On September 20, the The Fact Music Awards (TMA) 2025 took place in Macau, China, gathering top K-pop acts including IVE, aespa, ENHYPEN, Stray Kids, and ZEROBASEONE. As usual, the ceremony began with a star-studded red carpet before moving on to award presentations and performances.
This year, IVE dominated the charts with their track Rebel Heart and impressive sales of two EPs, IVE Empathy and IVE Secret. The girl group took home two major titles at TMA 2025: Artist of the Year and Sound of the Year. However, more than a week after the show, fans uncovered a moment on stage that has since sparked heated debate about the group’s internal dynamics.
A TikTok clip revealed that when IVE went on stage to accept the Artist of the Year award, Jang Wonyoung quickly grabbed the trophy first—earning a sharp side-eye from leader An Yujin. During the second award, Sound of the Year, Wonyoung again reached for the trophy, but Yujin intercepted it and stepped forward to give the acceptance speech with a bright smile.
The clip, which captured the humorous yet awkward “trophy tug-of-war,” has fueled speculation about tension between the two idols. Many netizens criticized Wonyoung for her “spotlight obsession,” claiming her eagerness to seize the award reflects her fixation on being center. Others, however, argued that Yujin’s visible glare was also unprofessional, especially during a live broadcast.
Both Wonyoung and Yujin are regarded as IVE’s leading figures and among K-pop’s most prominent Gen 4 idols, with equal levels of recognition in Korea. As a result, their on-stage dynamic has only amplified discussions, while the group’s other four members remain overshadowed.
This is not the first time Wonyoung has faced criticism for allegedly monopolizing attention. She has been accused of deliberately taking center positions during photo ops, including at airports, and receiving preferential styling that outshines her teammates. Such moments continue to fuel debates both in the fandom and among the general public.
Sources: kenh14
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