“Drunk Driving” Why did BTS’s SUGA say “electric kickboard”… did he want to avoid a criminal record?

SUGA, a member of the Korean boy band "BTS," who was indicted on suspicion of drunk driving, initially revealed that he had been riding an "electric kickboard," but later,
In the case of Drunk Driving, electric kickboards were subject to administrative punishment, while electric scooters were subject to criminal punishment, so SUGA and his label BIGHIT MUSIC
There are also suspicions that the agency is trying to downplay the incident. On the 8th (today), police said that Seoul Yongsan Police Station had arrested Suga for violating the Road Traffic Act (suspected of drunk driving).
On the night of the 6th of this month, SUGA was found lying on the street in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu after riding an electric scooter. A police officer nearby confirmed that SUGA had collapsed.
When they approached him to help him, they smelled alcohol and handed him over to the local police station. Suga's blood alcohol content was confirmed to be at the level required for license revocation (0.08% or higher).
A police official said, "Electric scooters are subject to fines, but the one Suga was driving is not recognized as a scooter. He is driving a regular car or motorcycle and is subject to fines for drunk driving.
"I think it's the same as being caught in a trap," he said, adding, "Administrative punishment for the license will also be carried out." The most controversial aspect of this case was the wording of the device that was being operated.
A and the management office said in a statement that the device SUGA was riding on was an electric scooter, a personal mobility device. However, police said the device SUGA was riding on had a saddle.
According to the Road Traffic Act, the device Suga was riding on violates the personal mobility device standard. If it is a personal mobility device, it must be operated at a speed of 25km/h or more.
The device must be portable and weigh less than 30kg, but it is not capable of meeting these conditions.
In particular, the reason why SUGA's side used the term "electric kickboard" was because of the possibility of criminal punishment.
Some have pointed out that this is because they considered whether or not it is possible to do so. This is because personal mobility devices are exempt from the drunk driving punishment under the Road Traffic Act. In addition, fines and criminal punishments can be imposed at the same time.
However, Suga took the position that he had received a fine and his license was revoked, creating confusion as if he was not subject to criminal punishment.
A lawyer at a law firm said, "SUGA's side knew about these facts and made these claims.
"We need to check further whether Suga said something like that without knowing, or whether he thought all electric scooters were the same," and "In Suga's case, he is not subject to fines, but to criminal punishment."
"Depending on the blood alcohol level, the offender will be subject to imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 20 million won (US$20,000)," he said.
"The big difference between a personal mobility device and a criminal fine is that the amount is much less and does not leave a criminal record," he said. "It could simply be a mistake in terminology or a difference in expression, but in reality,
"We also get inquiries about the differences between electric kickboards and electric scooters," he said. As the debate grows, BIGHIT MUSIC says, "The products used by artists are so-called sadistic.
The company determined that the scooter was equipped with a brake and described it as an "electric scooter." However, during further investigation, the company realized that the classification differs depending on the product's performance and specifications, and that the scope of responsibility for accidents also changes.
"I was aware that there were procedures remaining, and I was not aware that the case had been closed," he said.
"We misunderstood the situation and, given the seriousness of the matter, we regret providing incorrect information due to an internal communication error."