Group Profile
- Group Name: Red Velvet (레드벨벳)
- Debut: August 1, 2014
- Current state: Active
- Years Active: 2014–present (12 years)
- Entertainment Company: SM Entertainment
- Fandom: ReVeluv
- Group Color: Pastel Coral
- Members: Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, Joy, Yeri
- Oldest Member: Irene
- Youngest Member: Yeri
- Most Popular Member: Irene
- Notable Albums: The Red, Perfect Velvet, Ice Cream Cake, Queendom, Chill Kill
- Country: South Korea
- Generation: A 3rd Generation K-pop group (Gen 3)
- Leader: Irene
Red Velvet Members
Red Velvet is a South Korean girl group under SM Entertainment. The group officially debuted on August 1, 2014, and operates with a five-member lineup, all of whom are South Korean nationals.
Meaning of Red Velvet
The name Red Velvet combines “red,” representing a vibrant and powerful image, with “velvet,” reflecting a sophisticated and mature persona. The group’s name embodies a dual concept, with “red” tracks featuring energetic pop styles and “velvet” tracks utilizing smooth R&B.
Fandom & Lightstick
Red Velvet’s fandom is named ReVeluv, a portmanteau of “ReVe” from the group’s name and “Luv,” signifying mutual affection and a strong bond. The official color is pastel coral.
The official lightstick features a white handle and a transparent cupcake-shaped head with the “RV” logo inside. Launched in 2018 for the Redmare concert, the device supports LED color changes and Bluetooth connectivity for synchronized control during concerts.
Popularity
Red Velvet is primarily famous in South Korea and across Asia, exerting significant influence over younger audiences. As of 2025, the group has surpassed 4 billion streams on Spotify, with numerous music videos exceeding 100 million views on YouTube, including “Russian Roulette,” “Dumb Dumb,” and “Bad Boy.”
The group performed at the inter-Korean concert in North Korea in 2018 and ranked highly on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity list in 2018 (11th) and 2019 (5th). Red Velvet holds the record for the girl group with the most number-one albums on South Korea’s Circle Album Chart, with 12 albums.
Fun Facts
“Happiness” was the first K-pop music video to reach 2 million YouTube views within its first 24 hours, despite being edited due to background controversies. The group performed at KCON Los Angeles in 2015, marking their first major K-pop event in the United States.
Red Velvet appeared in the 2020 animated film Trolls World Tour as the K-pop Trolls, featuring their song “Russian Roulette.” In 2025, Wendy and Yeri’s exclusive contracts with SM Entertainment expired, though both continue to participate in group activities.
Awards
- 2014: Received the Rookie Award at the Golden Disc Awards and the Seoul Music Awards.
- 2015: Won Best Female Dance for “Ice Cream Cake” at the Melon Music Awards and Mnet Asian Music Awards; received a Digital Bonsang at the Golden Disc Awards.
- 2016: Won Best Music Video for “Russian Roulette” at the Melon Music Awards.
- 2017: Won Best Female Group for “Red Flavor” at the Mnet Asian Music Awards; Best Pop Song for “Red Flavor” at the Korean Music Awards; received a Digital Bonsang at the Golden Disc Awards.
- 2018: Received a Commendation from the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism for cultural contributions; won Song of the Year – August for “Power Up” at the Gaon Chart Music Awards.
- 2019: Won Song of the Year for “Umpah Umpah” at the Asia Artist Awards.
- 2020: Won Song of the Year – December for “Psycho” at the Circle Chart Music Awards; received a Digital Bonsang for “Psycho” at the Golden Disc Awards.
- 2022: Won Best Music Video for “Feel My Rhythm” at the Genie Music Awards.
Musical Style
Red Velvet utilizes a dual concept: “red” features upbeat pop infused with electronic and funk elements, while “velvet” focuses on 90s-influenced R&B, ballads, and hip hop. Recent albums such as Chill Kill (2023) and Cosmic (2024) blend both sides to create a sophisticated and alluring sound.