From left: Actor Ji Chang-wook and singer Meenoi. Courtesy of JTBC, AOMG
By Pyo Kyung-min
Several Korean celebrities, including actor Ji Chang-wook, singer Meenoi, EXO member DO and NCT's Haechan, are in trouble after pictures and videos of them smoking indoors were released.
Under Korean law, buildings with a floor area of more than 1,000 square meters, such as office buildings, factories and mixed-use buildings, must be designated as non-smoking areas.
The appropriateness of smoking in common areas remains controversial, even beyond legally mandated non-smoking areas.
Recently, actor Ji was seen holding his e-cigarette in a behind-the-scenes video of the JTBC drama “Welcome to Samdal-ri” released on January 26, along with fellow actors and film staff.
Following the controversy, Ji's agency Spring Company apologized on Sunday, acknowledged his inappropriate behavior and expressed regret for disappointing many. The label also committed to taking measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Singer Meenoi also faced backlash after she accidentally revealed her smoking habits during her recent Instagram livestream. The unintentional revelation of Meenoi's cigarette pack and ashtray in her apartment, where she lives with her cat raised, causes a stir.
This attracted significant criticism as smoking has long been a problem in apartment buildings due to its potentially harmful effects on neighboring units.
From left: EXO member DO and NCT's Haechan. Courtesy of SM Entertainment
Both NCT's Haechan and EXO's DO were fined for using e-cigarettes indoors. DO was seen smoking on a radio station last August through a shared video on the group's official YouTube channel. As a result, he was fined by the Mapo District Public Health Center, with the center confirming his commitment to abide by the law from now on.
Haechan was seen in the video clip smoking an e-cigarette in a studio. In it, the members of NCT were seen practicing a dance, which prompted his label SM Entertainment to announce the singer's intention to pay an imposed fine.
These incidents highlight the broader problem of indoor smoking, which is at odds with growing societal expectations for smoke-free indoor spaces in Korea.
A 2021 survey conducted by the Korea Health Promotion Institute found that 93.7 percent of Korean adults believe a complete ban on indoor smoking is necessary. In addition, there is strong support (86.7 percent) for a complete ban on heated tobacco products, indicating widespread opposition to indoor smoking, including among smokers themselves.
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