Jang Won Young’s rise as a top “It Girl” of the 4th generation of K-pop is undeniable. However, along with her immense popularity came endless debates about her appearance. Recently, the topic of the idol’s lips has once again become the focus of criticism and concern among fans.

Looking back at her debut with IZ*ONE, Jang Won Young captivated audiences with her innocent, sweet, doll-like beauty. At that time, Won Young had rather thin lips with delicate and natural features. Fans especially loved her sweet smile and the way she expressed herself on stage. Her mouth movements while singing and speaking were very flexible, making her performances lively and energetic.

Jang Won Young originally had thin lips, but they gradually thickened over time. Photo: Pann

This raises suspicions that she had lip filler injections. Photo: Pann

In the early stages of her comeback with IVE, her lips were thicker but still natural and expressive. Photo: X

Now, the “K-pop princess’s” lips look increasingly unnatural. Photo: X

However, in recent appearances in 2025 and early 2026, her lips suddenly appeared unusually plump, even excessively swollen. Many netizens pointed out that the overuse of lip fillers had caused Jang Won Young’s face to lose its natural harmony. In videos and photos, it was noticed that Jang Won Young’s mouth seemed less expressive than before. When she spoke or smiled, the skin around her lips didn’t move naturally, creating a stiff, “wax statue” look.

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Although some fans defended her, saying it was due to the technique of applying lipstick beyond the lip line and a thick layer of lip gloss, the majority of netizens still insisted it was the result of excessive cosmetic intervention. On social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram, a series of posts advising Jang Won Young to stop getting lip fillers are spreading rapidly. They worry that overuse of fillers will cause her lips to lose elasticity, restrict her mouth muscles, and lead to less expressive facial expressions – especially detrimental for an idol who performs and interacts frequently.

Many believe that Wonyoung’s natural, delicate beauty is what makes her stand out among hundreds of other Kpop visuals. Pursuing overly plump lips could cause her to lose her unique charm – and more importantly, affect her health and comfort when expressing herself on stage. Hopefully, in the future, the idol will find a balance to maintain her attractive appearance while preserving her precious natural beauty.

Jang Won Young’s lips are now unusually plump and stiff. Photo: X

Jang Won Young, born in 2004, is widely known as a former member of the project group IZ*ONE and is currently a member of the girl group IVE. In 2018, Jang Won Young represented Starship Entertainment in the survival program Produce 48. With her outstanding height and performance talent, she won first place in the final round and debuted as the center of IZ*ONE.

After IZ*ONE disbanded in 2021, Jang Won Young returned to Starship Entertainment and continued to debut with the girl group IVE. She continued to hold the center position and quickly became one of the “it-girls” (famous and influential girls) of the 4th generation of K-pop idols.

Besides group activities, Jang Won Young was also very successful in her solo career. She hosted the music program Music Bank and was an ambassador for many famous fashion and cosmetics brands such as Miu Miu and Innisfree. She also contributed lyrics to several songs by IVE. Jang Won Young is known as the “K-pop princess” due to her perfect beauty, positive personality, and professionalism, which earned her much love.

Photo: X

Jang Won Young firmly holds the title of the hottest “K-pop princess” of the 4th generation. Photo: X