As of February 12, the social media of Wonyoung, a member of the popular girl group IVE, has been inundated with requests for her to pay tribute to the late 8-year-old Kim Haneul, who tragically passed away after a stabbing incident. Fans and the public have been urging the idol to send a message to the grieving family, caught between the heartfelt sympathy for Kim and the burden of such a request.
On February 11, police reported that Kim Haneul was found with stab wounds in a media room at an elementary school in Daejeon at approximately 5:50 PM. Despite attempts at CPR, she was pronounced dead at 7:00 PM. The suspect, a 40-year-old teacher, was found at the scene.
Kim was an ardent fan of Wonyoung and IVE, and upon hearing of her passing, IVE sent flowers and photo cards as a token of their condolences. Kim's father shared in a media interview that his daughter had been a devoted follower of IVE and Wonyoung, always watching her broadcasts. “Haneul's dream was Wonyoung,” he said, further expressing that his daughter would prioritize watching any show featuring the idol over others.
In the wake of this tragic event, Kim’s father also requested that Wonyoung send a small message of tribute to his daughter. “If the IVE team sees this news, we would be grateful if Wonyoung could say a warm word to Haneul as she embarks on her journey,” he added. This led to numerous comments flooding Wonyoung’s Instagram post, with fans urging her to offer a tribute: “Please say something to Haneul,” “Prayers for Haneul,” and similar messages of support.
However, not all reactions have been positive. Some expressed concerns over the pressure on Wonyoung, stating that while IVE had already conveyed their condolences, the idol herself should refrain from making a personal response. “SNS is a personal space, and excessive requests may be burdensome,” one commenter noted.
Others argued that not every family’s request can be granted by celebrities, particularly in such a sensitive and tragic situation, highlighting that Wonyoung is only 20 years old and may not be prepared for the immense attention and emotional burden this request may carry.
As of now, Jang Wonyoung and IVE’s official SNS accounts have continued to post content related to their ongoing activities and promotions, with no separate statements addressing this situation.
While the outpouring of grief for Kim Haneul is evident, the public’s empathy must be balanced with a respect for the personal space of a young idol, like Wonyoung, who is navigating the pressures of fame and the tragic loss of a devoted fan. This situation calls for a delicate balance of empathy for the family and consideration for the mental well-being of the idol involved.
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