IVE’s Jang Won-young’s ‘Hong Kong is a country I like’ remark sparks signs of boycott movement in China?

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“There’s lots of delicious food… I like Hong Kong” remark sparks controversy over ‘country’ reference

Controversy is spreading online over remarks made by IVE member Jang Won-young. According to domestic reports, in the ‘2025 MAMA Behind the Scenes’ video released on IVE’s YouTube channel, Jang Won-young mentioned Hong Kong, saying, “Hong Kong is one of my favorite countries,” which drew backlash from some Chinese netizens.

“Hong Kong is not a country” backlash… Chinese subtitles labeled it a ‘region’ The backlash in China focused on the ‘phrase used’. Some netizens argued that “Hong Kong is Chinese territory, not a country,” claiming it conflicts with the ‘One China’ principle. Reports stated that while the Chinese subtitles in the video had been toned down to ‘region’, the original audio being shared amplified the controversy.

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Weibo hashtag spreads… ‘Boycott’ reported as merely a “sign of things to come” Domestic media reported that related hashtags continued to trend on Weibo, China’s largest SNS, showing “reactions mentioning boycotts.” However, what can be confirmed at this point is the spread of online mentions and reactions; further verification is needed on whether actual boycotts have led to any organized action.

Why is ‘Hong Kong’ so sensitive… Its legal status itself is a political issue Hong Kong operates under the Special Administrative Region system of the People’s Republic of China. The Basic Law, considered Hong Kong’s constitutional document, has been in effect since July 1, 1997, a fact explicitly stated on its official website. Consequently, whether Hong Kong is referred to as a ‘country’ is easily interpreted as having political implications within China. In this controversy too, regardless of the speaker’s intent, the central debate revolved around how specific words were interpreted.

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Domestic opinion is divided… “Overinterpretation” vs. “Should have been more careful with the wording” Online in Korea, reactions are split between those saying “it was meant in the context of Hong Kong’s food and city atmosphere” and others arguing “as a global activity, the expression should have been more careful.” For now, key points to watch include whether the artist or agency will issue additional statements, and whether the flow of public opinion in China will actually impact their activities (advertising, distribution, promotions).

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