SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — Chinese netizens are claiming that the phoenix-shaped, Korean traditional hairpin worn by Jang Wonyoung, a member of K-pop girl group Ive, comes from China.
A Chinese influencer with more than 480,000 followers sparked the controversy after posting an article titled “South Korean group steals Chinese culture yet again.”
“The dragon and phoenix have been unique symbols of the Chinese people. There might be hairpins in Korea, but a phoenix-shaped hairpin isn’t Korean,” the influencer said.
The influencer’s false claims come after Jang made an appearance at Paris Fashion Week.
“I brought this hairpin from Korea to show you the beauty of our nation,” Jang said in a YouTube video.
The phoenix-shaped hairpin, called “bongjam” in Korean, is a Korean traditional accessory.
Image Credit: Jang Wonyoung’s Facebook and Instagram Accounts / photonews@koreabizwire.com
