Suga, who is currently serving his mandatory military service, was arrested earlier this month after falling off his electric scooter while intoxicated in Seoul's Yongsan district. The incident sparked public concern over the safety of these personal mobility devices (PMs).
Rep. Lim Ho-seon of the Democratic Party introduced a bill to amend the Road Traffic Act, imposing the same penalties for drunk-driving PMs as those for cars. The proposed legislation also lowers the speed limit for PMs from 25 kilometers per hour to 20 kph.
Currently, drunk riders of PMs face a fine of up to 200,000 won or penal detention. If the bill passes, they could face penalties ranging from prison time to hefty fines, similar to those for drunk-driving cars.
Another bill, proposed by Rep. Yi Byeong-jin, aims to prevent unlicensed individuals from renting PMs. The bill requires rental companies to verify the driver's qualifications before handing over the device. Failure to comply could result in a fine of up to 5 million won.
Yi noted that while a license for motorized bicycles is typically required to operate PMs, children without such licenses can easily rent them through shared platforms. He emphasized the need for stricter regulations to ensure public safety.
