BTS' Suga, front left, who is under investigation for allegedly driving an electric scooter while intoxicated, arrives for questioning at Yongsan Police Station in Seoul, Aug. 23. Yonhap

A recent drunk driving incident involving BTS member Suga has highlighted a growing divide between the reactions of Korean and international fans, underscoring cultural discrepancies in how celebrity misconduct is perceived and addressed.

On the night of Aug. 6, police found Suga trying to get up after falling off his electric scooter under the influence of alcohol near his residence in Hannam-dong in central Seoul's Yongsan District. He was charged with violating the Road Traffic Act, with a blood alcohol concentration level of 0.227 percent — well above the legal limit.

News of the incident sparked outrage among many BTS fans in Korea, who expressed strong disappointment in Suga. Some criticized him for damaging the group's longstanding reputation as a scandal-free role model in the K-pop industry. Several Korean fans even called for him to leave the group.

A Korean woman in her 50s, identifying herself as a member of the fanbase, called ARMY, told The Korea Times about her disappointment in Suga following his DUI incident.

"As an artist representing Korea, I hoped Suga would have stricter self-discipline. Those who wear the crown, bear the crown — choices you make under that crown could significantly affect others. It's disappointing to see him fall short."

However, while many Korean fans expressed dismay, international fans rallied to Suga's defense. They criticized the intense scrutiny from both Korean fans and the public, arguing that Suga, like anyone else, is human and capable of making mistakes.

The divide within the BTS fans became evident in a recent exchange of contrasting statements from different fan groups. On Saturday, a faction of individuals identifying as ARMY called for Suga's departure from the group, arguing that he should take responsibility for the incident that, in their view, tarnished the band's reputation.

In response, 127 BTS fan organizations from 58 countries issued a joint statement, Monday, expressing their unwavering support for all seven BTS members. They emphasized that they "do not expect BTS members to take more responsibilities than they are legally required to."

International fans also voiced their displeasure with Korean media coverage of the incident. Jung Min-jae, a culture critic who commented on the situation in The Korea Times, revealed that he has been targeted by hostile messages from international fans.

"I got international calls earlier and now they're trying to change my (account) password ... No matter how shocking it is that a beloved idol has become a criminal overnight, do they think this will erase Suga's drunk driving? Keep trying," Jung later posted on X, formerly Twitter, addressing the personal attacks.

Wreaths bearing messages demanding BTS member Suga depart from the group are seen in a street in Seoul. Many photos of this display were posted on X after Suga's DUI incident emerged in early August. Captured from X

Expert insights

Amid the divide, experts have cited several factors contributing to the differing opinions between Korean and international fans.

CedarBough T. Saeji, an assistant professor of Korean and East Asian Studies at Pusan National University, attributed the rift to differences in perceptions regarding the status of idols.

"While 'idol' is just a word in many countries, in Korea it has long meant a type of very visible celebrity where stars have to be worthy of idolization — they are expected to be perfect, including off stage," Saeji told The Korea Times in a written interview.

"At the same time, the media often use idols and stories surrounding them to demonstrate to the public how they should and should not act. This can happen through articles that inflame public opinion on different topics."

The professor noted that international ARMYs are more likely to defend Suga due to Korea's stringent expectations of celebrity behavior, citing the case of actor Lee Sun-kyun as an example.

Lee, an A-list actor known for his family-friendly image, was found dead in December 2023 in an apparent suicide while under investigation for drug use. Despite his pleas of innocence, Korean public opinion remained unsympathetic.

"There are many ARMY who feel that, as fans, protecting BTS is an important part of their job and they may be worried by past cases like the case of Lee Sun-kyun," Saeji said. "This may make many international ARMY nervous that something worse could still happen regarding this case."

Police investigate the car where actor Lee Sun-kyun was found dead in a parking area in Jongno District, Seoul, Dec. 27, 2023. Yonhap

Grace Kao, a sociology professor at Yale University, shared a similar perspective, noting the concerns among American fans.

"I think American ARMY are also worried about the deleterious effects the Korean response will have on the health and well-being of Suga. American fans are familiar with the history of suicide among celebrities with scandals after being hounded by the media and their fans," Kao explained.

"With respect to Suga, many American ARMY believe he made an honest mistake and that he's already apologized. They feel like this crime was less serious because no one got hurt."

Kao also pointed out that fan divisions are less common in cases involving more serious offenses, where the harm is more evident.

One such case is that of Taeil, who was dishonorably removed from the K-pop group NCT on Aug. 28 by his agency, SM Entertainment, in response to sexual misconduct allegations. Taeil's charges drew widespread condemnation, highlighting the seriousness of the situation — an issue that even international fans could not ignore.

"If someone else was hurt, then it would raise the stakes. American fans would be less likely to forgive stories of sexual harassment or assault," Kao added.

Taeil, formerly of SM Entertainment's boy band NCT, was removed from the group following rape allegations, Aug. 28. Yonhap

Media's role

Experts also suggested that extensive media coverage in Korea may have played a significant role in deepening the divide between local and international reactions to Suga's case.

"There is a lot more coverage of this incident in Korea than in the U.S. Usually, news of any celebrity with a DUI would not stay in the news cycle for weeks at a time," Kao noted, pointing out the differing levels of attention on DUI cases in the two countries.

Pop culture critic Jung Duk-hyun agreed, highlighting the differing public attitudes toward drunk driving both within and outside Korea.

"In the case of drunk driving on a scooter, there's a significant emotional difference in how the incident is perceived domestically and internationally. In Korea, drunk driving is regarded as a serious crime, almost equivalent to premeditated murder, whereas that's not always the case overseas," Jung explained.

"Because drunk driving is considered such a serious issue in Korea, media coverage tends to focus heavily on it. However, international media are more distanced from the event, so the coverage is not as concentrated. This is why the media likely played a role in the differing reactions within the fandom."

Industry insiders also emphasized the responsibility of BigHit Music, Suga's agency, and its parent company HYBE Labels in managing the situation and preventing future risks.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a K-pop industry official highlighted the need to prevent similar incidents to protect the reputation of both BTS and the broader K-pop industry.

"With the recent controversies surrounding HYBE, there's growing skepticism about their risk management skills. However, moving forward, it will be crucial for the agency to manage its artists effectively, ensuring they reflect on their actions and implementing robust post-crisis management strategies," the official said.

"It's vital for HYBE to manage Suga carefully, ensuring he doesn't spiral into more severe issues like substance abuse or depression. It's also important for the agency to prevent similar mistakes among other HYBE artists as part of their efforts to promote a healthy K-pop culture."