Jang Won-young and Ahn Yu-jin [Starship Entertainment]
Jang Won-young and Ahn Yu-jin [Starship Entertainment]

A media exhibition featuring IVE members Ahn Yu-jin and Jang Won-young is drawing criticism over ticket prices and what some fans are calling preferential treatment toward certain members of the six-member group.

The two will hold a media exhibition titled "An-Young Media Exhibition" at The Seoul Lyteum in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, from Thursday through Sept. 27. The event will feature photos and video content of the pair.

Ticket sales opened through Melon Ticket on Monday, and fans quickly raised concerns about the pricing.

General admission tickets are priced at 30,000 won ($22), while special tickets cost 66,000 won. General ticket holders receive two photocards, a sticker and an MD order sheet. Special ticket holders additionally receive a special photocard set, a photocard holder and an A3 poster set.

Online criticism has been sharp. "Other idol exhibitions let you in for free and only charge for merchandise," one commenter wrote. Others questioned the value: "It's just an exhibition, not a fan signing — and they're charging that much?" and "How impressive can the exhibition possibly be?" Some accused the organizers of using the event primarily to extract money from fans.

Critics have also taken issue with only two of IVE's six members being featured. Since Ahn Yu-jin and Jang Won-young do not operate as an official sub-unit, some fans argue that holding a joint exhibition for just the two of them amounts to favoritism within the group.

Online commenters weighed in. "No matter how popular they are, isn't the agency being too openly discriminatory?" wrote one user. Another said, "Someone might think they've formed a sub-unit called 'An-Youngs' — what are the other members, just extras?" A third questioned the branding: "They don't even have photocards shot together as a unit, so is it even right to call them 'An-Youngs'?"

Despite the backlash, the exhibition is performing strongly in advance ticket sales. As of Wednesday morning, it ranked first in real-time ticket sales in the exhibition and events category on Melon Ticket.


paq@heraldcorp.com