Red Velvet (레드벨벳) is a 5-member South Korean girl group under SM Entertainment, consisting of Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, Joy, and Yeri. They debuted on August 1, 2014 with their first single, 행복 (Happiness).
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Red Velvet’s Biography
- Group Name: Red Velvet (레드벨벳)
- Debut Date: August 1, 2014
- Number of Members: 5
- Members: Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, Joy, and Yeri
- Agency: SM Entertainment
Red Velvet’s SNS Accounts
- Website: redvelvet.smtown.com
- Instagram: @redvelvet.smtown
- X: @RVsmtown
- TikTok: @redvelvet_smtown
- YouTube: Red Velvet
- Facebook: RedVelvet
Red Velvet’s Facts
- Red Velvet’s group name represents their concept: “Red” (bold, energetic) and “Velvet” (smooth, sophisticated).
- They are known for their strong vocal performances, with Wendy and Seulgi being particularly recognized for their vocal prowess.
- Red Velvet members have individual colors: Irene (pink), Seulgi (yellow), Wendy (blue), Joy (green), and Yeri (purple).
- They are one of the few K-pop groups where all members have introverted MBTI types (I).
- Red Velvet was the first K-pop girl group to perform in North Korea in 2018.
- Their fan club is named “ReVeluv”, but fans often shorten it to “Luvies”. The ReVe in the fandom name stands for the first two letters of Red and Velvet. It also means dream in French, meaning ReVeluvs makes Red Velvet‘s dreams come true. The luv in ReVeluv stands for the love Red Velvet and ReVeluvs have for each other.
- The girl group’s official color is Pastel Coral
Red Velvet’s Music & Concept
Red Velvet’s music is defined by its fusion of pop, R&B, and electronic elements. Their dual-concept is evident in their discography, which alternates between high-energy pop tracks and smooth, sultry R&B songs.
Their “Red” concept is showcased in songs like “Dumb Dumb”, “Red Flavor”, and “Power Up”, which feature bright, quirky, and energetic elements. The “Velvet” side is represented in tracks such as “Be Natural”, “One of These Nights”, and “Psycho”, which emphasize smooth vocals, emotional depth, and sophisticated soundscapes.
Over time, Red Velvet has also blended both concepts, as seen in tracks like “Russian Roulette”, “Queendom”, and “Feel My Rhythm”, achieving a seamless balance between fun and elegance.
Red Velvet’s Career
Red Velvet began forming in 2007, when Seulgi was cast as a trainee by SM Entertainment via audition. Irene was cast in 2009, and Yeri in 2011. In 2012, Wendy and Joy were cast through the SM Global Auditions in Canada and Seoul, respectively. Preparations for Red Velvet’s debut began in late 2013, with the introduction of Irene and Seulgi in December 2013 and Wendy in March 2014 through SM Entertainment’s trainee group SM Rookies. Before their debut, Iren and Seolgi made several features in other artists’ releases, while Wendy was introduced through the release of the OST “Because I Love You” of the Mnet drama “Mimi”.
Red Velvet debuted under SM Entertainment on August 1, 2014, with the digital single “Happiness”, originally as a four-member group consisting of Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, and Joy. In March 2015, the group expanded to five members with the addition of Yeri, coinciding with the release of their first mini-album, “Ice Cream Cake”. The album marked their commercial breakthrough, topping the Gaon Album Chart.
Red Velvet quickly established themselves as one of the leading third-generation K-pop girl groups. Over the years, they developed a unique dual-concept approach: “Red” represents their bright and upbeat side, while “Velvet” showcases their mature and sophisticated R&B-influenced music. Their versatility has been a key factor in their sustained success, allowing them to dominate various genres and concepts.
The group has consistently released chart-topping albums, including “The Red” (2015), “Perfect Velvet” (2017), and “‘The ReVe Festival’ Finale” (2019). Their hits such as “Red Flavor”, “Bad Boy”, “Psycho”, and “Feel My Rhythm” have cemented their place as K-pop icons. They have also ventured into international markets, holding successful concerts and tours worldwide.
The girl group’s 1st unit, Irene & Seulgi, debuted in July 2020, and members Wendy and Seugli also joined the SM female super group “GOT the beat” in 2022. Most members have also made their solo debuts.
Red Velvet’s Achievements & Popularity
Red Velvet is widely regarded as one of the most successful third-generation K-pop girl groups. Their impact on K-pop has been significant, and they have received numerous awards and accolades throughout their career.
- “Perfect Velvet” (2017) was hailed as one of the best K-pop albums, earning critical acclaim.
- “Bad Boy” (2018) was the first K-pop girl group song to enter the U.S. Spotify Viral 50 chart.
- “Psycho” (2019) became their most streamed song on Spotify, surpassing 500 million streams.
- “Feel My Rhythm” (2022) was the best-performing SM song on Korean charts that year.
- Their album “Birthday” (2022) became their first million-seller.
- They were the first SM girl group to reach over 20 million followers on Instagram collectively.
- Red Velvet holds the record for the most album releases among SM girl groups, surpassing Girls’ Generation.
Red Velvet’s Net Worth
In 2022, it was reported that Red Velvet members combined has a net worth of 8.06 million USD (apprx. 11 billion won). According to AffairPost, Irene’s properties are valued at 4 million USD (5.5 billion won), while Joy is valued at up to 5 million USD (nearly 7 billion won). Additionally, it was said that Seulgi and Wendy own a figure of nearly 4 million USD (5.5 billion won) while Yeri owns a net worth of 2 million USD (2.7 billion won).
However, as 3 years have passed, these numbers are likely to have significant grown over time.
Red Velvet’s Controversies
Irene’s Attitude Scandal
In October 2020, social media was taken by storm when a stylist posted on Instagram to accuse a female idol of having poor manners and verbally attacking staff members for 20 minutes during working hours. Irene was then named the female idol in question. The stylist’s post was also liked by many well-known colleagues in the industry. SM later addressed the incident. Irene also posted a letter admitting her mistake and apologizing on her Instagram account.
Ever since, there have been no attitude controversies related to Irene, and a hairstylist, among others, even praised Irene’s work ethic and personality.
Wendy’s Remarks about SM’s Anniversary Concert
In 2024, Wendy faced criticism after expressing her disappointment about SM Entertainment’s anniversary concert, along with Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation. In particular, several SM employees anonymously criticized the two’s remarks online, accusing them of “power abuse”. The incident led to divided opinions among fans and the public, with some defending Wendy while others expressed disappointment in her behavior.
Yeri’s Skill Controversy
Since joining Red Velvet in 2015, Yeri has been subject to ongoing criticism regarding her vocal and performance skills. Some netizens believe she has not shown significant improvement over the years, especially compared to other members. However, it is clear that the female idol has made progress and contributes to the group in various ways, including songwriting and variety show appearances.
Red Velvet’s Discography
Korean
- Full-Length Albums
The Red (2015)
Perfect Velvet (2017)
The ReVe Festival (2019)
Chill Kill (2023)
- Repackage Albums
The Perfect Red Velvet (2018)
‘The ReVe Festival’ Finale (2019)
- Mini Albums
Ice Cream Cake (2015)
The Velvet (2016)
Russian Roulette (2016)
Rookie (2017)
RBB (2018)
‘The ReVe Festival’ Day 1 (2019)
‘The ReVe Festival’ Day 2 (2019)
Queendom (2021)
The ReVe Festival 2022 – Feel My Rhythm (2022)
The ReVe Festival 2022 – Birthday (2022)
Cosmic (2024)
- Summer Mini Albums
The Red Summer (2017)
Summer Magic (2018)
- Digital Singles
“Happiness” (2014)
“Be Natural” (2014)
“세가지 소원 (Wish Tree)” (2015)
“Would U” (2017)
“Rebirth” (2017)
“Our Beloved BoA #4” (2020)
- OST
“여시주의 (Yossism)” (2016)
“어떤 별보다 (See the stars)” (2019)
“미래 (Future)” (2020)
- Collaborations
“Close to Me (Red Velvet Remix)”(with Ellie Goulding) (2019)
Japanese
- Full Length Albums
Bloom (2022)
- Mini Albums
#Cookie Jar (2018)
SAPPY (2019)
- Digital Singles
“SAPPY” (2019)
“Sayonara” (2019)
“Power Up” (2019)
