Jang Won-young of the group Ive was swept up in what was called a "tardiness controversy" after allegedly arriving late to a brand event, but it later turned out to be a mishap caused by poor management by the agency handling the event.
Jang attended a brand photo event on the morning of the 29th in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. As she was leaving after finishing the photo time in a yellow pastel jacket, a man at the scene shouted, "Ms. Won-young, let's try to be on time." Those nearby laughed and reacted by calling it "refreshing." Jang briefly looked back with a seemingly flustered expression but did not make any particular remarks.
The scene spread online, including on YouTube, under titles such as "Jang Won-young scolded by a reporter after being late," and as of 9 a.m. on the 30th it surpassed 3.5 million views, intensifying the controversy.
As the controversy spread, the event agency apologized, saying the photocall was not run smoothly. Taxi, the agency in charge of booking, said in a statement that day, "The arrival time given to Jang Won-young was 11:30 a.m., and Jang arrived near the venue and was waiting by 11:25 a.m."
It added, "At the request of the organizers, who said parking in front of the venue was not possible, she waited about 10 minutes for a call sign," and "because the call sign was delayed, her actual entrance took place around 11:35 a.m."
Afterward, online communities and social media (SNS) filled with reactions saying, "Jang Won-young was unfairly labeled as late." When images showed her boarding a vehicle after the event and greeting fans with a bright smile, some said she "looked after fans until the end."
Meanwhile, Ive, the group Jang belongs to, is set to release its second full-length album, "Revive Plus," on the 23rd of next month.