Controversy is growing in China over comments made by Jang Won-young of the K-pop group IVE after she referred to Hong Kong as one of the “countries” she likes during a recent behind-the-scenes video.
The remark appeared in a video on IVE’s official YouTube channel. While the members were shown visiting Hong Kong to attend an awards ceremony, Jang said, “We should eat a delicious dinner,” adding, “I like Hong Kong. There is a lot of good food. Hong Kong is one of the countries I like.”
After the video was released, some Chinese social media users protested the fact that she referred to Hong Kong as a “country.” China maintains the One China principle, under which Hong Kong is defined as a special administrative region of China. Jang’s phrasing, interpreted as contradicting that stance, quickly fueled online criticism.
On Chinese social media platforms, related hashtags such as “#JangWonyoungHongKongCountry,” “#IVEGetOutofChina” and “#KoreanIdolsHistoryEducation” are spreading, with some users even calling for a boycott of IVE-related content.
Local media also amplified the controversy. Sina Entertainment said the comment was “a clear challenge to China’s territorial sovereignty and integrity,” while the Global Times said that Korean idols benefit from Chinese fans’ consumption while failing to respect sovereignty, adding that they lack understanding of political sensitivity despite knowing the importance of the Chinese market.
The video has since been made private, but the backlash continues, and attention is now focused on how public sentiment in China will unfold.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
