Jang Wonyoung of the group IVE is facing a fierce backlash from Chinese internet users over recent remarks about Hong Kong.
A video titled "MAMA 2025 behind-the-scenes," released recently on IVE's YouTube channel, showed Jang Wonyoung visiting Hong Kong.
In the video, Jang said, "I need to have a delicious dinner," adding, "I like Hong Kong. There are many tasty things. Hong Kong is one of the countries I like."
Chinese internet users took issue with Jang's comment that "Hong Kong is one of the countries I like." They expressed discomfort with Jang describing Hong Kong as a country.
China defines Hong Kong as a special administrative region and emphasizes the One China principle. The One China principle recognizes only one unified state of China.
Chinese internet users criticized Jang, saying, "Hong Kong is Chinese territory, not a country," and accused her of making remarks that insult sovereignty.
On Weibo, China's largest social networking service (SNS), hashtags such as "#JangWonyoungHongKongCountry," "#IVEGetOutofChina," and "#KoreanIdolsHistoryEducation" spread, and a boycott movement is also underway.
Chinese media also joined in. Sina Entertainment said, "This is a clear challenge to China's territorial integrity." Global Times said, "Even though Korean idols know the importance of the Chinese market, they lack political sensitivity," adding, "They show a double standard by making money from Chinese fans while not respecting China's sovereignty."
This is not the first time Chinese internet users have stirred controversy over Jang. In 2022, when Jang posted a photo from Paris Fashion Week wearing a Korean traditional hairpin, a binyeo, she faced criticism from Chinese internet users who said, "Jang Wonyoung stole Chinese culture."