Irene (birth name: Bae Joo-hyeon) is the leader, rapper, singer and actress of the South Korean girl group Red Velvet under SM Entertainment. A member of the sub-unit IRENE & SEULGI, she is also active as an actress and host. On November 26, 2024, Irene made her solo debut with her first mini album Like A Flower.
About Irene
- Stage name: Irene (아이린)
- Full name: Bae Joo-hyeon (배주현)
- Birthday: March 29, 1991
- Birthplace: Daegu, South Korea
- Zodiac sign: Aries — Chinese zodiac: Goat
- Height: 160 cm (official) / 158 cm (actual, approx.)
- Weight: 44 kg
- Blood type: A
- Position: Leader, main rapper, dancer, vocalist, visual
- Sub-unit: IRENE & SEULGI
- Instagram: @renebaebae
- Designated color: Pink
- Representative animal: Cat 🐱 / Rabbit 🐰
- Representative fruit: Watermelon 🍉
Biography and Career
Irene was scouted in 2009 at an SM Entertainment public audition and was part of the pre-debut team SM Rookies. She officially debuted with Red Velvet on August 1, 2014 with the single Happiness.
Outside the group, she has made a name for herself as a host (Music Bank alongside Park Bogum in 2015-2016, Laundry Day, Trick & True) and an actress (the web drama The Female Employees of a Game Company). In 2024, she made her solo debut with Like A Flower.
Fun Facts
Family and Early Days
- Family: parents + a younger sibling.
- She moved to Seoul in her third year of high school to become an artist.
- Graduated from Haknam High School.
Personality and Nicknames
- Nicknames: Baechu (Cabbage), Hyun-ah, Grandma, Eomma (the group's mom).
- Known for being shy and serious; some trainees found her hard to approach because of her Daegu dialect and her beauty.
- Close friends with Solar (MAMAMOO) and Sehun (EXO).
Tastes and Habits
- Loves cooking seaweed soup for the members' birthdays.
- Doesn't like chicken (it makes her sick) or coffee.
- Likes soft, relaxing music, rock and ballads.
- Favorite color: purple 💜.
- Favorite number: 43 (for "I love you" → 143).
- She likes organizing her thoughts with mind maps and collects purple journals/notebooks.
Career & Collaborations
- Appeared in the MVs: Henry "143", SHINee "Why So Serious".
- Hosted Music Bank with Park Bogum (2015-2016).
- Lead actress in the web drama The Female Employees of a Game Company.
Quirks
- Very flexible (the most flexible member of Red Velvet).
- Can imitate Doraemon's voice.
- Suffers from acrophobia (fear of heights).
- She is a perfectionist, strict about grammar and spelling.
- Favorite style: loose shirts and simple, comfy outfits.
Awards and Rankings
- Ranked 71st in "The 100 Most Beautiful Faces of 2016" (TC Candler).
- Ranked 55th in 2017.
- Ranked 41st in 2018.
Dorm Life
Irene used to share a room with Seulgi and Wendy. She now has her own room in the new dorm.
Ideal Type
Irene has said her ideal type is a warm person who can make her feel at ease.
Discography & Solo Projects
- Like A Flower — 1st solo mini album (November 26, 2024).
