Jang Won-young of the girl group IVE found herself at the center of a controversy over her outfit after performing the ceremonial first kick at a match between Team K League and Newcastle United from the English Premier League, held at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the evening of the 30th.
During the first leg of the ‘2025 Coupang Play Series,’ held at 8 PM on the 30th at Suwon World Cup Stadium, IVE participated in the opening kick-off and performed during halftime, heating up the atmosphere of the match.
IVE members appeared on the ground wearing uniquely styled blue-toned tops that they had redesigned to emphasize their individual styles.
As this scene spread through broadcasts and social media, some netizens criticized the attire as being too revealing for a ceremonial kick-off. Comments included, “It’s fine for stage costumes, but too short and low-cut for a kick-off, making it seem uncomfortable,” “It doesn’t suit the time and place,” and “It seems like the stylist is to blame.”
On the other hand, praises included, “She’s very pretty,” “She looked just like a Barbie doll,” “She was perfect to brighten the event, as she wasn’t there to play soccer,” and “She showed the essence of being a K-pop star,” reflecting a division of opinion.
After the event, IVE’s Rei communicated with fans through a platform, saying, “Isn’t our IVE uniform super cute?” and explained, “We each requested to have them customized according to our preferences.”