Kpop Review

JTBC Apologizes For Misinformation on BTS Suga's DUI Incident — But ARMYS Aren't Satisfied

JTBC has apologized regarding misinformation on Suga’s DUI incident. However, ARMYs online weren’t satisfied with the apology.

Suga trended earlier on August 7, when the idol was charged with violating the Road Traffic Act by the Seoul Yongsan Police Station. According to Korean news outlets, Suga drove an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol and eventually fell nearby his place.

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Three policemen were assigned on patrol around the Nine One, Hannam, and they were alerted by Suga’s fall during a turn.

Following this, Korean media began to search for footage of the incident, with JTBC releasing a incorrect CCTV clip amid the ongoing controversy.

On August 14, outlet DongA Ilbo shared updated footage, showing what really happened to Suga. The clip disproved JTBC’s version since the scooter the station showed does not involve Suga, and that the vehicle was heading in a different direction instead of the rapper’s home.

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(Photo : DongA Ilbo)

ARMYs were enraged with the misinformation, causing JTBC to receive flak. The station has since deleted its initial footage and replaced the content with the updated version. On August 16, JTBC directly addressed the misinformation on Suga’s DUI incident.

“Our newsroom reported about BTS member Suga’s DUI on the 7th of August. During the report’s first portion, we showed CCTV footage of an electric scooter driving the main road.”

“According to police investigations later, it was revealed that the person in the video was not Suga. We apologize for causing confusion.”

 

The backlash, however, did not dissipate despite JTBC’s actions. On social media platform X (Twitter), netizens weren’t satisfied with the apology. Fans also expressed anger to the station and claimed that the apology wasn’t sincere enough.

Read their reactions below:

In other news, JTBC president Son Suk Hee apologized for a report regarding BTS and BIGHIT MUSIC (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) in December 2019. The initial report JTBC “Newsroom” claimed was that BTS had considered legal action against BIGHIT due to profit division issues.

BIGHIT responded to the reports, requesting an apology from JTBC for violating journalistic codes. Son Suk Hee shared, “We concluded that the possibility of a legal dispute is almost zero.”

The president added, “We humbly accept the criticism that our information was way over itself for claiming a situation in which no instances of legal action had been taken.”

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