Actress Cha Joo-young is facing online criticism after posting photos and videos that appeared to show her riding in a vehicle without wearing a seatbelt.

Starnews reported that on May 27, Cha Joo-young uploaded several images and short clips to her Instagram account, accompanying the post with a simple heart emoji. The content showed the actress enjoying what appeared to be a relaxed evening out, including dining at an omakase sushi restaurant and drinking alcohol with acquaintances.

Although the actress was not seen driving following the meal, attention quickly shifted to footage that appeared to show her sitting in the back seat of a moving vehicle without a seatbelt fastened.

The posts soon circulated across online communities and social media platforms, with many users pointing out that South Korea requires all passengers, including those seated in the rear of a vehicle, to wear seatbelts at all times.

Per Naver, under South Korean traffic law, rear seatbelt use became mandatory nationwide on Sept. 28, 2018. The regulation applies to all roads, including those within Seoul and other metropolitan areas. The driver can also receive penalties if their passengers do not follow the laws.

Under existing laws, a penalty of 30,000 won (approximately $19.98 to $20.00 USD) can be imposed on adult passengers who do not wear their seat belts while traveling in a car.

Amid increasing condemnation on social media, some people felt that public personalities ought to be very careful of how they behave on social media platforms because there are certain instances when the behavior of these personalities is concerning their safety.

Some netizens have also stressed the significance of wearing seat belts as part of the continuing traffic safety campaign initiated by the South Korean government to address accidents involving vehicles.

On the other hand, some fans attempted to protect Cha Joo-young from the criticisms, believing that she had only done something wrong for a little while.

Cha Joo-young has not publicly commented on the controversy as of Thursday afternoon. It should be noted that the actress's agency also did not address the situation.

The actress's popularity has increased due to her participation in different dramas on TV and because of her involvement in social media posts about her life experiences, her travels, and even work activities.

As can be seen from the given story, the slightest behavior of celebrities may result in public discussions related to legal and security issues in South Korea.

Though there is still controversy around the case, all posts can still be found on Instagram.