“Knetz as a Laughing Stock” — Fans Respond to Stephen Colbert’s Comments on BTS Suga’s DUI Incident, Emphasizing the Absurdity of the Situation

On October 17, 2024, Stephen Colbert addressed the DUI incident involving BTS member Suga during an episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The segment titled “What’s Going On Over There?”typically covers American news and politics along with unusual global headlines.

In this recent installment of the widely viewed talk show, the well-known host remarked on how Grammy-nominated BTS rapper Min Yoongi, better known as Suga, faced backlash after apologizing for operating an “electric kickboard”while intoxicated. Colbert humorously critiqued the South Korean media for portraying the artist as a criminal.

“A scandal has erupted over Suga from the K-pop sensation BTS apologizing for riding an electric scooter while under the influence. Not only did he receive a fine, but his license was also revoked. Hold on! Do Koreans need a license for this? In New York, you’d see toddlers riding these down Broadway while munching on turkey legs,”he humorously noted.

Colbert’s incredulity prompted laughter from the live studio audience.

The clip quickly gained traction online as BTS fans voiced their agreement with Colbert, feeling that Suga had been treated unfairly by the South Korean press. One fan referred to the controversially scathing online commentary as a “laughing stock,”posting on X:

“Knetz are nothing but a laughing stock.”

Fans discussed the normalcy of using foldable electric scooters, stating they would never “forgive”those who amplified the situation and mistreated Suga.

“In New York, you’d see a baby riding down Broadway eating a turkey leg on one of these scooters. As a New Yorker, this scandal strikes me as hilarious and nonsensical. It’s ridiculous anywhere unless you’re part of a certain demographic in South Korea. My dear myg, I will never forgive those people,”one fan expressed.

“This situation needed to reflect even more negatively on Korea… like, significantly more. But I’m glad he managed to address it… it’s just utterly ridiculous! The disparity in how this incident is treated compared to more severe cases is striking,”another admirer remarked.

“I remember crying intensely after he issued his second apology, and when my mom found me, she asked what happened. After I explained, she was like, ‘That’s it..?’ The entire situation has been blown out of proportion for no valid reason,”a different fan shared.

Many others highlighted that while Suga faced criminal treatment, real offenders receive sympathy from netizens and the media. Some supporters urged international news outlets to step in and provide perspective on the situation.

“In South Korea, falling off an e-kickboard costs $11,000, while a lack of greetings becomes a national assembly discussion, yet actual rapists and sexual offenders receive sympathy. We need international media to humble these narratives,”one user lamented.

“It’s a gentle yet warranted mockery of South Korea regarding this issue. Outside of illogical and overly dramatic online communities, the response from South Korea towards Yoongi in relation to this e-scooter incident is truly a laughable matter globally,”another fan wrote.

“This is how those without a specific agenda against BTS have reacted to this news: with laughter and disbelief. If you attempt to explain the media storm to your non-fan friends, they’ll be utterly confused,”another fan added.

BTS’ Suga Fined $11,500 for Operating an Electric Kickboard While Intoxicated, Interrogated for 3 Hours

On August 7, 2024, MBC Entertainment reported that Suga was charged for drunk riding of a foldable electric scooter the previous night. After he fell near his home, a police officer conducted a breathalyzer test, showing a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) exceeding 0.08%.

That same day, Suga released an apology letter, expressing remorse for his actions and informing fans of his license revocation. However, media outlet JTBC circulated a blurry CCTV clip of a man on a traditional motorized scooter, incorrectly identifying him as Suga and claiming his BAC was above 0.227%.

This led to a wave of severe criticism towards the BTS member. In response, the BTS fandom rallied in defense of Suga, demanding that media outlets fact-check reports. On August 15, Dong-A Ilbo released the original footage confirming Suga was on an electric kickboard and had simply tripped outside his house, promptly picking up his helmet afterward.

This original CCTV footage disproved JTBC’s claims, prompting fans to call for an apology from the outlet. On August 16, JTBC eventually apologized on air for creating confusion with their unverified report. Despite this, South Korean netizens sent funeral wreaths to HYBE, demanding Suga’s removal from BTS.

On August 23, Suga was called to Yongsan Police Station, where he faced a three-hour interrogation. Media gathered outside the station to conduct an unethical Photo Line, a practice aimed at humiliating individuals and putting them on public trial.

On August 26, Yongsan Police confirmed, after consulting with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, that Suga did not require a license or license plate to operate the electric scooter. However, he still received a fine of approximately $11,500 and had his license taken away.

In other news, Suga enlisted in the military for alternative duty on September 22, 2023, and is expected to return in June 2025 to resume group activities.

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