Artist Profile
- Real Name: Bae Joo-hyun
- Native Name: 배주현
- Nicknames: Baechu, Hyun-ah
- Birthday: Mar 29, 1991 (34 years old)
- Blood type: A
- Height/Weight: 158 cm (5'2") / 44 kg (97 lbs)
- Gender: Female
- Zodiac Sign: Aries
- MBTI: ISFJ
- Birthplace: Daegu, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korean
- Profession: Singer, Rapper, Actress, MC
- Language Skills: Korean
- Current Agency: SM Entertainment
- Fandom: Baetokki
- Years Active: 2014–present (12 years)
- Group: Red Velvet
- Group debut: August 1, 2014 (Red Velvet) July 6, 2020 (I&S)
- Solo debut: November 26, 2024
Irene (born Bae Joo-hyun on March 29, 1991) is a South Korean singer, rapper, actress, and model. She is signed under SM Entertainment and serves as the leader, main rapper, lead dancer, and visual of the South Korean girl group Red Velvet. Irene made her debut with Red Velvet on August 1, 2014, with the single “Happiness.”
Early life
Irene was born and raised in Buk-gu, Daegu, in a family with her parents and one younger sibling. She attended Haknam High School in Daegu before relocating to Seoul during her final year of high school to pursue an entertainment career. She joined SM Entertainment in 2009 through a public audition and underwent approximately five years of training.
During her trainee period, she appeared in the music video for Henry Lau’s “1-4-3” in August 2013. On December 9, 2013, she was introduced as a member of SM Rookies, SM Entertainment’s pre-debut trainee team.
Career
In 2014, Irene debuted on August 1 as the leader, main rapper, lead dancer, sub-vocalist, visual, and center of Red Velvet with the single “Happiness.” In November, she appeared in Kyuhyun’s music video “At Gwanghwamun.”
In 2015, Irene and Red Velvet released their first extended play Ice Cream Cake in March and their first studio album The Red in September. In May, she began co-hosting the music program Music Bank alongside actor Park Bo-gum.
In 2016, she concluded her role as a Music Bank host in June. In July, Irene made her acting debut in the web drama Women at a Game Company, portraying the character Ah-reum. The same month, she appeared in the sitcom Hello! Our Language. In October, she became the host of the fashion program Laundry Day on OnStyle.
In 2017, Irene and Red Velvet released the EP Rookie in February, the EP The Red Summer in July, and their second studio album Perfect Velvet in November, led by the single “Peek-a-Boo.” In March, she portrayed one of the two romantic leads alongside actor Kim Min-jae in Red Velvet’s music video “Would U,” released through SM Station.
In 2018, Irene and Red Velvet released the repackage album The Perfect Red Velvet in January, featuring the single “Bad Boy.”
In 2019, she collaborated with DJ and producer Raiden on the song “The Only,” released in August.
In 2020, Irene formed Red Velvet’s first sub-unit with Seulgi, titled Red Velvet – Irene & Seulgi. The sub-unit debuted on July 6 with the EP Monster. In July, she was cast in a leading role in the film Double Patty, portraying Lee Hyun-ji. The film was released in February 2021, and she contributed the original soundtrack song “A White Night.”
In 2022, Irene and Red Velvet released the EPs The ReVe Festival 2022 – Feel My Rhythm and The ReVe Festival 2022 – Birthday, as well as the Japanese studio album Bloom. She also hosted the web show Irene’s Work & Holiday.
In 2023, Irene and Red Velvet released their third studio album Chill Kill in November.
In 2024, she renewed her contract with SM Entertainment in February. In April, Irene held her first solo photo exhibition in Gangnam, Seoul, from April 26 to May 5. On April 26, she released the photobook 1 Page of Irene in three versions, along with the single “I Feel Pretty.” In June, Irene and Red Velvet released the EP Cosmic. In November, she made her solo debut with the single album Like A Flower.
In 2025, Irene and Seulgi released the second mini album of their sub-unit in May. In June, she began the “2025 IRENE & SEULGI Concert Tour [BALANCE] in ASIA,” opening with two shows at Olympic Hall in Seoul on June 14 and 15. The tour continued with stops in Singapore in July; Macau, Bangkok, and Taipei in August; and Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo in September.
In 2026, Irene and Seulgi performed at the Countdown 2026 concert at Siloso Beach, Sentosa, Singapore, on December 31, 2025. On February 14, she participated with Seulgi and Joy in SMTOWN LIVE 2025–26 [Culture, The Future] at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.
Fun facts
- She is able to carry five heavy shopping or beverage bags for the group with one hand without dropping them.
- She often raises one eyebrow while speaking.
- She does not look in the mirror much while brushing her teeth or styling her hair and may not notice skin issues until someone points them out.
- She has the nickname Baechu (cabbage) but prefers Baetokki (Bae rabbit), as she was teased with the former during childhood.
- She received the nickname “Best Woman of This Generation” after quietly paying the entire group’s bill.
- She has the loudest and most explosive laugh in the group, contrasting with her serious appearance.
- She keeps the television on while sleeping due to discomfort with silence and has played sports broadcasts on an iPad for background noise.
- She is very meticulous and used to wash and iron Yeri’s school uniform every day.
- She enjoys spending hours in quiet cafés with a notebook to write.
- She once spent three to four hours sitting on a swing after practice to stargaze.
- She had a viral meme moment after striking a humorous pose at Dream Concert 2018.
- She is known for unintentional humorous remarks and actions during livestreams.
- She has expressed a preference for living in a house with a large garden so her dog, Haetnim, can run freely.
- She is referred to by fans as the “Original Visual,” following an iconic line in the song “Psycho.”
- She prefers fresh watermelon and kiwi over fruit served in salads.
Photo gallery
