Jang Won-young’s Airport Appearance Shifts Following Controversy

IVE’s Jang Won-young seems to have taken recent airport security and celebrity privilege controversies to heart. The K-pop star was spotted departing with a notably different approach, forgoing her usual hat and mask while displaying a courteous demeanor.

On June 23, Jang departed for Japan via Gimpo International Airport for IVE’s world tour “SHOW WHAT I AM”.

In a striking contrast to her fellow members who shielded their faces with masks and hats, Jang stood out by appearing completely bare-faced, without even sunglasses. She warmly greeted reporters and fans, and during the security check, she respectfully presented her passport with both hands.

Following her departure, Jang shared a selfie video from the plane on her social media.

This change in behavior appears to be a direct response to the controversy that erupted during her Shanghai departure on May 30. At that time, Jang had only slightly lowered her mask while keeping her hat on for identity verification. She was also seen handing over her passport with crossed arms, sparking online debates about celebrity privileges and attitude issues.

In light of the incident, the Korea Airport Corporation clarified that they apply uniform standards to all travelers. However, they’ve since reinforced their guidelines, explicitly stating on their official website: “Please temporarily remove masks, hats, and sunglasses for identity verification.”