On February 16, Jang Yoon Jung uploaded a video to social media with the short caption “HBD.” In the clip, she is seen holding a jar-shaped cake while people around her place sunglasses and a crown on her head, creating a playful birthday atmosphere.
In particular, she participated in the recently trending performance where a candle is placed in the mouth, lit, and then inserted back into the cake before blowing it out—an act some say resembles smoking. After extinguishing the flame, Jang Yoon Jung slightly lifted her sunglasses and struck a charismatic pose, adding a humorous touch to the moment.
The performance first gained widespread attention after Jennie showcased it for her birthday. However, given Jennie’s past controversy involving indoor smoking, some netizens argued that lighting a candle in one’s mouth could evoke imagery associated with smoking and therefore be considered inappropriate.
When Lee Min Junglater shared a similar video, it also drew mixed reactions. Critics commented that scenes reminiscent of smoking could be misleading, especially on social media platforms where children may be watching.
Meanwhile, Jang Yoon Jung recently appeared on TV Chosun’s Heo Young Man’s Food Travel, where she shared a personal story about her birthday. She revealed, “I was born on the first day of the Lunar New Year in the year I was born. My birthday falls on Lunar New Year’s Day.”
She candidly reflected on her childhood, saying, “On Lunar New Year, we prepare the ancestral memorial table, but it was also my birthday. My father is the eldest son, and I’m the eldest daughter. Even having a daughter as the first child was frowned upon at the time—how could I expect a birthday meal? I never had one.” She added that her birthday was often overshadowed by ancestral rites, and even having a bowl of birthday seaweed soup felt like a luxury.
“That’s why after becoming a celebrity, I confidently say, ‘My birthday is on Lunar New Year,’” she shared. Jang Yoon Jung revealed that she spent nearly 30 years with what she described as “a sorrowful birthday,” but since getting married, she has been able to celebrate her lunar birthday proudly. “After we finish the ancestral rites, my mother-in-law cooks seaweed soup just for me,” she said with a smile.
As the birthday candle trend continues to circulate online, Jang Yoon Jung’s participation has once again sparked discussion—blending lighthearted celebration with ongoing conversations about social media influence and public perception.
Sources: Daum