Red Velvet's Irene discusses debut age and leadership role

Red Velvet member Irene recently shared reflections on her career during an appearance on Lee Young Ji’s YouTube channel, ‘Youngji Box Media’. She addressed the frequent public discussions regarding her age at the time of her debut in 2014.

Irene noted that because she debuted at age 24, which was considered relatively late for a K-pop idol, her age was a recurring topic on nearly every broadcast. However, she explained that she did not focus on the number at the time because her primary responsibility was as the group's leader and oldest member. She stated that she was preoccupied with looking after her younger group members, which took priority over her own concerns about her age.

Reflecting on her personal growth, Irene mentioned that she has since learned to prioritize self-care more effectively than she did during her early years in the industry.