BTS member Suga, post returning from military service, penned a long note apologising to fans—again—for the disappointment caused by his DUI controversy last year. However, despite this, on June 24, YTN News reported that the rapper was hit with a petition calling for his TV ban, specifically targeting appearances on the KBS network, known for blacklisting celebrities considered a bad influence on youth. This comes just a day after reports of the rapper’s massive 5 billion won donation for the development of a special autism centre.
Suga was found by police lying next to his electric scooter, with a blood alcohol level reportedly at 0.227%, almost three times South Korea’s legal limit of 0.08%. His license could’ve been revoked, but the court instead ordered him to pay a fine of 15 million KRW (around $11,000). That didn’t sit well with a section of the Korean public, who argued he should be held to the same standard as anyone else.
Petition filed against BTS member Suga asking for permanent TV ban
Suga was discharged from military service on June 21, and just a day later, a petition on the KBS Viewers’ Petition Board (the official channel where Korean viewers raise complaints or suggestions to the broadcaster) went viral. The complaint was titled “Request for Appearance Sanctions Regarding SUGA’s DUI Fine.” The petitioner argued that drunk driving is a serious crime, and a public figure as big as Suga, with massive youth influence, should be held accountable. The concern is that letting him appear on TV right after his return and comeback talk sends the wrong message. They said it risks making drunk driving seem like an ignorant mistake, which it’s not, especially in South Korea. “Drunk driving is a serious crime that can cause direct harm to others. He is a public figure who has a significant influence on young people, and there is concern that appearing on TV with such influence could lower social awareness of drunk driving crimes,” an excerpt of the complaint reads.
The petition further urged KBS to hold a meeting of its Broadcast Appearance Regulation Review Committee, a formal panel that decides whether a certain celebrity should be allowed on air. KBS has previously suspended or restricted appearances of several artistes and actors involved in similar controversies, including Kwak Do Won, Kim Sae Ron, Kim Ho Joong and others. Most of them were blocked from KBS content, even if they weren’t legally jailed, because their crimes caused public backlash.
This might be a big deal, and a pretty sensitive one, for BTS right now, as a full-group comeback is on the horizon. BTS appearing on Korean music shows, variety programs, and interviews is almost a given, and since KBS is one of the biggest South Korean networks to host such shows, a few possibilities arise: either BTS promotes as a six-member group, which is very unlikely to happen; or BTS skips KBS shows entirely, which would be bad for the network’s TRP; or KBS makes an exception, which could lead to massive backlash and boycott threads targeting the channel. The petitioner claims KBS delayed action earlier because the case outcome wasn’t public.
