Jang Wonyoung of K-pop group IVE poses at Dyson Korea's Supersonic Travel Lounge pop-up store in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, April 23. Yonhap
A short video of IVE member Jang Wonyoung has sparked debate online over her conduct at Gimpo International Airport, with critics questioning her interaction with airport staff and supporters saying footage from another angle showed more context.
Videos of Jang at the airport circulated widely online after she left Korea on May 30 with other IVE members for a scheduled event in Shanghai, China.
The debate began after footage appeared to show Jang standing in front of an airport employee with her arms crossed and receiving her passport with one hand, a gesture considered impolite in Korea. Some online users also criticized her because the footage seemed to show her wearing a hat and not lowering her mask all the way during an ID check, a mandatory part of departure procedures.
Some critics said the airport employee had asked Jang to remove her mask and hat for identity verification, but that she did not appear to fully comply. Comments on YouTube and other platforms included "Why is she acting like that when they are checking her identity?" and "How would she feel if she were that employee?" Another user asked, "Shouldn't she normally take off both her hat and mask and show her face?"
