Ah, South Korea. The land of unmatched food, excellent skincare, and apparently, petitions to ban BTS’s Suga from KBS because the nation can’t mind its own business for five minutes.
In case you somehow missed it while existing in the real world, Suga got caught with a DUI back in April. His blood alcohol level was high enough to lose his license. He admitted it, paid the fine, apologized, and is reflecting on his mistake like an adult. Was it wrong? Absolutely. Was it dangerous? Yes, and no one is sugarcoating that, including Suga himself.
But guess what? That still isn’t enough for some people. Because of course it isn’t.
Now, a freshly brewed petition has popped up demanding KBS ban Suga from all broadcasts, arguing that a person with a DUI “shouldn’t be allowed on TV” because it sends “the wrong message to youth.” Oh, so that’s what’s corrupting the youth? Not, I don’t know, the horrifying real estate market, politicians scamming taxpayers, or companies treating workers like robots? No, it’s Suga, sitting in a music show chair, who is apparently going to singlehandedly lead the entire nation’s children into a drunken driving spree.
KBS confirmed they received the petition and will “review it according to internal policy,” which is basically corporate talk for “We’ll think about it, but thanks for the drama.” KBS evaluates these cases based on the nature of the incident and the level of public outcry. And if you’ve been here long enough, you know this means the final decision will take a while, while people online sharpen their pitchforks and refresh their feeds.
And yes, there are people who believe celebrities should be held accountable, and yes, drunk driving is wrong, period. But where exactly is the logical leap that says “you made a mistake, so you should never work again on public TV, even after apologizing and accepting your punishment”? If the point is accountability, great. If the point is “eternal exile to please the moral high ground club,” then we have a problem.
If we’re banning Suga from TV forever, then shouldn’t we also apply that energy to every celebrity who’s made a mistake? Or are we just picking and choosing based on who will get us the most clout online?
It’s also worth noting that KBS has handled these situations on a case-by-case basis, sometimes suspending artists for a while, sometimes allowing them back after a period of reflection. There is no hard rule that says one mistake equals permanent erasure, no matter how many people with too much time and a free internet connection want it to be.
Let’s be clear: drunk driving is dangerous, and we hope Suga never repeats that mistake. But to say he should never appear on TV again, that he should lose his entire career, that he should pay for this mistake for the rest of his life—does that actually prevent drunk driving? Or is it just punishment for the sake of punishment, wrapped up in “concern for the youth” to feel morally superior?
People love to talk about “teaching lessons,” but here’s the lesson we should actually teach: Take accountability, accept consequences, learn, and grow. That’s what Suga is doing. He’s not making excuses, hiding, or acting like he’s above the law. He’s paying the price, facing the shame, and moving forward.
And yes, people are allowed to be disappointed. But the idea that Suga’s presence on KBS will corrupt the moral compass of an entire generation is laughable. You know what would actually send a positive message? Letting young people see someone who made a serious mistake take responsibility, learn from it, and continue to contribute to society.
Because guess what? The world doesn’t need perfection to learn. It needs examples of people who mess up, make it right, and continue to do better.
Suga is one of those people. One mistake doesn’t erase a decade of hard work, donations, inspiration, and kindness. And if you think it does, you might want to spend a bit less time filing petitions on the KBS website and a bit more time reflecting on your own humanity.
We ARMYs will continue to support Suga, holding him accountable while also cheering him on to come back stronger and wiser. Because while some folks are busy screaming “Ban him forever,” we’re here choosing accountability with compassion—and not for clout, but because it’s the right thing to do.
And if KBS ever needs a reminder of why Suga and BTS matter, they can look at the millions who have found comfort, strength, and hope through his music—a music that, by the way, is still changing lives, even while some people would rather it be silenced over one mistake.
