IVE’s Jang Wonyoung is again taking the headlines. The idol has become one of the populars figures in K-pop not just for her undeniable talent and iconic status as a BVLGARI ambassador, but also for the relentless scrutiny that follows her every move in public.
The latest moment to make the rounds happened during a photo session at a BVLGARI event held at the Seongeun Museum of Art in Seoul on October 28. Wonyoung attended the occasion alongside fellow BVLGARI ambassador Kim Ji Won and brand CEO Laura Burdese.
During the group photo, the three women initially stood side by side. Kim Ji Won briefly turned her head, seemingly responding to directions from staff. At that point, Wonyoung noticed the shift and gestured for Kim to move closer, apparently coordinating the shot. Ji Won and Burdese switched positions following Wonyoung command before staff intervened with different instructions, and everyone returned to where they had originally been standing.
Wonyoung telling Jiwon to go in the middle. Uhmmm girls that's the CEO of Bvlgari😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/UFlIag1iZf
— Liz (@lizrocknroll) October 28, 2026
Wonyoung looked flustered, she turned toward Burdese with an odd gesture. The CEO responded warmly. By the time the photo session wrapped up, all three were smiling.
A video of the exchange circulated online shortly after. Some netizens argued that Wonyoung’s gesture toward Kim Ji Won and Burdese came across as inappropriate at an official brand event, particularly in the presence of a global executive. One commenter went as far as suggesting the confusion reflected poorly on Wonyoung’s professionalism.
But the defense from fans was immediate and overwhelming. Many pointed out that everyone involved, including Burdese, appeared completely comfortable throughout the interaction, with the CEO herself responding to Wonyoung’s gesture with visible warmth.
For longtime followers of Wonyoung, the incident fits a pattern. The IVE member has repeatedly found herself at the center of controversies that tend to dissolve once the full context becomes clear.
