Actress and singer Ock Joo Hyun recently became the subject of heated debate on social media after sharing a video of herself practicing smoking with a vitamin stick for a role in a musical. The video, posted to her Instagram account on November 4 with the caption “Smoking is hard,” shows Ock imitating a smoker, inhaling and exhaling to simulate the effect of smoke, under the guidance of another actor.

This method of preparation has been praised by some fans who admire his commitment and seriousness, anticipating the upcoming performance even more. However, others have criticized his choice to share such content on social media, arguing that it could be misleading and seems inappropriate, especially for minors.

Ock Joo Hyun is known for her choice not to smoke, a decision mainly motivated by the desire to preserve her voice. She even once persuaded comedian Kang Ho Dong to quit smoking, demonstrating her aversion to tobacco.

In response to such situations, the Ministry of Health and Welfare issued guidelines last year asking media producers to limit smoking scenes, especially those involving celebrities, to avoid encouraging youth curiosity and risky smoking behaviors.