IVE’s Wonyoung Faces Backlash After Viral Post Labels Her Most Hated In Korea

IVE’s Wonyoung is facing backlash in Korea after a short airport clip sparked controversy over her attitude during an identity check.

The controversy began when some netizens accused Wonyoung of showing a poor attitude while handling her passport. However, a viral post defending her pushed back against the criticism, questioning why such a minor moment caused so much outrage.

The post pointed out that Wonyoung greeted the staff politely, lowered her mask properly, and only mirrored the staff’s one-handed gesture when receiving her passport back. It argued that Korea is the only country where she faces this level of hate, while countries like China and Japan generally view her positively.

If I think about it, I think that no country hates Jang Wonyoung as much as Korea. China and Japan both like her in general. She greeted the staff and also properly lowered the mask to show her face. She gave the passport with both hands initially, but later on when the staff gave it back with one hand, she just did the same while receiving it. The country was turned upside down, analyzing just a few seconds of one video, making speculations and hating on her.

— 늙음잘즐기는미미공주 (@mimimipipip)

Fans quickly reacted, agreeing that Wonyoung faces unusually harsh scrutiny compared to other idols in Korea.

She’s a Korean we should be proud of, but people just want to find some way to bring her down so they claim she’s Chinese or hwagyo (Chinese ethnicity). Disgusting…

— mari the 6th (@Oa0Rb)

She’s spreading the beauty of Korea globally as a Korean, but Koreans hate her so f*cking much. Why do they hate her? When you see those that hate on her, they actually look so filled with evil. Are they having hard lives?

— ㅇㅇㅇ (@ZZfoNwtntS10137)

Some fans also pointed out that a lot of the hate comes from Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

sea and it’s so sad bc it all simply stems from jealousy

— 원유럽 (@wonyuluv)

Indonesian say hello. SEA citizens esp Indonesian, Vietnamese, Malaysians, Pinoys many of them hate Wonyoung.

— My (@Inco9nit)

As the situation unfolded, many noted the repeated cycle of minor incidents involving Wonyoung turning into major online debates. The viral post has reignited discussions about whether Wonyoung faces an unusually high level of criticism compared to other K-pop idols in Korea.