KCSC Issues Warning to News Outlet Over False Footage in BTS SUGA’s DUI Case

A South Korean news outlet that broadcast false CCTV footage related to BTS member SUGA’s DUI case has received a legal reprimand, but no monetary fine. The Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) held a meeting on October 7, 2024, to address the issue, which stemmed from an August incident involving inaccurate footage aired by JTBC Newsroom.

The footage in question was mistakenly aired as part of the coverage of SUGA’s drunk driving case, but it was later revealed that the video showed an ordinary citizen riding an electric scooter, not the BTS star. Despite the newsroom’s repeated broadcasts of the footage, it turned out to be unrelated to the incident involving SUGA, misleading viewers.

At the meeting, the KCSC decided to issue a “warning” to the news outlet for their failure to verify the facts before broadcasting. Commissioner Kang Kyung Pil pointed out the lack of fact-checking, while Chairman Ryu Hee Rim acknowledged the mistake but considered the newsroom’s formal apology sufficient to avoid heavier penalties.

SUGA’s drunk driving incident occurred on August 6, when he lost control of his electric scooter while returning home, leading to his arrest for driving under the influence (DUI). The BTS rapper admitted his mistake and apologized to fans, stating that he was unaware of traffic laws prohibiting the operation of electric scooters while intoxicated.

Following the incident, SUGA was fined 15 million KRW by the Seoul Western District Court on September 11, 2024, in connection with the DUI case.