Clouds over Blackpink vape video

Video showing K-pop megastar Jennie of Blackpink smoking a vape indoors sparked an online outcry.

Uploaded on YouTube for fans but subsequently removed, Jennie exhales vape smoke while a bevy of hair and make-up artists work closely on her.

Smoking cigarettes or vaping indoors is illegal in South Korea and the footage triggered outrage, with 'indoor smoking' and 'Blackpink Jennie' top trending topics on X in the South.

"Controversy over Jennie's indoor smoking exhaling smoke in the face of her staff," headlined on Yonhap news agency.

One internet user claimed it happened in Italy's Capri and requested the South Korean embassy in Italy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs probe the star, the Korea Times reported. It also received a petition.

Blackpink is the first K-pop girl group to reach the top of the US Billboard 200 chart and the first Asian artist to headline Coachella.

Only five percent of S Korean women smoke according to data.

"We were not allowed to drink, smoke or get a tattoo," said Jennie in a Netflix documentary.