Ive's An Yujin Sparks Controversy with 'Hanbang Hospital' Comment

Recently, a meme involving An Yujin of the girl group IVE has gained traction on online communities. In a segment on the YouTube channel 'TEO', An Yujin discussed her aspirations after obtaining her driver's license, mentioning insurance claims. She stated, "If someone else is at fault, they say to go to a hanbang hospital (traditional Korean medicine clinic)." This comment has drawn criticism from practitioners of traditional medicine, who feel it disparages their field.

During her appearance on the February 28 episode of 'Salon Drip 2', An Yujin expressed her fascination with the idea of driving and handling insurance claims after an accident, saying, "I thought you had to know how to do those things to be an adult." She noted that while she leaves most matters to her parents, she personally took out her own insurance policy.

When the host, Jang Do-yeon, mimicked getting out of a car after a minor accident while holding her neck, An Yujin remarked, "I’ve imagined that. In dramas, they always come out holding their necks."

She continued, "I read online that if I’m not at fault but someone else is, they say to go to a hanbang hospital." The production team laughed, prompting An Yujin to question, "Is this not okay?" and clarified, "I just saw it online. That’s not right."

The Korean Association of Traditional Medicine confirmed they had seen the video but chose not to issue a formal statement. However, many practitioners expressed their displeasure, calling her remarks careless and suggesting they perpetuate the stereotype that hanbang hospitals are frequented by 'fake patients'.