IVE member Jang Wonyoung has personally addressed an online misunderstanding after a short video from a luxury jewelry event led to criticism of her behavior toward a male executive.
On October 28, Jang Wonyoung attended an event hosted by luxury jewelry brand B in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, as one of its ambassadors.
Following the event, a video circulated on online communities showing Wonyoung exchanging a cheek-to-cheek greeting with a female CEO but appearing to turn her head when a male executive approached her for a similar greeting.
Some online users interpreted the brief moment as Wonyoung deliberately refusing the executive's greeting, leading to criticism of her manners. However, the clip only showed a short part of their interaction.
On November 4, Wonyoung directly explained what happened through the paid fan communication platform Bubble.
*“During the B brand event, I missed one person's cheek greeting because things were hectic at the photo call. I guess people could misunderstand that,”* she explained.
She also emphasized that she and the brand representatives were already comfortable with one another before the photo session.
*“We had already greeted each other excitedly before everything started. We're practically like family. Of course, I simply didn't notice him,”* she shared.
Wonyoung then expressed surprise that some people believed she had intentionally ignored the executive.
*“Surely nobody actually thinks I deliberately didn't greet him, right? I'd honestly be really surprised if someone thought that,”* she added.
Her explanation drew supportive reactions from fans, with many questioning why a brief interaction had become a controversy.
Some fans also pointed out that the video lacked enough context to determine her intentions and expressed frustration over the criticism directed at her.
Wonyoung has faced similar online discussions about her behavior at public appearances earlier this year, including criticism related to event scheduling and interactions in public places.
With her latest explanation, the IVE member clarified that the missed greeting was unintentional and that she had already exchanged friendly greetings with the people involved before the photo call.
