Irene from Red Velvet and actor Kim Jae-won share a surprising connection, showcased in a recent challenge video after her comeback.
May/14/2026 15:07Related Groups & Members
Irene of Red Velvet and actor Kim Jae-won’s surprising connection has become a topic of discussion. Recently, on online communities, social media, and YouTube, a video of Irene and Kim Jae-won filming a challenge video has attracted attention. The video captures Irene, who made her comeback with the new album 'Biggest Fan' released on March 30, preparing to film a challenge video with MC Kim Jae-won after appearing on KBS 2TV 'Music Bank'. Dressed in a lavender outfit, Irene and Kim Jae-won, styled in a baseball uniform, exchanged greetings in front of the camera. During this, Irene introduced Kim Jae-won as 'my friend's cousin'. Kim Jae-won, seemingly puzzled, responded with 'yes' and then greeted her with a deep bow. In the following challenge, Irene and Kim Jae-won showcased a simple yet key dance, completing a well-coordinated performance. Despite a 10-year age difference and differing fields of activity, the two seemed to have no connection, but the fact that they are friends' cousins led netizens to react with comments like 'the world is really small'. Irene achieved her first music show win after her solo debut with 'Biggest Fan' on 'Music Bank', hosted by Kim Jae-won, who is currently active as an MC and recently delivered a strong performance as Seung-rok in the recently concluded tvN 'Yumi's Cells' Season 3.
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Red Velvet’s Irene and Seulgi kicked off their first Japan-only tour, IRENE & SEULGI JAPAN TOUR 2026 -blank-, in Fukuoka. They performed the full stage of their first Japanese mini album Cheetah, due out November 4, along with Korean hits and solo stages, and will tour seven Japanese cities.
On the afternoon of the 17th, Red Velvet’s Wendy left for Japan through Gimpo International Airport for her schedule. Related reports noted that her agency warned against privacy violations, including excessive approaching and unauthorized entry, and fans expressed concern after recent photos showed her looking thinner.
ASND, the agency for Red Velvet’s Wendy and fromis_9, issued a statement urging people to respect the artists’ safety and privacy. It warned against approaching them too closely, obstructing vehicles, trespassing, stalking the company, or illegally obtaining and trading personal information, and said legal action may follow.
A Dior event was held on the afternoon of the 7th at AVENUEL in Lotte Department Store, Jamsil, Seoul. Attendees included Red Velvet's Joy, Nam Joo-hyuk, Shin Ye-eun, Kim Jae-won, Kim Yuna, Bae Yoon-young, and Irene.
On the morning of the 3rd, an opening event for the brand Yves Saint Laurent Beauté’s Seongsu store was held in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. EXO’s Kai, Red Velvet’s Irene, Ahn Bo-hyun, and i-dle’s Miyeon attended.
Red Velvet’s Seulgi talked about an awkward experience during her solo trip to Japan. She had hoped to chat with a bartender in Japanese, but when Korean customers arrived, the bartender seated them beside her. They then asked for a photo, which turned out to be a request for their own group picture, not with Seulgi. She politely declined at first, then offered to take the photo for them. Irene joked that they had not realized Seulgi was there, and the people involved later commented online, making the story a topic of discussion.
DAZED’s August 2026 issue released a photoshoot and interview with Red Velvet’s Yeri. Shot in Phuket, the spread follows the theme “ON MY OWN TERMS,” showing her natural charm, varied styling, and vivid makeup. In the interview, she speaks about calmness, strength, and her values.
ASND, Wendy of Red Velvet’s agency, announced that it will take strong legal action against malicious posts and sexual harassment. The agency said harmful comments, false information, defamation, and sexualized remarks about the artist’s body or appearance are clear violations, and it will keep collecting evidence and respond firmly.
Joy from Red Velvet disclosed her enjoyable date with Rei from IVE, where they spent time together doing a body test and reminiscing about their recent visit to a crane game store. Joy expressed her desire to help Rei, who has had limited experiences due to her trainee life, enjoy new adventures. Rei has previously shared her admiration for Joy, stating that watching Red Velvet inspired her to pursue her idol dreams.
Red Velvet’s Irene appeared on Lee Young-ji’s YouTube channel and showed a tipsy, charming side that fans found adorable. However, some overseas viewers raised concerns about her having durian with alcohol, noting possible health risks. Studies suggest durian may hinder alcohol breakdown, though the danger depends on many factors.
