'Jang Wonyoung Hair' Listed in Chinese Auction... Surpassing 19 Million KRW Despite Unverified Status

Jang Wonyoung's Hair Listed on Chinese Auction Site
Current Bid Around 19.1 Million KRW...Netizens Debate
"Invasion of Privacy" vs "No Problem If Payment Made"

A strand of hair claimed to belong to Jang Wonyoung, a member of the globally beloved girl group IVE, has become a hot topic after being put up for auction in China.

IVE member Jang Wonyoung. [Photo by Jang Wonyoung Instagram]

On the 26th, local media reported that a live auction was held recently on an online secondhand trading platform to sell three strands of Jang Wonyoung’s hair. The seller, identified as Mr. A, claimed, "I plucked it myself at a concert," and added, "Identity can be verified through DNA." The live broadcast attracted 1,200 simultaneous viewers, making it a major sensation even within China.

It has not been confirmed whether the hair actually belongs to Jang Wonyoung. However, the starting bid was set at 99,999 yuan (approximately 18.74 million KRW), and as of the 27th, the price had soared to 103,662 yuan (approximately 19.1 million KRW). The auction will end on March 2 at 11:59 AM, and the highest bidder will receive the hair claimed to be Jang Wonyoung’s. Many have criticized the auction, warning about the ethical concerns of buying and selling parts of a person’s body.

Three strands of hair claimed to be "Jang Wonyoung's" have been posted on a Chinese auction app, causing a stir.
[Photo by NetEase]

Korean netizens who came across the story expressed negative reactions such as, "This could be misused for crimes, are they out of their minds?", "It infringes on personal privacy and dignity," "I don’t understand how someone could pluck hair from Jang Wonyoung on stage. It probably isn’t hers," "What could they possibly do with hair to pay such a high price?" and "Who verifies the authenticity?" On the other hand, some Chinese netizens responded with comments like, "Purchasing is a personal freedom," and "Any fan of Jang Wonyoung would participate in the auction."

Meanwhile, this is not the first time unusual items belonging to celebrities have appeared on auction sites. There are even websites specializing in trading celebrity hair. Louis Mushro, who operates one such site, stated that over the past 20 years, he has auctioned off more than 4,500 strands of hair, ranging from political figures like former U.S. President John F. Kennedy to famous musicians such as John Lennon of The Beatles.