Red Velvet‘s Irene recalled the times after debuting at age 24 (in Korean age) when she was constantly confronted with talk about her age wherever she went.
On August 14th, a video titled “Irene Do Not Watch, Why Is She Trying So Hard?” was released on the YouTube channel Youngji Box Media.
In the video, Irene shared candid stories with Lee Young Ji over drinks about her journey from debuting with the Red Velvet members.
Lee Young Ji mentioned that Irene debuted with Red Velvet at the age of 24. She explained that back then, 24 felt very mature, but after becoming that age herself, her perspective changed.
She then asked Irene if she had often heard people say she debuted at a relatively older age.
Irene immediately replied with a laugh, “I heard it on every broadcast,” referring to the fact that debuting at a relatively late age for an idol group member meant discussions about her age were unavoidable during appearances.
However, Irene revealed that she herself didn’t have much time to be conscious of the number “24.”
She said, “I didn’t think much about that number,” explaining that at the time, taking care of the younger members debuting with her took priority over her age.
Reflecting on the past, she said, “I had to look after the members beside me. There were so many things to take care of that my actual age wasn’t that important.”
As the oldest sister and leader of Red Velvet, she spent a long time after debut prioritizing the members over herself.
Irene shared that she probably thought more about her fellow members at the time and only began to take better care of herself gradually as time passed.
She specifically admitted, “Before, I was busy taking care of my younger sisters,” and in response to Lee Young Ji’s question on whether she now takes good care of herself, she answered, “Yes. Of course.”
She also opened up about her long-lasting bond with member Yeri. When asked who among the many younger members she cherishes the most, Irene picked Yeri.
Irene said she had known Yeri since she was 12 years old and that their connection dates back to when Irene was a 20-year-old trainee. This showed Irene’s unique sense of responsibility as an older sister who has looked after members for a long time.
Meanwhile, Irene debuted with Red Velvet in 2014. Since then, she has served as the leader of the group, beloved for numerous hit songs including “Red Flavor,” “Psycho,” and “Feel My Rhythm.”