"Is Hong Kong a Country?"... Chinese Public Outraged at Jang Wonyoung, Boycott Movement Emerging

Criticism Cites "One China" Principle
Boycott Movement Spreads on Weibo

Chinese online public opinion is fiercely reacting to comments made by Jang Wonyoung, a member of the group IVE, regarding Hong Kong. Although her remarks were meant to share her everyday impressions, they have sparked political controversy as interpretations spread that she referred to Hong Kong as a country.

The controversy began with the release of the "MAMA 2025 Behind" video on IVE's official YouTube channel. In the video, Jang Wonyoung shared her thoughts on visiting Hong Kong, expressing her anticipation for the local cuisine, saying, "I really like Hong Kong. There are so many delicious things," and added, "Hong Kong is one of my favorite countries."

IVE group member Jang Wonyoung. Photo by Yonhap News

Once these comments became known, Chinese netizens immediately pushed back. Since the Chinese government designates Hong Kong as a special administrative region and has consistently emphasized the "One China" principle, they argued that her remarks denied China's sovereignty. Some netizens further criticized Jang Wonyoung, claiming she failed to consider the political sensitivity of the issue.

On Weibo, China's largest social networking service, a series of critical posts targeting IVE and Jang Wonyoung appeared, and hashtags calling for a boycott, such as '#JangWonyoungHongKongCountry' and '#IVEGetOutofChina', spread rapidly. As the controversy grew, Chinese local media began to cover it as a major issue.

Sina Entertainment described her remarks as "an open challenge to China's territorial integrity," while the state-affiliated Global Times also took a critical stance, stating, "Although Korean idols are aware of the influence of the Chinese market, they lack sensitivity to political issues." The outlet further commented, "It is contradictory to base activities on Chinese fans while not respecting sovereignty issues."

This is not the first time a controversy involving Jang Wonyoung has erupted in China. In 2022, when she attended Paris Fashion Week and posted a photo wearing a traditional Korean hairpin called a binyeo, some Chinese netizens claimed she was appropriating Chinese culture, sparking another round of debate.