For the past few days, the K-pop community on social media has been abuzz with the news of BTS Suga’s DUI controversy. Almost every fandom has weighed in on their opinions on the matter and was rightfully critical of the K-pop idol’s reckless behavior, as well as how the BTS fandom has been reacting to the news. ARMYs are infamously known in the K-pop fandom/community as fans that will go above and beyond for their favorite group—meaning they would absolutely do anything for them.
By anything, we mean everything for the globally famous K-pop supergroup. ICYDK, on the night of August 6th, South Korean police found BTS rapper Suga after falling off from his electric scooter and brought him to the police station to be subjected to a breathalyzer test. The test result exceeded South Korea’s legal limit of 0.
8%, leading to his license being revoked and a hefty penalty. Suga and his agency, BIGHIT MUSIC issues apologies after the news was made public. However, both apologies drew in criticisms for sounding “self-serving” and for “spreading misinformation” about the case.
Initially, BIGHIT MUSIC said that the rapper was using an electric kickboard, but police confirmed (with CCTV evidence) that he was riding an electric scooter. In South Korea, driving an electric scooter requires a special license, thus treating the case akin to vehicles. Also, driving under the influence is severely looked down on in the country, with many celebrities eventually leaving or going low-key in the entertainment industry after they were caught.
It was later found out that the alcohol concentration found in Suga’s blood was about 0.227%– the highest in the list of K-pop idols found with a DUI. Following the blowing up of BTS Suga’s controversial (and lengthy) DUI case, some ‘fans’ started a “drunk driving challenge,” where they would drink alcohol and drive, much like Suga.
ARMY LETS DO THE #SugaChallenge DRINK 7 BOTTLES RUN OVER 7 CYCLISTS GO 7 TIMES OVER THE SPEED LIMIT DRIVE THROUGH 7 NEIGHBORHOODS BTS IS ALWAYS 7 💜 ALWAYS WITH YOU MIN YOONGI #SugaChallenge pic.twitter.com/obTaoB96iC — 👁 (@tonemaxxing) August 10, 2024 Friday night #SugaChallenge 👮♂️🚨 let’s beat this case pic.
twitter.com/MX54WVRo45 — huy✦真實純正(zhēnshí chúnzhèng)🦋💎 (@true_r3al) August 10, 2024 breaking the law just because you cant admit that your idol fucked up is mad weird btw! " #SugaChallenge " wtf..
pic.twitter.com/xyvv7gsiIN — 🕸♠️ || rui (@sillierui) August 10, 2024 Friday night #SugaChallenge 🍻 ALWAYS WITH YOU MIN YOONGI pic.
twitter.com/1yCPQqfgyG — ً💜7 (@wxrdna) August 9, 2024 WE STAND WITH YOU MIN YOONGI #SUGACHALLENGE pic.twitter.
com/EdEX8NGTM4 — diegokook (@seulgigroupie) August 10, 2024 However, ARMYs claim the challenge was attributed to and initiated by “antis” posing as BTS fans. Many fans condemned the news outlet, Chosun, and even started a petition against the challenge. #SugaChallenge pic.
twitter.com/vg74orj4PB — ah! love (@svtmaxxing) August 9, 2024 Suga Challenge is dumbest thing I’ve ever seen!!! #SugaChallenge Go home and stay alone forever 😡😡 Bring it on if you wish 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 pic.twitter.
com/a6luckKSfR — 십잡쓰 (@rrizzzzzzz) August 10, 2024 Forget the "Apologize to yoongi" bullshit...
. Have you seen the #.SugaChallenge?? These morafukas are literally drunk-driving!!! They've lost every bit of sanity they had left They make my skin crawl!!! 🤢 pic.
twitter.com/DizSLmrKTs — ᱬdahlia🦋 (@nad15_bp) August 9, 2024 yall praising drinking and driving is fucking disgusting. AT YOUR GROWN ASS FUCKING AGES????? taking a picture of u with a beer in ur hand and driving .
.. fuck yall fucking weirdos #SugaChallenge — betzy (@CBGSCY) August 9, 2024 This #sugachallenge isn't funny.
It's not supportive. It isn't cool. It isn't anything.
Drinking and driving kills people and many have lost family members; friends; their own lives. I don't even care if the car isn't moving. The insinuation isn't funny.
It's a serious- — Wooahaezi ( Seventeen's Noona)🐢 🍚 🌻😼🐸 (@Maestro_woozi) August 10, 2024 Acting like these fandoms made 31 year old grown man Suga cause a DUI 😭 peak mental illness going on here. https://t.co/R3wIbr4MuK — Kun ✨ (@cherryblackout) August 10, 2024 However, ARMYs claim the challenge was attributed to and initiated by “antis” posing as BTS fans.
Many fans condemned the news outlet, Chosun, and even started a petition against the challenge. Hi @Chosun @EnglishChosun Your reporter Kim Junseok published a totally defamatory and incorrect article on August 11 at 11:22. The article with title "The 'Suga Challenge' wasn't made by ARMY.
We demand that the false article be deleted and a public apology. The level of..
. pic.twitter.
com/xiHPGYb9Q2 — BTS Daily Chile7 (@BTSDailyChile) August 11, 2024 As news outlets, we expect u to present well-researched info to public but Chosun 조선일보, posted an incorrect article about BTS haters creating "Suga Challenge" – but instead attributed it to BTS fans & blurred the real accounts #KoreanMediaBeProfessional #CorruptedKoreanMedia pic.twitter.com/l4iM0M6aIA — ̊˖𓍢ִֶָ໋֢🧜🏻♀️ִֶֶָָ֢𓂃ּ ࣪˖ ִֶָ ⊹ ˑ ִ ֶ 𓂃em7 (@dooyourthing) August 11, 2024 Journalists are supposed to be professional and tell the truth but, unfortunately, some of them just make that profession a joke and a completely lack of respect to others.
IT WAS A SETUP CHALLENGE WAS FAKE #KoreanMediaBeProfessional #ItWasNotARMY #조작된챌린지 #진짜아미아님 pic.twitter.com/7zy3EjadVJ — SUGA WORLDWIDE UNION 🌏 (fan account) (@SugaWWUnion) August 12, 2024 ARMY make sure to post this pic in eng & in korean everywhere on twt, chosun a korean news site posted article abt BTS haters who are creating the suga challenge but instead of saying it was BTS haters,he said it was by BTS fans & even blurred the usernames & fabricated whole+ pic.
twitter.com/flNdWGPwEc — ikram7⟭⟬103D (@bts07ddaeng) August 11, 2024 This was the account that started it all @/wxrdna the/suga challenge. Report under abuse and harassment — inciting harassment.
Make sure that btch gets her account s worded. pic.twitter.
com/VulneSwZ2l — valeria. (@tanniestic) August 12, 2024 This is what the petition is about..
. I SIGNED ✅️ Will you join us?! 💜 https://t.co/it5MUFScaN https://t.
co/Cz9kNN1oA1 pic.twitter.com/RAF4EM2o9C — WHO is IdleSaturnwɪth bts 7=1 mUSε (@IdleSaturn7) August 12, 2024 ARMYS DONT STOP TRENDING! ALSO SIGN THE PETITION!!️ IT WAS A SET UP CHALLENGE WAS FAKE #KoreanMediaBeProfesional #ItWasNotArmy https://t.
co/YjuQKZEb9Q — Carolyne🌱7=1 (@mhereonlyforbts) August 12, 2024 Whether who initiated it, by doing this so-called #SugaChallenge, you would be placing innocent lives at risk. This issue is surely going down as one of the biggest DUI issues in K-pop history. This incident boils down to a simple lesson: responsibility pays off.
One issue/mistake can lead to another. May this serve as a lesson and not be used to cause further harm to others. Other POP! stories that you might like: [Commentary] Reminder for K-pop stans: DUI is a serious offense, not a laughing matter K-pop group FIFTY FIFTY’s comeback upsets fans with new lineup Some BLINKS disappointed with BLACKPINK’s 8th anniversary release Kim Ji Won stuns Manila with a fan meeting filled with joyful tears and cheers Cartoon Network’s website shuts down, leaves fans nostalgic and heartbroken Senior Writer Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address.
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