Jang Wonyoung Sparks Controversy in China Over Hong Kong Remark

IVE’s Jang Wonyoung faces backlash in China after referring to Hong Kong as a country in a behind-the-scenes MAMA 2025 video.

IVE member Jang Wonyoung has found herself at the center of online controversy in China following a comment made during behind-the-scenes footage from the 2025 MAMA Awards. The moment, which appeared in a video uploaded to IVE’s official YouTube channel, quickly gained attention and sparked intense discussion across Chinese social media platforms.

In the video, filmed during the group’s visit to Hong Kong for the awards ceremony, Jang Wonyoung is seen chatting casually with her members. While talking about food, she shared her fondness for the city, saying that Hong Kong has many great dishes and referring to it as “one of my favorite countries.” The remark, made in a light and conversational tone, was later interpreted as politically sensitive by many viewers in mainland China.

Shortly after the video’s release, backlash grew rapidly on Weibo. Many Chinese netizens criticized her use of the word “country,” pointing out that China officially recognizes Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region under the One China principle. Some comments accused the idol of showing a lack of political awareness, while others framed the remark as an infringement on national sovereignty.

Several hashtags began trending, including calls for boycotts of IVE-related content. Chinese media outlets also weighed in. Sina Weibo described the comment as a challenge to China’s territorial integrity, while Global Times criticized what it called a lack of sensitivity among Korean entertainers who benefit from Chinese fan support.

In response to the growing controversy, the Chinese subtitles on the YouTube video were edited. The word “country” was replaced with “region,” a move that appeared to be an effort to ease tensions. While some fans defended Jang Wonyoung, noting that the Korean word “나라” can sometimes be used loosely to describe a place rather than a sovereign state, others rejected this explanation and continued to voice criticism.

The situation has divided opinion online. Supporters argue that the comment was clearly casual and unintentional, while critics insist that public figures should be more careful with their wording, especially when addressing politically sensitive topics.

As of now, neither Jang Wonyoung nor her agency has released an official statement addressing the issue. Attention remains on how the situation will be handled and whether it will have any lasting impact on IVE’s activities in the Chinese market.