IVE’s Jang Won-young has now sparked the anger of Chinese netizens, after a video of her saying that Hong Kong is her “favourite country” went viral online.
The issue sparked after IVE team released behind-the-scenes footage of the MAMA awards ceremony on their official YouTube channel titled “MAMA 2025 Behind”.
In the video, Jang, who was getting her makeup done backstage, happily shared that she was going to have a delicious dinner later, adding “I really like Hong Kong. There are so many delicious things to eat. Hong Kong is one of my favourite countries!”
The video had since gone viral, with mainland Chinese netizens expressing anger and dissatisfaction.
Some argued that “Hong Kong is a region, not a country,” and that such a thing is not a mere mistake as it signifies a political stance. Others criticised the lack of Korean idols’ understanding of political sensitivities and general knowledge.
Netizens on Weibo have also started the hashtag “#IVEGetOutofChina,” just as IVE team removes the video from its channel.
