BTS’ SUGA DUI Case: ARMY Defends BTS Star Amid Anti-Fan Protests Over Resolved DUI Case

SUGA, a member of the globally popular K-pop group BTS, is back in the headlines due to his DUI case, weeks after the issue was legally resolved. Despite the case being closed with a fine, anti-fans have once again stirred up controversy by sending funeral wreaths to HYBE, the management company behind BTS, demanding SUGA's removal from the group. The wreaths contained malicious messages, branding the artist as a criminal and disrespecting his work.

Anti-Fans Protest with Funeral Wreaths

On October 20, 2024, several funeral wreaths were seen outside the HYBE building in Seoul. The wreaths, sent by anti-fans, carried offensive captions aimed directly at SUGA, calling for his removal from BTS and criticizing his music. Photos of the scene quickly spread online, sparking a wave of reactions on social media. While anti-fans continued their online criticism, BTS' devoted fanbase, ARMY, rallied to show their unwavering support for SUGA.

ARMY Defends SUGA with Strong Support

As soon as the images of the wreaths surfaced, ARMY mobilized to defend SUGA. Fans arrived at the site with placards and hoardings, expressing their desire for BTS to remain a seven-member group. On social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), hashtags supporting SUGA began trending as fans voiced their frustration over the situation. They criticized HYBE for not addressing the issue more firmly and questioned why the protest was allowed to continue. One fan account even reported that the wreaths are being removed daily by 5 PM, but new ones are expected to arrive until October 22.

A Recurring Issue for SUGA

This is not the first time anti-fans have protested against SUGA following his DUI incident. When the news first broke, many similar protest wreaths were sent to HYBE. However, during that time, ARMY responded with a global "purple project" to show their support for SUGA, reminding the world of his contributions and expressing their hope for his continued success with BTS.

SUGA's DUI Incident: What Happened?

The incident occurred on the night of August 7, 2024, when SUGA was spotted riding an electric scooter near his residence in Hannam-dong. After taking a sharp turn, he fell off the scooter. A nearby police officer noticed the smell of alcohol and conducted a breathalyzer test. Reports indicated that his blood alcohol content was 0.227%, nearly seven times the legal limit. Although this figure was not officially confirmed, it led to SUGA being fined 15 million KRW after a summary indictment.

Fans Frustrated by the Ongoing Controversy

Despite the case being legally resolved, ARMY members are growing increasingly frustrated with the continued backlash against SUGA. They believe that the situation should be left in the past, as the rapper has already faced the consequences of his actions. Many fans feel that the repeated protests are unfair and are affecting not only SUGA but the entire group.

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