JTBC's 'Newsroom' apologizes to BTS member Suga for incorrect drunk driving report based on CCTV

JTBC's Newsroom apologizes for mistakenly linking BTS's Suga to a drunk driving incident based on CCTV footage.

JTBC’s Newsroom has issued an apology to BTS member Suga after mistakenly reporting that he was involved in a drunk driving incident based on incorrect CCTV footage. The apology was made at the end of the Newsroom broadcast on the 16th, where the anchor acknowledged the error and clarified the situation.

The initial report, aired on August 7th, claimed that Suga had been seen driving an electric scooter while intoxicated in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The report featured CCTV footage that purported to show Suga passing by a boulevard on an electric scooter. However, following a police investigation, it was confirmed that the individual in the video was not Suga. The Newsroom anchor stated, "I apologize for the confusion," and confirmed that the news segment had been removed from their online platforms on August 14th.

The original report had sparked significant attention as it claimed that Suga was caught by police at 11:10 p.m. on August 6th, driving an electric scooter near his home in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. His blood alcohol level at the time was reported to be 0.227%, well over the legal limit, leading to his booking on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act (Drunk Driving).

Suga, who has been serving as a social service worker since September last year, is expected to be summoned for further investigation. The false report, which wrongly identified him as the individual in the CCTV footage, prompted JTBC to issue a public apology to the BTS member.

This incident has highlighted the importance of accurate reporting, particularly when it involves public figures, and JTBC’s Newsroom has taken steps to correct the error and prevent similar incidents in the future.