BTS leader RM has recently faced allegations of smoking in non-smoking areas and improperly discarding cigarette butts during his stay in Japan. According to a report by the Japanese weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun on the 22nd, RM was seen smoking multiple times in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, where he had been during his world tour. The report details that he was out socializing with friends, moving between izakayas and bars, and despite the lack of designated smoking areas in these establishments, RM reportedly smoked in the hallways and discarded cigarette butts on the premises.
The situation escalated when a security guard intervened to warn RM, and a female employee was seen clearing away traces of their smoking. In Japan, where many streets are designated as non-smoking areas, smoking in public is a contentious issue, with strict enforcement of tobacco regulations in place. This incident has drawn media attention due to the cultural sensitivity surrounding smoking laws in the country.