Overseasidol.com — Jang Won-young, a member of K-pop girl group IVE, has once again become the center of controversy after comments she made in a MAMA 2025 behind-the-scenes video sparked widespread criticism from Chinese netizens.
Her reference to Hong Kong as a “country” was perceived as politically sensitive, leading to calls for a boycott in China.
The controversy originated from a video uploaded to IVE’s official YouTube channel, featuring backstage moments ahead of the 2025 Mnet Asian Music Awards, which took place in Hong Kong.
In the clip, Jang Wonyoung expressed her excitement about being in the city and talked about the food she hoped to enjoy.
“I really like Hong Kong. There’s so much delicious food. Hong Kong is one of the countries I like,” she said in Korean.
She also mentioned her desire to eat Peking duck and wished viewers an enjoyable time watching MAMA 2025.
Her remarks quickly drew backlash from Chinese netizens.
Although the official Chinese subtitles softened the wording by translating ‘country’ as ‘region’, many viewers focused on the original Korean audio and questioned the intent behind her statement.
On Weibo, hashtags such as #JangWonyoungHongKongCountry, #IVEGetOutOfChina, and #KoreanIdolsHistoryEducation began trending rapidly.
Many users emphasized that Hong Kong is part of China’s territory, accusing the idol of violating the “One China” principle and disrespecting Chinese sovereignty.
Chinese media outlets also joined the discussion. Sina Entertainment reported on the issue by highlighting Wonyoung’s remarks in the MAMA behind-the-scenes footage, while Global Times criticized what it described as a lack of political awareness among Korean idols, especially given the importance of the Chinese market to the K-pop industry.
As of now, Jang Wonyoung and IVE’s agency have not released an official response.
The incident once again underscores how statements made by K-pop idols can quickly escalate into international controversies, particularly when involving geopolitically sensitive topics.
