Bae Joo-hyun (; born March 29, 1991), better known by her stage name Irene (), is a South Korean singer and actress. She is best known as the member and leader of the South Korean girl group
Red Velvet, and its sub-unit
Red Velvet – Irene & Seulgi
Red Velvet – Irene & Seulgi () is the first subunit of South Korean girl group Red Velvet (group), Red Velvet, formed by SM Entertainment in 2020. It is composed of members Irene (singer), Irene and Seulgi. The duo debuted on July 6, 2020, wit ...
.
Irene hosted the television programs ''
Music Bank
''Music Bank'' () is a South Korean music program which airs every Friday at 17:15 KST on KBS2. the show is also broadcast in more than a hundred countries through KBS World. Episodes are filmed at the KBS New Wing Open Hall in Yeouido-dong, Ye ...
'' (2015–2016), ''Laundry Day'' (2016–2017), and ''
Irene's Work & Holiday'' (2022), as well as various music festivals and award events. As an actress, Irene has starred in ''Women at a Game Company'' (2016) and ''
Double Patty'' (2021).
Early life and education
Irene was born Bae Joo-hyun on March 29, 1991, in
Daegu
Daegu (; ), formerly spelled Taegu and officially Daegu Metropolitan City (), is a city in southeastern South Korea. It is the third-largest urban agglomeration in South Korea after Seoul and Busan; the fourth-largest List of provincial-level ci ...
, South Korea.
She grew up in
Buk-gu. Her family consists of her parents and a younger sibling. She attended
Haknam High School in Daegu.
Career
2009–2014: Career beginnings
She joined
SM Entertainment
SM Entertainment Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency established in 1995 by Lee Soo-man. It is one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies and has been responsible for fostering and popularizing the car ...
in 2009 and trained for five years.
During her time as a trainee, in August 2013, she appeared in the music video of her then-labelmate
Henry Lau
Henry Lau (; ; born October 11, 1989), known mononymously as Henry, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer based in South Korea and China. He debuted in 2008 as a member of Super Junior-M and launched his ...
's song "1-4-3".
On December 9, 2013, Irene was one of the second batch of trainees introduced as a member of
SM Rookies
SM Rookies (, stylized in all caps as SMROOKIES) is a pre-debut training team created by South Korean entertainment agency SM Entertainment in 2013, composed of trainees who have yet to join an idol group. From 2013 to 2023, the team officiall ...
, a pre-debut team of trainees under SM Entertainment, alongside former trainee Lami and now-
NCT member
Jaehyun
Jeong Yun-o (; born Jeong Jae-hyun, February 14, 1997), known professionally as Jaehyun, is a South Korean singer. He is a member of the South Korean boy band NCT and its sub-units NCT 127 and NCT DoJaeJung. He made his solo debut on August ...
.
During SM Rookies, in January 2014, she alongside
Seulgi
Kang Seul-gi (; born February 10, 1994), known mononymously as Seulgi, is a South Korean singer and dancer. She is a member of the South Korean girl group Red Velvet (group), Red Velvet, its sub-unit Red Velvet – Irene & Seulgi, and the super ...
as well as now-NCT members Johnny and
Taeyong
Lee Tae-yong (; born July 1, 1995), known mononymously as Taeyong (stylized in all caps), is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, and dancer. He is a member and leader of South Korean boy band NCT under SM Entertainment, having debuted ...
appeared in The Celebrity magazine. In February 2014, Irene, Seulgi and Taeyong appeared in the OhBoy! magazine.
Various clips of Irene were released in SM Entertainment's official YouTube channel, "SMTOWN", one of which included her and Seulgi dancing to "Be Natural", a song originally performed by SM Entertainment's group
S.E.S., showcasing their dancing on July 17, 2014.
On July 27, 2014, she was introduced as a member and the leader of the girl group
Red Velvet. They made official debut with the single "
Happiness
Happiness is a complex and multifaceted emotion that encompasses a range of positive feelings, from contentment to intense joy. It is often associated with positive life experiences, such as achieving goals, spending time with loved ones, ...
". Since then, Red Velvet has released eleven EPs and two studio albums as well as two reissue albums. They have become regarded as one of the most popular K-pop groups in South Korea and worldwide. In November 2014, Irene appeared in the music video of
Kyuhyun's ballad single "광화문에서 (At Gwanghwamun)".
2015–present: Solo activities and sub-unit
From May 2015 to June 2016, Irene hosted the music show ''
Music Bank
''Music Bank'' () is a South Korean music program which airs every Friday at 17:15 KST on KBS2. the show is also broadcast in more than a hundred countries through KBS World. Episodes are filmed at the KBS New Wing Open Hall in Yeouido-dong, Ye ...
'' with actor
Park Bo-gum
Park Bo-gum (; born June 16, 1993) is a South Korean actor, singer, and musician. A prominent Korean Wave figure, Park is the youngest artist to be named Gallup Korea's Actor of the Year, Gallup Korea's Television Actor of the Year and the firs ...
.
They both gained attention for their chemistry as well as singing and hosting skills. The press called them one of the best partnerships in the show's history.
In July 2016, Irene made her acting debut in the web drama ''Women at a Game Company'' where she played the female lead.
In the same month, Irene was cast in ''Hello! Our Language'', a sitcom that was set on teaching viewers proper Korean, and she played as detective.
On October 14, Irene became a host of
OnStyle's fashion show ''Laundry Day''. The show premiered on October 22, 2016.
In the same month, she became a panelist on the KBS show ''
Trick & True
''Trick & True'' () was a South Korean variety show, which aired on KBS2, KBS' channel for entertainment shows. The show was hosted by television comedy show host Jun Hyun-moo, Kim Jun-hyun and Lee Eun-gyeol. The show replaced ''Talents for Sal ...
'' with bandmate
Wendy
Wendy is a given name generally given to girls in English-speaking countries.
In Britain during the English Civil War in the mid-1600s, a male Captain Wendy Oxford was identified by the Leveller John Lilburne as a spy reporting on his activit ...
.
In March 2017, Irene partnered with actor
Kim Min-jae for the portrayal of two lovers in the MV of Red Velvet's ''
SM Station
SM Station is a digital music project by South Korean record label SM Entertainment. It undertook to release one digital single every Friday starting from February 3, 2016. The project's first season ended on February 3, 2017, with 52 songs. It ...
ID'' "Would U". In July 2019,
SM Entertainment
SM Entertainment Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency established in 1995 by Lee Soo-man. It is one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies and has been responsible for fostering and popularizing the car ...
announced that Irene would be collaborating with South Korean DJ and producer
Raiden on the track "The Only", which was released on August 2.
On April 20, 2020, SM confirmed that Irene, alongside member
Seulgi
Kang Seul-gi (; born February 10, 1994), known mononymously as Seulgi, is a South Korean singer and dancer. She is a member of the South Korean girl group Red Velvet (group), Red Velvet, its sub-unit Red Velvet – Irene & Seulgi, and the super ...
, would form Red Velvet's first sub-unit.
Red Velvet - Irene & Seulgi debuted on July 6 with the extended play ''
Monster
A monster is a type of imaginary or fictional creature found in literature, folklore, mythology, fiction and religion. They are very often depicted as dangerous and aggressive, with a strange or grotesque appearance that causes Anxiety, terror ...
''. A short solo performance MV of her, titled Episode 2: IRENE, was also released. She and Seulgi also starred in a spin-off version of their reality show ''
Level Up Project!
''Level Up Project!'' () is a series of Korean variety show featuring South Korean girl group Red Velvet. Currently, it spans over five different seasons.
Synopsis
Members visit different parts of the world in-between promotions. The first season ...
'' On July 16, SM confirmed that Irene would be acting in the upcoming film ''
Double Patty'', which was to be released later on that year, but it was later postponed to February 2021. She is to play the role of Lee Hyun-Ji, an aspiring anchor. Irene also released her own OST, titled "A White Night", for the movie.
On April 3, 2024, it was announced that Irene will hold her first photo exhibition. It will be held from April 26 to May 5 in
Gangnam
Gangnam (), sometimes referred to as the Greater Gangnam Area, is a geographic and cultural region in Seoul. While Gangnam can refer to the entire region of Seoul south of the Han River, the region is generally defined as consisting of the city ...
,
Seoul
Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...
, with free entrance. She will simultaneously release three versions (namely Tabloid, Photobook, and Exclusive) of her photobook titled "1 Page of Irene" on the first day of the exhibition along with a new single titled "I Feel Pretty".
The song was previously teased at her birthday event ''Irene In Wonderland 2024'' held on March 29.
On November 4, 2024, it was announced that Irene would be releasing her debut EP ''
Like a Flower
''Like a Flower'' is the debut extended play by South Korean singer Irene. It was released by SM Entertainment on November 26, 2024, and contains eight tracks, including the lead single of the same name.
Background and release
On August 8, 2024, ...
'', with the lead single of the
same name
''Same Name'' is an American reality television series in which an average person swaps lives with a celebrity of the same first and last name. It premiered on July 24, 2011 on CBS. The series received low ratings, and CBS pulled it after four-ep ...
, on November 26.
Other activities
Endorsements
Irene has been hailed a "CF Queen" due to her huge marketing power and numerous endorsement deals ranging from cosmetics, luxury apparel items, and up to basic commodities. Besides her endorsements with Red Velvet as a group, she also became a model for Ivy Club together with labelmates
Exo
Exo (; stylized in all caps) is a South Korean-Chinese boy band based in Seoul formed by SM Entertainment in 2011 and debuted in 2012. The group consists of nine members: Xiumin, Suho, Lay Zhang, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen (singer), Chen, Chanyeol, ...
in 2015. In 2016, she became an endorser of coffee brand
Maxwell House
Maxwell House is an American brand of coffee manufactured by a like-named division of Kraft Heinz in North America and JDE Peet's in the rest of the world. Introduced in 1892 by wholesale grocer Joel Owsley Cheek, it was named in honor of the Ma ...
. In January 2017, Irene became the new brand model for Nuovo Shoes. In August 2017, Irene was also chosen to be the promotional model for the
MMORPG
A massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is a video game that combines aspects of a role-playing video game and a massively multiplayer online game.
As in role-playing games (RPGs), the player assumes the role of a Player charac ...
''Age of Ring'' (). In the same year, she became the official endorser of
Hyundai Motors
Hyundai Motor Company, often referred to as Hyundai Motors, ( ) and commonly known as Hyundai (), is a South Korean multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, which was founded in 1967. Currently, the company ow ...
Auto Advantage program.
On February 26, 2018, Irene was selected to be the model of contact lens brand Cooper Vision. In the same month, she became an advertising model of the casual accessory brand Hazzys Accessories. On May 3, she became the brand model for famous vitamin brand LEMONA Vitamin C and was given the title "human vitamin".
On August 9, she was announced as the new promotional model for French sports brand
Eider
The eiders () are large seaducks in the genus ''Somateria''. The three extant species all breed in the cooler latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.
The down feathers of eider ducks and some other ducks and geese are used to fill pillows and qu ...
for fall/winter of 2018 and spring/summer of 2019. In November 2018, Irene, together with Wendy, also became an endorser of Dongwon Yangban Rice Porridge. In December, she was chosen to be the face for
HiteJinro
HiteJinro Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean Multinational corporation, multinational Drink industry, drink, brewing company, brewing and Distillation, distiller company, founded in 1924. It is the world's leading producer of soju, accounting for mo ...
''Chamisul'' soju brand.
In February 2019, Irene was announced as the new muse of the Italian luxury jewelry brand
Damiani
Damiani is a surname, of Italian origin.
Notable people with the surname include:
*Victor Damiani (born 1970), American bassist
* Chip Damiani (1945–2014), American drummer
* Damiano Damiani (1922–2013), Italian screenwriter and film director ...
, becoming the first Asian to represent the brand as a muse. In the same year, she also became the face of fashion brand
Miu Miu
Miu Miu is an Italian high fashion women's clothing and accessory brand and a fully owned subsidiary of Prada. It is headed by Miuccia Prada and headquartered in Milan, Italy.
Silvia Onofri is its CEO.
History
Miu Miu was established in 1992 ...
. In March 2019, she attended
Paris Fashion Week
Paris Fashion Week (, commonly ) is a series of designer presentations held semi-annually in Paris, France, with spring/summer and autumn/winter events held each year. Dates are determined by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. Pa ...
and caused a craze at Miu Miu's AW19 show.
As her global influence continues to rise, Irene became the new ambassador for mid-range beauty brand
Clinique
Clinique Laboratories, Limited liability company, LLC () is an American manufacturer of skincare, cosmetics, toiletries and fragrances, usually sold in high-end department stores. It is a subsidiary of the Estée Lauder Companies. As of 2019, C ...
in Asia Pacific in March 2020.
On September 17, 2020, Irene was announced as the new ambassador for
Prada
Prada S.p.A. (, ; ) is an Italian luxury fashion house founded in 1913 in Milan by Mario Prada. It specializes in leather handbags, travel accessories, shoes, ready-to-wear, and other fashion accessories. Prada licenses its name and branding ...
.
In 2023, Irene was appointed as an advertising model for the cosmetics brand 2aN. On May 19, 2025, Dong-A Pharmaceutical announced Irene as the new model for its premium inner beauty brand ILO.
Philanthropy
In February 2020, Irene donated for the
Community Chest of Korea
Community Chest of Korea () is a Korean nonprofit organization, launched in 1998. It is the only government-sanctioned charity within South Korea. It is the country's largest welfare institution. With a community-based fundraising effort, it supp ...
to help support those affected by the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
in South Korea. In March 2025, Irene donated to aid relief efforts for those affected by the Youngnam forest fires.
Impact and influence
On March 18, 2018, Irene mentioned reading ''
Kim Ji-young, Born 1982
''Kim Ji-young, Born 1982'' () is a novel by Cho Nam-Joo. A former scriptwriter for TV programs, Cho took two months to write the story as according to her, the title character "Kim Ji-young's life isn't much different from the one I have lived. ...
'', which led to her becoming the target of
cyberbullying
Cyberbullying (cyberharassment or online bullying) is a form of bullying or harassment using electronic means. Since the 2000s, it has become increasingly common, especially among teenagers and adolescents, due to young people's increased u ...
. On March 21, the mention caused a 104% surge in sales compared to the same period the previous week according to Yes24, with 70,000 copies sold in just one week, and regained #1 spot on Aladdin. Seoul Economic Daily noted on April 12, 2018, that "the book, which has been a bestseller since it was published in 2016, saw the 'Irene effect' with sales soaring by a whopping 462.4%". By May 2018, the book became the most borrowed title at
Seoul National University
Seoul National University (SNU; ) is a public university, public research university in Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the SKY (universities), SKY universities and a part of the Flagship Korean National Universities.
The university's main c ...
, which houses South Korea's largest university library collection.
In
Gallup Korea
Gallup Korea () or Gallup Korea Research Institute () is a South Korean research company. Founded by Park Moo-ik in 1974, the company became a member of Gallup International Association in 1997. It is best known for conducting public surveys o ...
's Idol Preference poll, Irene was named as one of the topmost loved idol celebrities in South Korea. In 2019, in a separate survey among soldiers doing
mandatory military service in South Korea, Irene was ranked as the third most popular female K-pop idol. Irene has also consistently placed high in the Korea Queer Women Community's annual poll.
Irene's popularity has led to several brand endorsements. She also topped the "Individual Girl Group Members Brand Power Ranking" chart published by the Korean Corporate Reputation Research Institute, placing within top 3 several times in 2018. In 2023, she took the number one spot in the "Female Idol Star Ranking" for four consecutive weeks.
Controversies
On October 21, 2020, Kang Kook Hwa, a fashion editor,
alleged
In law, an allegation is a claim of an unproven fact by a party in a pleading, charge, or defense. Until they can be proved, allegations remain merely assertions.
Types of allegations Marital allegations
There are also marital allegations: ma ...
(in a now-deleted
Instagram
Instagram is an American photo sharing, photo and Short-form content, short-form video sharing social networking service owned by Meta Platforms. It allows users to upload media that can be edited with Social media camera filter, filters, be ...
post) that an unnamed female celebrity mistreated and lashed out at her when she worked as their stylist, using the tags
#monster and
#psycho. The next day, Irene posted an official statement on social media, apologizing for her poor words and actions.
SM Entertainment
SM Entertainment Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency established in 1995 by Lee Soo-man. It is one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies and has been responsible for fostering and popularizing the car ...
also subsequently released a statement apologizing for causing concern to the public. The controversy sparked conversations about the "
gapjil
''Gapjil'' () is an expression referring to an arrogant and authoritarian attitude or actions of people in South Korea who have positions of power over others. ''Gapjil'' is a neologism made by combining the word ''gap'' (갑; 甲)—the first ...
" culture in Korean society, referring to abusive conduct by people in power. Some believed that public outrage towards Irene was related to this issue. The incident also shed light on the higher standard women in idol groups are held to compared to male artists.
Following further speculations, some staffers who had worked with Irene defended her by posting on Instagram that they had never experienced the alleged mistreatment from her. Ellena Yim, a former SM stylist and visual director, opined that the public should consider both sides of the story. The fashion editor involved in the incident also asked the public to refrain from speculating that there was a monetary settlement, emphasizing that there was only a sincere apology.
On January 15, 2021, Irene posted her second public apology through the
Lysn fan communication platform, reflecting on her career journey and acknowledging the need to improve her communication methods. She stated that "I realized the weight of words and actions, and I will become a more mature person".
Discography
Extended plays
Singles
As lead artist
As featured artist
Soundtrack appearances
Other charted songs
Videography
Music videos
Music video appearances
Filmography
Film
Television series
Web series
Television shows
Web shows
Hosting
Bibliography
Solo photobooks
Awards and nominations
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Irene
1991 births
Living people
Musicians from Daegu
Actresses from Daegu
Red Velvet (group) members
SM Rookies members
South Korean women pop singers
South Korean female idols
South Korean women rappers
South Korean film actresses
South Korean voice actresses
South Korean web series actresses
21st-century South Korean actresses
21st-century South Korean women singers