IVE’s Jang Won-young reveals training secret behind her figure

Jang Won-young shows her smooth “Wonyoung turn,” perfected through regular hip-focused workouts. Captured from DEX's "Naengterview"

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IVE member Jang Won-young has revealed the workout routine that helps her maintain her much-admired body shape. She combines a slender frame with enviable curves — a physique that many in Korea’s MZ generation describe as “unrealistic.”

In a recent appearance on Kang Min-kyung’s YouTube channel, Jang candidly shared her love of sweets. “I really love desserts and anything sweet. It would be better if I cut down, but I can’t,” she said with a laugh. Instead, she explained, she focuses on exercise, especially personal training (PT) sessions. “When I do PT, I only concentrate on my hips,” she said. Kang agreed, replying, “I also work only on hips. To do the ‘Wonyoung turn’ on stage, you need it.”

The “Wonyoung turn,” in which Jang spins gracefully in place, has become a viral sensation, especially in China, where related clips have garnered nearly 5 billion views.

The role of glute muscles

Gluteal muscles are essential for balance and stability. Jang’s smooth “Wonyoung turn” relies on a strong core and glutes to keep her movements steady and elegant. These muscles include the gluteus maximus, medius and minimus. The maximus provides power for standing, running and stopping. The medius and minimus stabilize the pelvis during walking or single-leg movements. Together, they improve posture, athletic performance and rotational strength.

When rotating in place, as Jang does on stage, the gluteus medius prevents the pelvis from wobbling, ensuring balance and fluid motion.

Jang Won-young enhances her lower body strength through hip-focused workouts. Captured from Jang's social media

Glutes for health and figure

Beyond aesthetics, strong glutes help stabilize the pelvis and spine, preventing poor posture, back pain and knee injuries. As one of the body’s largest muscles, the gluteus maximus also boosts metabolism and energy use, supporting weight control and lowering diabetes risk. Preserving glute muscle mass, which naturally declines with age, contributes to longevity and reduces the risk of falls and fractures.

Strong glutes help create the coveted “apple hip” silhouette that makes legs and the waistline look longer. Unlike simple weight loss, glute training builds muscle support for a toned lower body. Exercises such as squats, lunges, bridges and stair climbing are effective for strengthening these muscles.

This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.