']

In fact, there have been ongoing discoveries of fabricated stunts by some BTS anti-fans who have taken photos from image-sharing platforms like Pinterest. Additionally, some netizens have mocked Suga by posting videos of themselves drinking beverages from bottles while driving, tagged with the Suga Challenge hashtag.

As criticism of this challenge grows among netizens, one user pointed out, "Whether in support or mockery, the mere posting of such photos has a harmful effect," emphasizing that the illegal acts of idols, who have significant influence on youth, are this harmful.

Earlier, on the 7th, Yongsan Police Station announced that they had booked Suga on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act and were investigating. Suga was found by nearby police after he fell alone while riding an electric scooter in a state of intoxication in the Yongsan district the previous day. The electric scooter Suga was operating is classified as a motorized bicycle and is subject to criminal penalties under the same standards as drunk driving in a car. While drunk driving on personal mobility devices (PM) typically results in administrative penalties (such as license suspension or revocation) and a fine of 100,000 KRW, if the blood alcohol concentration exceeds 0.08%, the offender can face imprisonment from one to two years or a fine ranging from 5 million to 10 million KRW.