Jesse Lingard gets slap-on-the-wrist fine for riding e-scooter without license, helmet

FC Seoul midfielder Jesse Lingard has been fined 190,000 won ($140) for riding an e-scooter without a driver’s license and protective helmet, according to a report from the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, on Thursday.

FC Seoul midfielder Jesse Lingard in action during a K League 1 match against Gwangju FC at Gwangju Football Stadium in Gwangju on March 2. [YONHAP]

FC Seoul midfielder Jesse Lingard has been fined 190,000 won ($140) for riding an e-scooter without a driver’s license and protective helmet, according to a report from the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, on Thursday.

Lingard appeared before police on Wednesday night after he shared an Instagram post on Monday that showed him riding an e-scooter. In the post, he was not wearing a helmet — a legal requirement in Korea.

The current law also requires individuals to be at least 16 years old with a motorcycle license, or 18 years old with a full drivers license, to legally ride electric scooters. Riding an e-scooter without a driver’s license can result in a fine of up to 300,000 won. Doing so without wearing a helmet can incur a 20,000 won fine.

Lingard's license was suspended for 18 months in September last year after he was caught drunk driving in Britain.

He admitted that he was not aware of the law in an Instagram post Tuesday: “I didn't know the rules of wearing a helmet or having a license as well. In England, and probably in Europe as well, you can just pick up an e-scooter off the street and start riding it.”

Police also reportedly looked into whether he rode the e-scooter while drunk — also a crime, and one which BTS member Suga was fined for earlier this month — but were unable to investigate the matter as he appeared before police two days after the incident happened.

FC Seoul have yet to release a statement related to the situation as of press time Thursday.

Lingard moved to FC Seoul in February ahead of the 2024 K League 1 season. He has scored four goals throughout 18 league fixtures.

The former Manchester United midfielder struggled early in the season, but has still played as a regular pick since returning from a knee injury in May and earned the captain armband in June.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]