[2026] Jang Won-young's Headband Discard Controversy | Summary of the Incident at the Fan Signing Event

A video of IVE's Jang Won-young throwing a rabbit-shaped headband behind her at a fan signing event on June 13-14, 2026, went viral on X, sparking controversy. Following a similar controversy at the airport, the incident has caused a heated debate on the internet in both Korea and Japan, with opinions divided between supporters and detractors.

[2026] Jang Won-young's Headband Discard Controversy | Summary of the Incident at the Fan Signing Event

table of contents

1. Summary of this controversy
2. What is the problematic video from the fan signing event?
3. Online reactions: Criticism and support are sharply divided.
4. A series of controversies following the recent airport attitude dispute.
5. Past controversies and attempts to dispel them surrounding Jang Won-young
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. A quick summary of the current controversy

Q. Why is Jang Won-young facing backlash?

A. On June 13-14, 2026, a video of her throwing a rabbit-shaped headband behind her back during a fan signing event went viral on social media, leading to a barrage of criticism for her "bad attitude."

Q. Why is it believed that he threw the headband?

A. There is a view that the action was taken to place fan merchandise into a designated box set up at the back of the venue. However, there has been no official explanation regarding this point.

Q. Has their agency issued a statement?

A. As of June 14, 2026, no official comments have been confirmed from Jang Won-young herself or STARSHIP Entertainment.

2. What is the problematic video from the fan signing event?

Between June 13th and 14th, 2026, a video went viral on X (formerly Twitter) showing IVE's Jang Won-young wearing a rabbit-shaped headband given to her by a fan during a photo session at a fan signing event, then immediately throwing the headband behind her.

The video has garnered over 1 million views and has become a major topic of discussion on social media in both South Korea and Japan. Critics have stated that he "threw it like garbage" and that he "lacked consideration for his fans."

On the other hand, among fans familiar with the scene, the interpretation that "there was a special box in the back for collecting fan merchandise, and the action was that she put it in there" is spreading. Furthermore, the fan who gave the headband (X: @iwonchuu831) also questioned the controversy by posting on her X account, "Immediately after Wonyoung put on the merchandise, when I told her I was the one who gave it to her, she immediately noticed and posed for the camera for about 1-2 minutes. There is a collection box in the back. Please stop taking things out of context and making unnecessary interpretations."

👉Check the fan account for the post

3. Online reactions: Criticism and support are sharply divided.

Reactions to this incident were sharply divided on major South Korean online communities like theqoo and on Japan's X.

Critical opinions

• "It's like throwing away garbage, and it doesn't make me feel good to watch."
• "Following the airport incident, this is another case... I hope they will act cautiously."
• "I've been hearing a lot of stories like this lately."

Supportive/neutral opinions

• "If I keep facing forward, the fans can see my face, and wouldn't it be more logical to throw it behind me?"
• "How did you remove the other members?"
• "I think it's an unconscious action. They're busy, after all."
• "Criticizing someone's character based on this is going too far."
• "It's not like it's an alcohol-related accident or a sex crime; anyone would just toss a hairpin down somewhere."

4. A series of controversies following the airport attitude dispute.

This incident attracted even more attention because it coincided with the "airport attitude controversy" that had occurred shortly before.

On May 30, 2026, when Jang Won-young was departing from Gimpo International Airport for a schedule in Shanghai, China, she was photographed and circulated online standing with her arms crossed during immigration checks and receiving her passport with one hand from an officer. Some netizens criticized her, saying she had a "bad attitude" and was "disrespectful to the officer."

However, later, footage from a different angle was released, confirming that Jang Won-young was handing over her passport with both hands, and that her arms were crossed in a natural posture during the brief moment the officer scanned the passport. Many countered that this was "excessive criticism based on selectively edited footage," and Korean media outlets also pointed this out.

5. Past controversies surrounding Jang Won-young and episodes of resolving them

Jang Won-young has been involved in several "character controversies" in the past, Much of this was due to the spread of false information and the manipulation of video footage.

In January 2026, the Supreme Court sentenced the YouTuber channel "탈덕수용소 (De-fan Concentration Center)" to two years in prison, suspended for three years, fined 210 million won, and required 120 hours of community service for systematically spreading false information about Jang Won-young and generating 250 million won in revenue.

On the other hand, there are many stories that have garnered attention for their sincere interactions with fans. For example, they are widely known for attempting to communicate with hearing-impaired fans by slowly moving their lips, and for extending the time even after the staff had signaled the end of the session, asking fans to "please wait just a little longer" to complete the autograph signing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. When did the controversy surrounding Jang Won-young's headband begin?

A. On June 13-14, 2026, a video of a fan signing event spread on X, and the controversy began.

Q2. Have Jang Won-young or her agency issued an apology or explanation?

A. As of June 15, 2026, there have been no official comments from Jang Won-young herself or from STARSHIP Entertainment.

Q3. Did you really "throw away" the headband when you threw it?

A. Among fans, there is a widespread interpretation that the action was intended to be placing the item into a collection box located at the back. However, there is no official explanation to confirm this, and opinions are currently divided on this matter.

Q4. Are there any similarities between the airport controversy and the headband controversy?

A. Both cases share a common pattern: only a small portion of a short video is taken and spread on social media, and later, different interpretations emerge.

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