In July 2024, behind-the-scenes footage of Jennie preparing for Jacquemus’ show in Italy sparked attention on social media. Viewers pointed out a few seconds in the video where the idol appeared to be smoking, exhaling smoke into the face of the person doing her makeup.
OA later confirmed that Jennie had been vaping, and she apologized to all the staff members who were affected by the smoke during the work session that day. Through her management company, Jennie expressed regret if she caused any discomfort or disappointment to her fans.
Previously, actor Choi Hyun-wook faced criticism for littering cigarette butts on the street. Online communities shared images of Choi Hyun-wook holding hands with a woman while smoking on the street. He appeared affectionate with the woman before casually tossing cigarette butts onto the road.
Netizens expressed disappointment, commenting that smoking in a non-smoking area and littering cigarette butts is a misdemeanor. They also criticized his actions, leading to controversy.
In September, EXO’s member – actor D.O. (Do Kyung-soo) was fined for indoor smoking. D.O. faced controversy when videos from EXO’s content showed smoke coming out of his nose. The incident led to a fine from Mapo District for indoor smoking. The district stated that even though D.O. and his agency demonstrated that they used nicotine-free electronic cigarettes, they could not provide proof of the absence of nicotine in the product’s ingredient description or user manual.
In 2021, G-Dragon faced controversy for smoking in a non-smoking area while wearing a mask under his chin. He was spotted walking down the street with friends while appearing to smoke in a non-smoking area. The incident occurred during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a netizen reported him for suspected violation of pandemic prevention rules.
Former Wanna One member Lai Kuan-lin apologized for a past incident where he was caught smoking on the street and spitting saliva. He received significant criticism from netizens after being captured on camera smoking and spitting in public. He published an apology statement, expressing regret for not being more careful with his actions as a public figure and promising not to repeat such behavior.
Source: Daum