K-pop singers fight back against smoking rumors

Two female K-pop singers have publicly denied persistent smoking rumors, calling them false and baseless.

Both performers said the claims had spread online and were treated as fact, saying they were unfairly accused.

On Thursday, comedian Lee Yong-jin's YouTube channel released an episode of its talk show, "The Trueman Show," featuring fromis_9 members Lee Na-gyung and Lee Chae-young.

During the show's lie-detector segment, Chae-young said she does not smoke.

When host Lee asked whether she wanted to clear the air, she brought up the smoking rumors without hesitation.

"When you search my name, 'cigarette' comes up," she said.

"I am a nonsmoker and have never smoked." Regarding the speculation, Chae-young said the claims lacked any factual basis.

She explained that she once posted a photo on social media that showed an electronic cigarette in the background.

She said the object was far away, and because she does not smoke, she did not realize that the pink object was an e-cigarette.

"Many people accepted without question that I was a smoker," she said.

"Some even said they would be disappo ...