Ok Joo-hyun's street 'smoking' rehearsal sparks fire online

By KTimes

Popular singer-turned-musical actress Ok Joo-hyun has stirred controversy after posting a video of herself practicing smoking poses on social media, with some netizens expressing concern over the influence such content might have on youth.

Ok shared a video on her social media on Nov. 5, showing herself practicing natural smoking gestures on the street with the help of others.

Alongside the video, she wrote, "Smoking is difficult, really difficult. I'll keep studying hard not to disappoint my mentors who helped me. Always full of laughter, our 'Mata Hari' team," while using the hashtag "#vitaminstick," indicating she was using a vitamin stick instead of a real cigarette.

Vitamin sticks, often called "smokable vitamins," create vapor by heating a liquid, similar to electronic cigarettes, but they generally contain no nicotine or tar. In 2017, the government classified vitamin inhalers as potentially harmful to youth, given the appearance and method of use.

Although it is legal for an adult like Ok to use a vitamin stick, controversy arose due to the public nature of her video, accessible to all on social media. Because the vitamin stick’s appearance could easily be mistaken for a cigarette, critics point out that her video could have a negative influence on young viewers.

In a similar incident, actor Ji Chang-wook previously faced backlash for sharing a video of himself smoking on social media. At the time, his fan gallery on the DC Inside platform issued a statement, emphasizing the need for public figures to consider their influence carefully and apologized on his behalf, vowing to prevent future controversies.

Similarly, Ok is receiving criticism for not fully considering the “influence of a famous celebrity,” with netizens voicing their disapproval. Meanwhile, she is set to return to the stage in the musical "Mata Hari," which will run from Dec. 5 to March 2.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.