Irene (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Irene
Irene in May 2024
Born	Bae Joo-hyun (1991-03-29) March 29, 1991 (age 34) Daegu, South Korea
Alma mater	Haknam High School
Occupation	Singer actress
Years active	2014–present
Musical career
Genres	K-pop
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	SM
Korean name
Hangul	배주현
Hanja	裴柱現
Revised Romanization	Bae Juhyeon
McCune–Reischauer	Pae Chuhyŏn
Stage name
Hangul	아이린
Revised Romanization	Airin
McCune–Reischauer	Airin
Signature

Bae Joo-hyun (born March 29, 1991), known by her stage name Irene, is a popular South Korean singer and actress. She is the leader of the famous K-pop girl group Red Velvet. She is also part of a smaller group called Red Velvet – Irene & Seulgi. Irene has hosted many TV shows like Music Bank and Laundry Day. She has also acted in dramas and movies, including Women at a Game Company and Double Patty.

About Irene's Early Life

Irene was born Bae Joo-hyun on March 29, 1991, in Daegu, South Korea. She grew up in a part of Daegu called Buk-gu. Her family includes her parents and a younger sister. She went to Haknam High School in Daegu.

Irene's Career Journey

Starting Out: 2009–2014

Irene joined SM Entertainment, a big entertainment company, in 2009. She trained there for five years to become a K-pop idol.

In August 2013, while she was still training, Irene appeared in the music video for "1-4-3" by Henry Lau.

On December 9, 2013, Irene was introduced as a member of SM Rookies. This was a special group of trainees who were getting ready to debut.

During her time in SM Rookies, Irene appeared in magazines like The Celebrity and OhBoy! with other trainees.

SM Entertainment also shared videos of Irene on their official YouTube channel. One video from July 17, 2014, showed her and Seulgi dancing to "Be Natural" by the group S.E.S.

Irene in October 2014

On July 27, 2014, Irene was officially introduced as the leader of the new girl group Red Velvet. They made their debut with the song "Happiness". Since then, Red Velvet has released many successful albums and EPs. They are known as one of the most popular K-pop groups in South Korea and around the world. In November 2014, Irene also appeared in the music video for Kyuhyun's song "At Gwanghwamun".

Solo Work and Sub-Unit: 2015–Present

From May 2015 to June 2016, Irene hosted the music show Music Bank with actor Park Bo-gum. People loved their teamwork and how well they hosted the show.

Irene in November 2016

In July 2016, Irene started her acting career in a web drama called Women at a Game Company. She played the main female role. In the same month, she was in a sitcom called Hello! Our Language, which taught viewers proper Korean. On October 14, Irene became a host for the fashion show Laundry Day. She also joined the KBS show Trick & True as a panelist with her bandmate Wendy.

In March 2017, Irene worked with actor Kim Min-jae in a music video for Red Velvet's song "Would U". In July 2019, Irene collaborated with DJ and producer Raiden on a song called "The Only", which came out on August 2.

On April 20, 2020, Irene and Seulgi formed Red Velvet's first sub-unit, Red Velvet - Irene & Seulgi. They debuted on July 6 with their album Monster. They also starred in a special version of their reality show Level Up Project!.

On July 16, 2020, it was confirmed that Irene would act in the movie Double Patty. The movie was released in February 2021. She played Lee Hyun-Ji, who dreams of becoming a news anchor. Irene also sang a song for the movie's soundtrack called "A White Night".

On April 3, 2024, Irene announced her first photo exhibition. It was held from April 26 to May 5 in Gangnam, Seoul. She also released three versions of her photobook, "1 Page of Irene," and a new song called "I Feel Pretty."

On November 4, 2024, it was announced that Irene would release her first solo album, Like a Flower, on November 26. The main song on the album is also called "Like a Flower".

Other Activities

Brand Partnerships

Irene is very popular in advertising and has many deals with different brands. She has promoted cosmetics, clothing, and even everyday products.

• In 2015, she modeled for Ivy Club with the group Exo.
• In 2016, she promoted the coffee brand Maxwell House.
• In January 2017, Irene became the new model for Nuovo Shoes.
• In August 2017, she promoted the online game Age of Ring.
• In the same year, she became the official endorser for Hyundai Motors' Auto Advantage program.
• On February 26, 2018, Irene was chosen as the model for Cooper Vision contact lenses.
• In the same month, she became the face of Hazzys Accessories.
• On May 3, she became the model for the vitamin brand LEMONA Vitamin C.
• On August 9, she was announced as the new model for the French sports brand Eider.
• In November 2018, Irene and Wendy promoted Dongwon Yangban Rice Porridge.
• In December, she became the face of HiteJinro Chamisul soju.

Irene in April 2019

• In February 2019, Irene became the new face of the Italian luxury jewelry brand Damiani. She was the first Asian person to represent the brand.
• In March 2020, Irene became the new ambassador for the beauty brand Clinique in Asia Pacific.
• On September 17, 2020, Irene was announced as the new ambassador for Prada, a famous fashion brand.
• In 2023, Irene became the exclusive model for the cosmetics brand 2aN.

Helping Others

In February 2020, Irene donated 100 million South Korean won (about $75,000 USD) to the Community Chest of Korea. This money helped people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea.

Irene's Influence

Irene is a very influential celebrity in South Korea.

In March 2018, Irene mentioned that she had read the book Kim Ji-young, Born 1982. This led to a huge increase in sales for the book. Sales went up by 104% in one week and by 462.4% in a month! The book even became the most borrowed book at Seoul National University.

Irene is consistently named one of the most loved idol celebrities in South Korea in polls. In 2019, she was ranked as the third most popular female K-pop idol among soldiers doing mandatory military service.

Her popularity has led to many brand deals. She has also often topped the "Individual Girl Group Members Brand Power Ranking" chart. In 2023, she was the number one "Female Idol Star Ranking" for four weeks in a row.

Music Irene Has Released

Extended Plays (Mini Albums)

Singles

As a Main Artist

As a Featured Artist

Songs for Soundtracks

Other Songs That Charted

Irene's Videos

Music Videos

Appearances in Music Videos

Irene's Acting Roles

Movies

TV Series

Web Series

TV Shows

Web Shows

Hosting Events

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Irene (cantante) para niños