| Overview |
"Focus on things that bring your mood up." —Irene
Bae Joo-hyun (Hangul: 배주현, born on March 29, 1991), commonly known by her stage name Irene (Hangul: 아이린), is a South Korean singer, dancer, rapper, model, actress, and television personality. She is the leader, main rapper, lead dancer, vocalist, visual, and center of the South Korean girl group Red Velvet.
Early life and career
Early life
Irene was born and raised in Daegu, South Korea. Her family consists of her parents and younger sister.
During her teenage years, Irene attended Haknam High School.
In 2009, she made a successful audition to SM Entertainment and trained five years in the company, before debuting as a member of Red Velvet.
2013–2014: Pre-debut activities
During her time as a trainee, in August 2013, she appeared in the music video of labelmate Henry Lau's song "1-4-3 (I Love You)".
On December 9, 2013, Irene was one of the second batch of trainees introduced as a member of SM Rookies, a pre-debut team of trainees under SM Entertainment, alongside former trainee Lami and now-NCT member Jaehyun.[1]
As part of the SM Rookies program, in January 2014, she alongside now-Red Velvet co-member Seulgi as well as now-NCT members Johnny and Taeyong appeared in February 2014 issue of The Celebrity magazine. Later that month, she appeared with Seulgi and Taeyong in OhBoy! magazine.
Various clips of Irene were released in SM Entertainment's official YouTube channel, one of which included her and Seulgi dancing to "Be Natural", a song originally performed by SM Entertainment's former group S.E.S., showcasing their dancing. Prior to debut, she also appeared in a few music videos of labelmates.
2014–2020: Debut with Red Velvet, foray into acting
On August 1, 2014, Irene finally debuted with Red Velvet. She was assigned to represent the color pink. In November 2014, she appeared in the music video for Cho Kyuhyun's single "At Gwanghwamun". From May 1, 2015 to June 24, 2016, Irene hosted Music Bank with actor Park Bo-gum.
Irene made her acting debut on July 25, 2016 with web drama The Female Employees of a Game Company as the female lead A-reum. 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 with group mate Wendy.
2020: First film role, Irene & Seulgi subunit, semi-hiatus
On July 16, 2020, it was announced that Irene would be making her movie debut with a lead role in the movie Double Patty. She played an aspiring anchor named Lee Hyun-ji. The film was released on February 17, 2021.
On April 21, 2020, Irene was announced as a member of the Red Velvet subunit Red Velvet - Irene & Seulgi alongside member Seulgi. They debuted with the mini album Monster on July 6, 2020.
On October 20, 2020, Irene was accused[2] of "gapjil" in Korea after a veteran stylist[3] [4] made a post on Instagram at 9:43 pm[5]. Although the post didn’t explicitly name anyone, Irene took responsibility and issued an apology on her personal Instagram on October 22 at 9:53 pm. In her apology, she expressed remorse for her careless words and actions. According to SM’s official statement, ‘Irene met up with the stylist this afternoon in person and sincerely apologized.’[6] On October 23, the stylist posted via an Instagram story: ‘That is my ultimate goal and intention. I received an official apology yesterday and stopped everything simply because I have achieved my goal.’[7] Two months and three weeks later, Irene included a second public apology in a New Year’s greeting on January 15, 2021, expressing her desire to be a better person.[8] Irene went on a semi-hiatus for the following three months and twenty-two days after her initial apology, eventually returning for the Double Patty press conference on February 10, 2021.[9] [10]
2021–present: Renewal with Red Velvet, further activities
Some time in 2021, Irene, along with the other members of Red Velvet, renewed her contract with SM Entertainment to remain part of the group for an unreported further length of time.
Discography
Mini albums
- Like A Flower (2024)
Featuring
| Year | Album | Artist | Song | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Raiden | The Only |
OST
| Year | Album | Song | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Double Patty OST | "A White Night" |
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | SMTown: The Stage | Herself | Documentary Film of SM Town |
| 2020 | Trolls World Tour | Baby Bun | Animated Film |
| 2021 | Double Patty | Lee Hyunji | Lead Role |
Variety Shows
| Year | Title | Network | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Yeri's Room | Dum Dum Studio YouTube | Guest | with Seulgi |
| MBC | with Seulgi, Jeonghan and Seungkwan | |||
| Weekly Idol | MBC | with Seulgi, Episode 469 | ||
| Knowing Brothers: After-School Activities | JTBC | with Seulgi, Episode 240 |
Hosting
| Year | Title | Network | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| with Park Bogum | |||
| Ep.1–12 | |||
| 2017 | Music Bank World Tour:
Singapore |
KBS2
KBS World |
with Park Bogum |
| Music Bank World Tour:
Jakarta | |||
| Korean Popular Culture & Arts Awards | with Jang Sung Gyu | ||
| KBS Song Festival | KBS2 | Part 1: with Jin, Sana, & Chanyeol | |
| 2018 | SBS Super Concert in Taipei | SBS | with Mingyu |
| 2019 | KBS Song Festival | KBS | with Jinyoung |
| 2024 | Inkigayo | SBS | Special MC |
Drama
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Descendants of the Sun | Helfself | Cameo, Episode 16 |
| The Female Employees of a Game Company | A-reum | Lead role | |
Music video appearances
| Year | Song | Artist(s) | Official video(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "1-4-3 (I Love You)" | Henry Lau | YouTube |
| 2013 | "Why So Serious" | SHINee | YouTube |
| 2014 | "At Gwanghwamun" | Kyuhyun | YouTube |
| 2017 | "Would U" | Red Velvet | YouTube |
Endorsements
| Year | Endorsement |
|---|---|
| 2013 | Nike Women (Korea) |
| Burberry Heritage Trench | |
| 2014 | Ivy Club (With EXO) |
| Swarovski Bracelets (with Seulgi) | |
| 2016 | Rosemont Jewelry (with Seulgi and Yeri) |
| 2016-2017 | Maxwell House Korea 'Colombiana Coffee' |
| 2017-2019 | Nuovo Shoes Brand |
| 2017 | PUPUGAME 'Age of Ring' |
| Hyundai Motors | |
| 2018 | HAZZY'S Accessories |
| Cooper Vision | |
| Dongwon Yangban Rice Porridge (with Wendy) | |
| 2018-2019 | Lemona Vitamin C |
| 2019 | Hite Jinro Chamisul Soju |
| Damiani | |
| Miu Miu | |
| 2020 | Clinique |
| Prada | |
| 2023 | 2aN |
| 2024 | Pandora with (Red Velvet) |
Awards and Nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Best Newcomer (Variety) | Music Bank | Nominated |
Trivia
- Her zodiac sign is Aries.
- Her designated color is pink.
- Her representative animal is rabbit since Summer Magic era (pre-Summer Magic era would be a cat).
- Her representative fruit is a watermelon.
- Her representative weapon is an axe.
- Her representative drink is Pink Island Ice Tea.
- Her favorite color is purple.
- She is said to be the most playful.
- She trained in the company for 5 years before debut, in year 2009.[11]
- She dreamed of being a broadcaster.
- Had Irene not pursued a career in entertainment or got scouted by SM, she would like to be either a news reporter/host, broadcaster, a makeup artist, or a flight attendant.
- She can imitate Doraemon.
- She is implied to be allergic to chicken. Whenever she eats a chicken, she turns pale and her head starts hurting. She believes her body doesn't accept it.
- In 2018's Chuseok ISAC, however, she managed an X10 shot in archery, where the arrow broke the pinhole camera in the centre of the board. Since Jeon Hyunmoo made a bet to gift all artists fried chicken, Irene granted their wishes, but she couldn't enjoy it, and had no idea what went on.
- She doesn't like coffee.
- She is the most flexible out of the 5. Wendy has caught her sleeping with her legs fully split and her upper-body laid against the floor while covering herself with a blanket and another time in the same position but with her legs squished under her, making it look like her legs disappeared. Though it scared Wendy on both occasions, Irene says she’s the most comfortable sleeping this way.
- She is the most heat-tolerant member, as she hails from Daegu, one of the hottest places in Korea. In 2018, she slept through a heatwave while the air conditioner in the old dorm was broken, and didn't turn the fan on. Wendy is the most tolerant to cold weather, Irene is the least.
- Her favorite artist is BoA.
- Her favorite number is 43, the reason being 43 can mean 'I Love You', which became also her representative number.
- She claims that she has a habit of clinging to others by linking arms and holding hands.
- She loves doing laundry and gets really excited when it gets brought up.
- Her favorite way of relieving stress is to create mind maps to organize her thoughts.
- She collects notes, journals and anything that is purple.
- Her specialty is modern dance.
- She had her own room when they first debuted, but later had to share her room with Yeri when she joined the group. Now they live in a dorm where they all have their own rooms.
- The age difference between her and Yeri is 8 years. But like Yeri, she is petrified of most animals and is also scared of heights
- Her personality is shy and caring.
- In Daegu, she was famous for being a Ulzzang (pretty face).
- She has a Daegu accent.
- As a trainee everyone thought she was scary because she didn't speak much and had a strong Daegu accent.
- She wants to become a leader who can communicate and listen well to her members.
- She gets scared easily.
- She is good friends with BLACKPINK’s Jennie and Mamamoo's Solar.
- Irene shares her real name of Joo-hyun with her former SM labelmate and the singer and actress, Seo Ju-hyun, who is better known by her stage name of Seohyun. Irene and Seohyun are also the same age, with both of them being born in 1991 and Heechul said that the two of them are also the most boring in SM Entertainment (when Seohyun was still under SM).
- Her bias in Blackpink is Jennie. She confirmed this in a recent fan call.
- Both Irene and fellow SM Entertainment label mate, Girls' Generation member Yoona, share the title of "Korean Emma Watson".
- In an April 2022 video call event, Irene said, ‘I want to be a little sister now because I’ve always been in the big sister role.
Gallery
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To view the Irene gallery, click here.
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References
- ↑ Tweet from @SMTownEngSub. 2013.12.09
- ↑ You don't deserve to blame Irene. (Eng.) 2020. 12. 27. 04:54
- ↑ 2020.10.22 Thu goodtip.startupbridgeva.com
- ↑ CEO : KOOK HWA KANG ponytail.shop
- ↑ kookhwa kang on Instagram www.instagram.com/p/CGkNalIJnsm/
- ↑ [ENG TRANS] 201022 SM Entertainment Official Statement 9:53 PM · Oct 22, 2020
- ↑ Editor Kang Kook Hwa Speaks Up After Getting Apology From Irene, Hoping To End The Issue 09:11 PM, 10/23/2020
- ↑ "Irene Post Translation" 8:27 PM · Jan 15, 2021
- ↑ Irene will attend Double Patty premiere at Lotte Cinema at Konkuk University on February 10. m.entertain.naver.com/article/477/0000283189
- ↑ Red Velvet Irene Says She ‘Learned a Lot’ During Her 10-Month Hiatus. 2021.08.01.
- ↑ https://k-popped.com/2015/01/exclusive-know-more-about-sm-entertainments-red-velvet/
| Irene | ||
|---|---|---|
| Red Velvet • Irene & Seulgi | ||
| Mini-albums | Monster • Like A Flower | |
| OSTs | The Only • A White Night | |
| Collaborations | The Cure | |
| Dramas | The Female Employees of a Game Company | |
| Movies | Double Patty | |