The Most Hated Kpop Princess Right Now: A Series of Attitude Scandals, Obsessed with Being the Center, and Experiencing Stress
The controversy surrounding the Kpop princess continues.
In recent days, the name most frequently mentioned on Kpop social media is Jang Wonyoung. While IVE is promoting their new song BANG BANG, the 2004-born idol has repeatedly become the center of controversy due to a series of moments deemed lacking in tact. The latest controversy erupted after a clip from the March 5th episode of Music Bank went viral.

In the video, Jang Wonyoung is accused of throwing the bouquet she received from the MC for the encore celebration onto the ground instead of gently placing it to the side. The action happened quite quickly, but netizens immediately scrutinized every frame, leading to numerous criticisms that the idol lacked respect for the person who gave her the flowers as well as the stage setting.

Jang Wonyoung and her action of dropping the bouquet on the ground were scrutinized on Music Bank on March 5th.

This incident occurred just a few days after Wonyoung was embroiled in a major controversy regarding the center position in the group’s lineup. A series of video clips cut from the IVE promotional stage circulated on social media. Jang Wonyoung initially stood on the outside, then slowly moved to the center. The controversy erupted when Jang Wonyoung was accused of lightly “nudged” member Kim Gaeul, after which Gaeul stepped back to give up the center position. This moment led many netizens to criticize Jang Wonyoung for being “obsessed with the center position” and lacking respect for her group members.

The controversy surrounding Jang Wonyoung’s center position hasn’t subsided yet, and the idol is already embroiled in a new controversy.

The IVE fan community immediately spoke up to defend their idol. They argued that Wonyoung is the official visual and center of IVE, so her position in the middle of group photos is usually decided by the stylist, stage manager, or organizers to ensure the visual composition. According to this argument, the edited moments from short videos don’t fully reflect the actual context. Despite this, the wave of criticism continues to spread. On many social media platforms, Wonyoung is even mocked with memes revolving around the word “center,” implying her constant attempts to stand in the middle of the frame.

Born on August 31, 2004, Jang Wonyoung is considered one of the prominent icons of the 4th generation of Kpop (photo: FB).

Born on August 31, 2004, Jang Wonyoung is considered one of the prominent icons of the 4th generation of Kpop. The female idol first gained widespread recognition after winning first place in the survival program Produce 48 in 2018. After this victory, Wonyoung debuted as a member of the project group IZ*ONE. Between 2018 and 2021, IZ*ONE achieved many impressive accomplishments with songs such as “La Vie En Rose,” “Violeta,” and “Fiesta.” Throughout their activities, Wonyoung always held the center position in the group and quickly became one of the most influential young idols at that time.

Jang Wonyoung, 22, has been active for over 8 years (photo: M2)

After IZ*ONE disbanded, Wonyoung re-debuted with IVE in late 2021 under Starship Entertainment. The group quickly became known as Kpop’s “monster rookie” with hits like Eleven, Love Dive, After LIKE, and I AM. Their consecutive successes helped IVE win many major awards, including Daesang awards at music award ceremonies. With her existing fame and attractive appearance, Jang Wonyoung quickly rose to become a top Kpop idol of the 4th generation, becoming one of the new generation’s beauty icons.

With her existing fame and attractive appearance, Jang Wonyoung quickly rose to the position of a top Kpop idol of the 4th generation, becoming one of the new generation’s beauty icons (photo: IG).

Any topic related to Jang Wonyoung easily becomes a sensation, but also attracts scrutiny and uncontrollable controversies. Along with her growing popularity, the female idol constantly becomes the target of many online controversies. Nearly 10 years into her career, from reality shows to two popular girl groups, Jang Wonyoung has been constantly scrutinized for her attitude. The female idol has been accused many times of dominating her group, giving colleagues disapproving glances, or being indifferent to fans. Besides that, her talent…

Jang Wonyoung’s abilities have also been scrutinized. Many discerning viewers believe that besides her appearance, Jang Wonyoung has no outstanding strengths; her singing and dancing are average, and she has even been exposed for lip-syncing on several occasions.

Any topic related to Jang Wonyoung easily goes viral, but also attracts scrutiny and uncontrollable controversy (image: IG).

Many fans believe that Wonyoung has long been the “center of scrutiny” on social media. According to them, many circulating videos have been edited out of context or interpreted negatively. In the Kpop environment, where idols’ images are always closely monitored, small details in expressions or gestures can sometimes be exaggerated into major controversies.

Wonyoung has long been the “center of scrutiny” on social media (image: X)

At 21, Jang Wonyoung remains one of the most prominent faces of the new generation of Kpop. However, recent controversies show that fame always comes with immense pressure, especially for idols who are constantly at the center of attention. The controversy surrounding Wonyoung continues to be hotly debated on social media and has taken on unpredictable forms.