IVE's Jang Won-young and An Yu-jin Face Backlash Over Exhibition Ticket Prices

An upcoming media exhibition featuring IVE members Jang Won-young and An Yu-jin is drawing pushback from fans who say the ticket prices are too high.

The event, "An-Young Media Exhibition," runs from Sept. 5 through Sept. 27 at The Seoul Lightium in Seoul's Seongsu district.

The exhibition takes its name from "An-Young," a combined nickname for the two members. Sessions last 60 minutes and run eight times a day, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. KST. General admission costs 30,000 won, while special tickets cost 66,000 won.

General ticket holders receive an entry pass, a leaflet, an entry wristband, two photocards, stickers and an order form for official merchandise. Special ticket buyers get those items plus an exclusive ticket, a special photocard set, an A3 poster set and a photocard holder.

The pricing has sparked debate on X and other social media platforms, with some fans questioning both the exhibition's contents and whether the packages justify the prices. "An exhibition like this should almost be free, and they're charging 66,000 won," one fan wrote. Another posted, "It's way too expensive. There don't even seem to be any unit photos. How is this an An-Young exhibition?"

The timing has added to the frustration. Jang Won-young's birthday fell on Aug. 31 and An Yu-jin's on Sept. 1, prompting some fans to argue that the exhibition looks like an attempt to cash in on the birthday window. "It just looks like they're using the two members' birthdays to make money," one comment read.

Others compared the pricing to a recent exhibition by BLACKPINK's Jennie. Her photo exhibition, "J2NNI5," held in January, charged 10,000 won for admission. She also donated a total of 100 million won through a combination of the event's proceeds and her own contribution. "Jennie's was 10,000 won," one fan wrote. "Isn't this the same kind of photo exhibition?"

Even with the debate, interest in the event remains strong. "An-Young Media Exhibition" topped the daily rankings on Melon Ticket, the exhibition's official ticketing platform.

The reaction shows how closely fans now track the line between fan service and commercialization, and how quickly ticket pricing can turn into a broader public conversation about what artists owe the people who support them.