The end of BTS's greatest rapper is near.

Following the uproar over being investigated for drunk driving, Suga continued to be the target of criticism with accusations of poor behavior during his time as a social worker. A section of BTS fans sent flower arrangements to the Hybe headquarters demanding that the rapper voluntarily leave the group.

Controversy surrounds them.

In recent days, the reputation of the rapper considered the best in BTS has been rising. Suga nearly hit rock bottom with his drunk driving scandal. Despite his apology, the 1993-born idol failed to appease the South Korean public's anger and faced even harsher criticism for allegedly lying to downplay the severity of the incident.

Even more significantly, before the old scandal had even died down, Suga was once again thrust into the spotlight with new accusations.

Suga is accused of neglecting his civic duties following a drunk driving scandal. Photo: Getty Images.

On July 13th, the newspaper Sports Kyung Hyang News reports indicate there have been complaints against the owner of the hit song. Daechwita He did not take his community service duties seriously. Suga did not have to enlist in the military like the other members. BTS, instead, became social workers.

“Suga never attended the mandatory four-day, five-night class. He was so bad that the instructor yelled at him directly, but Suga just nodded and continued looking at his phone before going to sleep. He acted like a classroom bully trying to assert his dominance at the beginning of the school year,” a witness recounted.

Another complaint requested that local authorities investigate Suga's time as a social worker and take strict disciplinary action if any violations were found. The petitioner argued that the rapper's drunk driving was a result of his poor work ethic.

The news quickly became a hot topic in showbiz South Korea. Many feel this is the last straw for Suga, threatening to end the burgeoning career of a globally renowned K-pop idol. Numerous netizens are calling for Suga to voluntarily withdraw from BTS.

Viewers commented: “Okay, let’s dig up everything in his past. He should leave while we’re still being nice,” “While we need to investigate the allegations of his work ethics, the fact that he was drunk on the way to work the next day tells you everything you need to know,” “By now, shouldn’t Suga be leaving BTS? He’s a stain on the group,” “I feel ashamed for him,” “He’s so lucky to be a part of BTS. I wonder what they saw in him to let him be a trainee,” “It’s disappointing. He did well wearing clothes that weren’t meant for you. Now take them off and leave…”

And that's not all; on August 13th, numerous flower arrangements were sent to the headquarters. Hybe, BTS's management company, sent out flower arrangements. Each arrangement carried a unique message, but all shared the same purpose: boycotting Suga: “Min Yoongi (Suga's real name), step down! Congratulations on your downfall,” “Free BTS,” “Kick Min Yoongi out of the group. His downfall is imminent,” “Leave the group, Min Yoongi. Don't you feel guilty towards the other members?”, “Min Yoongi, leave the group to apologize to the other members…”

Long lines of flower arrangements demanding Suga leave BTS were placed in front of the Hybe headquarters.

Behind this action is an anonymous Army (the name of the BTS fan community). This person made the statement above. AllKpop This does not represent all fans of the group, but is based only on the wishes of a few individuals.

"We organized this protest because no action was taken after Hybe, Big Hit Music, and Suga made false statements," the anonymous source emphasized.

This fan group seems to be referring to Suga's claim that he only drank one glass of beer and that the vehicle he used was an electric scooter. However, according to the investigation results, the BTS member's blood alcohol concentration was 0.227%, eight times higher than the normal limit. Furthermore, Korean media reported that Suga was driving an electric scooter, not an electric scooter as stated in his apology.

The Army organized a protest, threatening to bring trucks to demonstrate if company representatives did not issue a further statement.

BTS's biggest scandal

Since their debut in 2013, BTS has been involved in numerous controversies, such as allegations of album sales manipulation and songs being banned due to inappropriate lyrics. However, Suga's drunk driving scandal is considered the most serious.

Those who follow the Korean entertainment industry know that, along with drugs and school bullying, drunk driving (DUI) is one of the leading causes of rapid career decline for K-pop stars. Before Suga, many names such as actress Kim Sae Ron, Horan (Clazziquai), Lizzy (After School)... were unable to recover from their careers because of DUI.

BTS is facing the most serious scandal of their career.

Moreover, the South Korean online community is notoriously harsh, placing particularly high expectations on idols and other entertainers. Before the investigation, Suga was known as one of the most talented rappers in Kpop, with a clean personal life. However, all his efforts over the past 10 years were almost completely wasted overnight.

On social media, many international viewers defended Suga. They argued that the idol made a mistake and must take responsibility for it, but it wasn't so bad that it warranted a "death sentence." For them, sending the threatening flower arrangement to Suga and his management company was what was truly reprehensible.

“These people have been destroying the lives of celebrities because of some bad decisions they've made. Everyone makes mistakes, but these idols aren't given a chance to correct them. I'm not surprised that Korean audiences are demanding he leave the group right now,” “Netizens and the press don't seem to have learned anything from Lee Sun Kyun's death,” “Why do people call these people Army? They're not. They're the ones hoping he leaves and BTS collapses,” “As a non-fan, I don't support Suga leaving the group. I think it's an overreaction from a segment of netizens. If you're civilized, let him have a chance to reflect and atone for his mistakes, like anyone can do when they make mistakes,” “True fans will stay and support him. He made a mistake and there will be a punishment for him, a driving ban or a fine. However, don't let that negate the fact that he dedicated his youth to the group.” "For the fans…" were some of the comments protesting the excessive behavior directed at Suga.

The impact of Suga's DUI violation scandal on BTS is not yet clear. The group is currently on hiatus as most members fulfill their military service, except for Jin, who has already been discharged. However, the hostile attitude of Korean audiences towards Suga will be a major disadvantage for a full seven-member BTS comeback in the future. Many fans worry that the group will gradually lose its top position, which is already at risk due to its prolonged absence from the music market.

Furthermore, the latest controversy will undoubtedly impact Hybe's reputation. Many people have commented that the leading entertainment group in K-pop is increasingly losing credibility due to a series of unfortunate incidents. Before Suga, Chairman Bang Si Hyuk caused controversy for appearing in the US with adult entertainment star Juice Seyeon. In addition, the lawsuit with Min Hee Jin – the former CEO of subsidiary Ador… cannot be ignored.

According to According to KoreaTimes , shareholder disappointment with Hybe is growing. Most noticeably, the company's share price has fallen by almost half since June 2023.