Blackpink's Jennie criticized online for allegedly smoking e-cigarette indoors

Jennie of girl group Blackpink has come under fire for allegedly smoking an e-cigarette indoors in front of staff.

Jennie smoking what appears to be an e-cigarette [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Jennie of girl group Blackpink has come under fire for allegedly smoking an e-cigarette indoors in front of staff.

A short video titled "Jennie Smoking Indoors" began circulating on social media and various online communities on Monday. In the video, Jennie was seen bringing a black object to her mouth and exhaling what appears to be smoke while getting her makeup done.

Netizens speculated that the object that Jennie was holding was an e-cigarette and that the smoke was tobacco smoke. Jennie was smoking in close proximity to the makeup artist's face.

This scene was part of a vlog titled "A Moment in Capri with Jennie," uploaded to Jennie’s YouTube channel, Jennierubyjane Official, last Tuesday. The scene has since been deleted from the video.

A netizen's complaint to the Korean embassy in Italy regarding Jennie's alleged illegal activities [SCREEN CAPTURE]

According to the National Health Promotion Act, office buildings, factories and complex buildings with a total floor area of at least 1,000 square meters (10,764 square feet) or more are designated as non-smoking areas. Smoking indoors in these buildings can result in a fine of up to 100,000 won ($72).

Some netizens defended Jennie, stating that smoking is a personal freedom and that the controversy is an overreaction stemming from discrimination against female smokers. They also argued that since the scene was likely filmed on the island of Capri in Italy, indoor smoking was not a legal issue.

Some reacted by stating that smoking in front of others, regardless of the location, is inappropriate. Comments on online communities included, "Blowing smoke in the staff's face is rude," "Can't she wait until the makeup is done?" "What is she doing in an enclosed space?" and "Why can't the staff, whose livelihoods depend on this, raise their voices?"

One netizen claimed to have reported Jennie's indoor smoking to the Korean embassy in Italy, calling for strict punishment.

D.O., an actor and member of the boy band EXO, was fined after being reported for smoking an e-cigarette in the waiting room of MBC's "Show! Music Core" last year.

Actor Ji Chang-wook also apologized after being shown smoking indoors in a making-of video for the JTBC drama " Welcome to Samdal-ri" (2023-24).

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]