Jang Wonyoung, a member of the K-pop group IVE, has become embroiled in a significant online debate in China after a remark she made during behind-the-scenes footage from the 2025 MAMA Awards. The footage, which was shared on IVE’s official YouTube channel, quickly attracted widespread attention and ignited fervent discussion across various social media platforms in China.
In the clip recorded during the group’s trip to Hong Kong for the awards ceremony, Jang Wonyoung is seen casually chatting with her fellow members. While discussing local cuisine, she expressed her love for Hong Kong, highlighting the city’s diverse dishes and referring to it as “one of my favorite countries.” Although her comment came off as light-hearted, many viewers in mainland China perceived it as politically charged.
Following the video’s release, a wave of backlash erupted on Weibo. Numerous Chinese netizens condemned her choice of the term “country,” emphasizing that under the One China principle, China officially recognizes Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region. Some critics accused the idol of being politically naive, while others regarded her statement as a violation of national sovereignty.
A variety of hashtags began to trend, including calls for boycotting IVE-related materials. Chinese media outlets also chimed in, with Sina Weibo labeling the comment a challenge to China’s territorial integrity. At the same time, Global Times criticized Korean artists for their perceived insensitivity, especially considering the support they receive from Chinese fans.
In light of the escalating controversy, the Chinese subtitles for the YouTube video were altered. The term “country” was changed to “region,” seemingly as an attempt to mitigate the tensions. While some supporters defended Jang Wonyoung, claiming that the Korean term “나라” can occasionally refer generically to a place rather than a nation, others dismissed this rationale and continued to express their discontent.
The incident has led to polarized opinions online. Advocates argue that her remark was clearly casual and unintentional, while detractors insist that public figures must exercise greater caution in their terminology, particularly concerning sensitive political issues.
Currently, neither Jang Wonyoung nor her agency has issued an official statement regarding the controversy. All eyes are on how the situation will develop and whether it will have lasting repercussions for IVE’s presence in the Chinese market.
