[Grace Kao] American redemption vs. Korean punishment for BTS’ Suga

I’m a fan of BTS and know many American followers within the BTS Military, because the fan group calls itself. I’m additionally in touch with many Okay-pop professionals and Korean followers of Okay-pop. I used to be in Korea a few weeks in the past, and it actually struck me how totally different American and Korean perceptions of Suga’s current drunk-driving controversy have been. The underside line comes all the way down to American beliefs about redemption for previous private transgressions versus Korean beliefs about fairness in punishment for celebrities, no less than involving ingesting beneath the affect.

In keeping with information stories, Suga was discovered by police after falling off his electrical scooter close to his condo on Aug. 6.

Articles counsel that his blood alcohol stage was 0.227 p.c, which is significantly greater than the 0.08 p.c that warrants the cancellation of a driver’s license. The controversy unfolded from drunk driving later to the declare that Suga and Hybe misled the general public with the kind of automobile listed — they referred to the automobile in query as an electrical kickboard, which carries lighter penalties. Safety footage confirmed somebody, presumably Suga, on an electrical scooter. It turned out that this footage was not of him. Later, different footage confirmed him on an electrical scooter with a kickboard kind body. Stories additionally declare that Suga stated he had one beer.

The Korean media, Korean followers and my buddies in Korea give attention to the truth that Suga’s blood alcohol stage was the best reported amongst any idols charged with drunk driving.

Earlier this summer season, one of many main superstar scandals concerned trot singer Kim Ho-joong’s driving beneath the affect. He allegedly compelled his supervisor to falsely confess to driving the automobile and to swallow the SIM card from his automobile’s digicam. He’s being charged and held for successful and run, and faces as much as 30 years in jail.

Earlier, Shinhwa’s Shin Hye-sung was faraway from the group after his second DUI. Theo of DKB was eliminated after a DUI. Kangin of Tremendous Junior had two DUIs (2009, blood alcohol content material of 0.082 p.c after which once more in 2016 with a blood alcohol stage of 0.05 p.c) earlier than being faraway from the group.

Many others have had DUIs. In truth, some followers had compiled a listing of idols with DUIs and their blood alcohol ranges — Suga’s clearly stands out for its excessive stage.

Additionally it is the case that many of those idols suffered some kind of consequence. Logic follows that it’s only truthful that Suga, whose blood alcohol stage was the best amongst these idols, shouldn’t be exempt simply because he’s from BTS. Korea is a extremely aggressive society, the place assessments and quantitative measures decide all forms of academic and occupational outcomes. In a means, the blood alcohol stage is a rating to be in contrast with different scores. This rationale is smart within the Korean context.

In stark distinction, my American BTS Military associates and buddies are livid in regards to the protection Suga’s incident has obtained from the Korean media and the responses from some Korean followers (and maybe antifans).

They might disagree about how lots of the particulars are reality versus fiction — some individuals vigorously argue towards each element being reported. They imagine there’s “faux information” about Suga. Some don’t imagine stories of the blood alcohol stage, the kind of automobile and/or whether or not Suga had initially misled followers in his apology letter.

All of them agree that the one one that was injured was Suga. Everybody additionally agrees that DUIs are critical infractions and I believe they might help the penalty of the revocation of a driver’s license. Nevertheless, they argue that if Suga exercised poor judgment or abused alcohol because of any psychological well being challenges, the media protection is barely going to make issues worse for him.

In truth, the answer must give attention to Suga.

Suga may have assist in getting sober or bettering his psychological well being. They fear about what this protection is doing to his well-being. Their hope is for him to return out of this as a more healthy, sober particular person. That is what People hope for celebrities with alcohol and drug issues — that they search assist and overcome these challenges slightly than having them serve jail time.

Having stated that, I do assume People take crimes towards different people, particularly people who contain sexual assault, spycams, and so on. far more critically than some Koreans. I don’t assume People see these as forgivable offenses.

However to many People, what Suga is charged with is a far cry from most of these prison offenses. People see drug and alcohol abuse of celebrities as private points that should be addressed, however I don’t assume idols or different celebrities would get “canceled.”

Nevertheless, People should not conscious of what different Okay-pop and Korean celebrities have confronted relating to DUIs, particularly as not too long ago as earlier this 12 months. Nevertheless, each fan of Hallyu is conscious of the tragic obvious suicide of “Parasite” actor Lee Solar-kyun after being interviewed by police and being the article of nonstop media protection.

Irrespective of the place one stands on this challenge, I believe we will all agree that we wish Suga — or Min Yoon-gi — to emerge from this as a stronger and more healthy particular person. Being a Okay-pop idol is a troublesome job, and for BTS members, together with Suga, the perfect and worst components are extra intense than for some other idol.

Grace Kao

Grace Kao is an IBM professor of sociology and professor of ethnicity, race and migration at Yale College. The views expressed listed below are the author’s personal. — Ed.