In mid-February, IVE returned to the K-pop scene with their pre-release track “Bang Bang.” The song quickly caused a major impact on Korean digital music charts. Within just a few days of release, “Bang Bang” ranked No.1 across major platforms including Melon, Genie, Flo, Vibe, and Bugs, officially achieving a Perfect All-Kill (PAK).
Notably, “Bang Bang” became the first song released in 2026 to achieve a PAK. For IVE, this marks their sixth PAK-certified hit, further solidifying their reputation as digital powerhouses with consistent comeback success. As a result, the Starship Entertainment girl group has been receiving heightened public attention.
However, IVE recently became embroiled in internal tension rumors due to a 20-second clip circulating online, once again placing Jang Wonyoung at the center of discussion.
The clip captures the members chatting on stage while preparing for their performance on Inkigayo. Jang Wonyoung is seen looking straight ahead with a neutral expression while casually moving her arms along to the choreography. The moment that sparked controversy came when she moved toward the center of the formation and lightly touched Gaeul, who was standing in the middle position. Wonyoung then smoothly took over the center spot, while Gaeul stepped back into Wonyoung’s original position.
Some netizens interpreted the moment as evidence that Jang Wonyoung is “used to taking the spotlight,” with some even labeling her a “calculating princess” who always wants to stand in the center. Meanwhile, Gaeul received sympathy from certain viewers, who described her as gentle and reserved, suggesting she may be more likely to give way.
The debate intensified as online users resurfaced older clips allegedly showing Wonyoung moving toward the center during group photos or encore stages. In one instance, during a weekly music show encore performance after IVE won a trophy, she was seen stepping forward into the middle position and later appearing surprised when she ended up standing center.
From there, the conversation expanded beyond positioning to speculation about IVE’s internal dynamics. Some comments claimed that the group’s on-stage interactions occasionally lack the natural closeness seen in other girl groups, suggesting they appear more like colleagues than close friends.
However, other netizens argued that drawing conclusions from a few seconds of video is premature. In the idol industry, stage formations are often pre-arranged, and position adjustments can simply be professional instinct. Maintaining a composed and professional image on stage does not necessarily reflect the members’ real-life relationship.
The issue of center positioning surrounding Jang Wonyoung is not new within K-pop discussions, but once again, a brief clip has reignited debate among online communities.
Sources: k14,pann