On December 15, Starship Entertainment shared an official notice through IVE’s channels regarding fan letters, gifts, and support. The agency stated, “From now on, we have decided not to accept any gifts or support other than fan letters.” The announcement made it clear that so-called “tributes” would also be declined going forward.
Starship explained the reasoning behind the decision, saying, “We hope that the gifts you wish to send will instead return to places where they are more needed. We ask for your generous understanding and cooperation.” The agency added that any support currently being prepared would be respectfully declined, emphasizing that “we will gratefully accept only fans’ heartfelt sentiments.”
IVE, a six-member girl group that debuted in December 2021, continues to enjoy strong popularity both domestically and internationally. Jang Wonyoung, in particular, has remained a top-tier star, especially within Chinese fandoms.
The announcement follows recent online buzz surrounding Jang Wonyoung’s birthday, after details of a lavish support project organized by her Chinese fanbase were revealed. The gifts reportedly included luxury-brand handbags, clothing, shoes, accessories, as well as high-end electronics such as cameras and gaming consoles. The total cost of the birthday support was said to amount to hundreds of millions of won, sparking heated discussion.
Public reaction was sharply divided. Some netizens criticized the culture, commenting that it was “hard to understand” or questioning why expensive gifts were being sent to an already successful celebrity. Others defended the practice, arguing that it was simply a voluntary expression of fan affection.
Against this backdrop, many celebrities have increasingly voiced discomfort with extravagant fan gifts, opting instead to accept handwritten letters or symbolic gestures. In some cases, agencies have proactively restricted gift acceptance altogether.
IVE’s decision appears to align with this broader industry trend, drawing a clear boundary regarding “tribute” culture.
Meanwhile, Jang Wonyoung recently made headlines after it was reported that she purchased a luxury villa in Hannam-dong for approximately 13.7 billion KRW (around 137 billion won) in cash earlier this year. The property was reportedly acquired for family residence purposes, further amplifying public attention around discussions of wealth and fan support.
Sources: 네이트 뉴스