The lawyer of BTS’ Suga, who is suspected of drunk driving, was the one who defended former Super Junior member Kangin in his 2016 DUI case and also served as public prosecutor before joining a private law firm in South Korea.
Suga is being investigated by the Seoul Yongsan Police for drunk driving which happened on Aug. 6.
CCTV footage taken on Aug. 6 showed Suga riding an electric scooter on a sidewalk and falling down as he turned left to enter the main gate of Nine One Hannam luxury apartment complex in Hannam, Yongsan in Seoul. Three police officers who were patrolling the area appeared.
On Aug. 23, Suga went to the Seoul Yongsan Police Station for questioning about the incident.
The lawyer who accompanied Suga was Chae Jae Hoon from the Bae, Kim and Lee law firm in South Korea.
Lawyer Chae Jae Hoon (2nd from right) with BTS member Suga at the Seoul Yongsan Police Station on Aug. 23 (Screenshot from MBN News video)
The BKL law firm is one of the largest in South Korea with about 800 professionals including lawyers, according to its website.
Chae Jae Hoon worked as Kangin’s lawyer in his second drunk driving case in 2016. At about 2 a.m. on May 24, 2016, Kangin crashed his car into a streetlight in front of a convenience store in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam, Seoul.
He fled the scene and turned himself in to the police the following day or 11 hours after the incident. His blood alcohol content was 0.05 percent, which was enough to have his driver’s license suspended.
Prosecution filed a summary indictment with a fine of 7 million won (about $5,284) against Kangin but a court decided that the case should be decided through a formal trial. In the trial, Kangin was sentenced by the court to a fine of 7 million won. Kangin left Super Junior in 2019.
Lawyer Chae Jae Hoon (left) with then Super Junior member Kangin during the latter's sentencing for a drunk driving case on Sept. 7, 2016 (Screenshot from KBS News video)
Chae Jae Hoon is now serving as Suga’s lawyer for the Aug. 6 incident.
According to the law firm’s website, Chae Jae Hoon “advises and represents clients in various criminal areas, especially in connection with entertainment, corruption, intellectual property right, management right dispute, personal information protection, fair trade, environment, and safety accident.”
He joined Bae, Kim & Lee law firm in 2009. Before this, he worked as a public prosecutor: 2008 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office; from 2006 to 2008 at the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office; from 2004 to 2006 at the Yeongwol Branch of Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office; and from 2002 to 2004 at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, all in South Korea.
Chae Jae Hoon finished his Bachelor of Laws at the Seoul National University in 1992 and passed the Bar in 1998. He also studied at the Judicial Research and Training Institute under the Supreme Court of Korea.
Suga apologized and bowed his head when he arrived and left the Seoul Yongsan Police Station.
"I sincerely apologize for causing great disappointment to many people. I will faithfully cooperate with the investigation. I apologize once again," said Suga, Korean media outlet Joy News 24 reported.
After a three-hour questioning by the police, Suga emerged from the police station and told the media, “I am truly sorry. I have caused you pain and disappointment with my wrong actions. I deeply reflect and regret it. I will make sure that something like this never happens again. I really want to apologize to all the people who have loved me. I'm so sorry once again," according to Korean media outlet Dispatch.
BTS' Suga apologizing and bowing his head when he arrived (top) and before he left (bottom) the Seoul Yongsan Police Station on Aug. 23 (Screenshots from MBC News and Yonhap News TV videos on YouTube)