Kian84 lights a cigarette during a performance on the Coupang Play show 'SNL Korea,' aired on April 27. Captured from social media

Webtoon artist and TV personality Kian84 sparked controversy during a recent appearance on Coupang Play's show "SNL Korea" when he was shown smoking a cigarette as part of a sketch.

On April 27, Kian84 participated as a guest in the ninth episode of "SNL Korea" Season 5, appearing in the "Love Studio" segment — a parody of the 1990s hit show "Love's Studio." Kian84 portrayed a cartoonist desperate to find a wife.

The controversial moment occurred while Kian84 was introducing himself. He said, "I'm getting older, and I really need to get married. My mother is very worried," before pulling out a cigarette, lighting it up and smoking it.

As smoke rose, his actions appeared to surprise fellow cast members, eliciting reactions. Actor Kwon Hyuk-soo said, "What are you doing?" while Jung Sang-hoon commented,"He really lit it up. Oh, I smell smoke."

Attempting to brush off the incident, Kian84 said, "It's the 1990s theme," and continued smoking throughout the segment. Kwon later made light of the situation, joking that Kian84 was trying to ease his own nerves, thereby making everyone else tense.

Following the episode's release, the smoking scene led to a mix of reactions among viewers. Some argued that the act was permissible as a faithful homage to the past, while others criticized it as excessive, especially considering indoor smoking regulations in place here.

According to Korea's National Health Promotion Act, smoking is prohibited in all facilities larger than 1,000 square meters, including office buildings, factories, and mixed-use buildings, with potential fines for violations.

While OTT platforms like Coupang Play are not subject to the same regulations as public broadcasters, which are cautious about depicting smoking, the show's producers defended the scene as a satirical take on the era.

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