Tragic Incident Leads to Calls for IVE's Jang Won-young to Attend Funeral

On February 10, a tragic incident occurred in Daejeon when a 40-year-old teacher wielded a knife, resulting in the death of 8-year-old elementary student Kim Ha-neul. According to Kim's father, she was a devoted fan of Jang Won-young from the K-pop group IVE, often staying up late to watch her broadcasts and asking for photo cards. In response to the heartbreaking news, IVE sent a wreath and photo cards to Kim's funeral to express their condolences.

Following this, Kim's father met with reporters on February 12, requesting that Jang Won-young visit the funeral. He shared, "Ha-neul had asked me to make sure she could attend an IVE concert in Daejeon. Her dream was to meet Jang Won-young. I know she is busy, but if possible, I would appreciate it if she could come to see Ha-neul."

This request sparked a heated debate online, with many netizens urging Jang Won-young to pay her respects, while others questioned why she should be obligated to attend. Comments ranged from supportive pleas to criticisms suggesting that sending condolences through the wreath was sufficient. Some argued that if Jang Won-young were to visit, it could lead to further controversies about who she chooses to visit in the future.

In light of the backlash, Kim's father clarified, "My request for Jang Won-young to visit was not a demand but a heartfelt plea. I just wanted to show my daughter the person she admired so much, and it’s painful to see some people speak carelessly about it."