These days, the story surrounding Jungkook's smoking is still the focus of attention. It's even more than just some people criticizing him for smoking, it's also related to allegations of him breaking the law by smoking in LA - a place known to have strict regulations on smoking. vi this.

Specifically, suspicions began to arise when some netizens said that Jungkook had smoked in a non-smoking area in Los Angeles. That led to many people criticizing and ιиѕυℓтing Jungkook for his behavior but ARMYs quickly stepped in to find out the truth behind that accusation.

Finally, the answer has been found and fans are spreading it on SNS:

These laws can be complicated to understand, so here's a breakdown to help you understand better.

On September 7, αмєяι¢αn celebrity gossip website Lainey Gossip published photos of Jungkook smoking outside Matsuhisa. This is a famous eating place in Los Angeles that is popular with celebrities.

These photos published by famous news agency BACKGRID show Jungkook smoking with a friend. Some videos of him actually smoking along with clear images of rising smoke also proved to be real and fans enjoyed seeing a different side of Jungkook.

However, it didn't stop there, when the video spread throughout SNS, the question continued to arise: "Did he violate the law?". Some people pointed out that although smoking itself is not ilℓєgαℓ, California state has regulations about where smoking is allowed or not and it was thought that Jungkook was violating the regulations of this state regarding smoking in the wrong area.

The state of California prides itself on a particularly stringent set of “smoke-free air laws,” so it’s no surprise that the ℓєgαℓ implications have come into question. The state’s laws cover a wide range of public spaces, most of which focus on areas you can’t smoke inside (for example, inside day care centres and public transportation vehicles). The rest of the rules mandate areas you can’t smoke outside, including within 25 feet of a children’s playground or within 20 feet of a government building exits.

Across California’s smoke-free air guidelines, there is no mention of smoking on sidewalks or outside regular business exits. However, the guidance also states that cities and jurisdictions within California have the freedom to set their own restrictions into law. These local laws are stronger and often more strict than the state’s own regulations.

So people started looking further into the laws of Los Angeles County. According to the county’s own Smoke-Free Ordinance, smoking is prohibited in and around all county facilities, including within 50 feet of the entrances, exits, or windows of any building in operation.

In the videos circulating online, it’s evident that Jungkook was certainly within a 50-foot range of Matsuhisa, calling ℓєgαℓity into question. However, the law goes one more level deeper.

Los Angeles County Smoke-Free Ordinance pointed that: "[The County’s Smoke-Free Outdoor Area Ordinance] prohibits smoking in all County facilities, both County-owned and leased facilities including: Within 50 ft of any operable entry, exit or operable window of any building".

The key regulation comes from the City of Beverly Hills, where Matsuhisa is located. Alongside defining prohibited smoking areas, the ordinances of Beverly Hills list a number of areas where citizens and visitors are allowed to smoke. In particular, smoking is permitted on sidewalks when the person is actively walking and also in private businesses’ own designated smoking areas.

Therefore, to conclude whether Jungkook is violating or not, we only need to consider whether the restaurant where he smokes outside has an approved smoking area or not. First, Matsuhisa's reservation manager confirmed that the restaurant does indeed allow smoking in the area where Jungkook was seen. The reservations manager also noted that there are currently no ashtrays but there are trash bins where smokers can dispose of cigarette butts.

The restaurant manager said: "You can smoke on the road or the entrance in the parking lot. Many people, smokers, do it like this. There is no ashtray. After smoking, you can throw the cigarette in the trash can."

Not only that, in a video of Kim Kardashian from May 2023, netizens spotted what looked like an ashtray or trash can (left) on the sidewalk outside Matsuhisa. Therefore, smoking for Jungkook as well as Kim Kardashian is completely ℓєgαℓ in that area. In other words, Jungkook did not violate any laws by smoking in Los Angeles as the charges against him suggest.

ARMYs have proven that the previous criticism attacking Jungkook was false and they request those who are spreading that news to stop their actions:

- HE DID NOT BREAK ANY LAW. PERIOD.

- LEAVE HIM ALONE

- Why are you guys attacking JK. Jeer he's just having a cigarette n you guys are worried if it's ℓєgαℓ or not. Come on guys give JK a break. He's breaking records and working hard. I believe in JK

- Is he child? Isnt smoking normal??

- Lmao y’all talking bout smoking laws in LA? that sh1t nonexistent lol. and let my guy go on his smoke break in peace d@mn

- Leave him alone.....he's not a kid he can do whatever he wants to do he is an adult...

- He didn't break any law Btw invading an idol's privacy is really intolerable and nasty. he can do what he wants. We all don't have the rights to judge or interfere his decision

- He's an adult...he's not a kid...he's can do whatever thє hєll he wants...why didn't people make a big fuss about suga in his recent music video about smoking...I personally don't care for it but it's his decision and body...

- Don't make is issue it not crime. right? He is also human respect his privacy please and he is adult who knows law