Red Velvet Irene’s Bare Face Fiercely Defended After Scathing Post Goes Viral

Korean netizens were not having it!

Red Velvet’s Irene is once again at the center of a heated debate, but this time, fans and Korean netizens alike have strongly jumped to her defense.

| @HeartB_beat329/X (formerly known as Twitter)

A viral post on Pann targeting Irene’s appearance became a hot topic. The post criticized her for looking “old” in a photo taken at the recent BLACKPINK concert. The image showed Irene seated next to fellow Red Velvet member Seulgi, both dressed casually. The original poster claimed Irene had visibly aged, implying her bare face looked tired and unpolished.

Irene looks old now

— Pann post

| Pann

Rather than agreeing with the post, most netizens pushed back, arguing that judging someone based on one candid photo taken in hot weather was unfair and unnecessary.

| SM Entertainment

The context of the situation also quickly changed the tone of the conversation. The night before, Irene and Seulgi had just performed in Singapore as part of their sub-unit’s BALANCE tour, then flew to Seoul to attend BLACKPINK’s concert the next day. Many commenters noted that Irene was clearly exhausted, having just completed a demanding schedule.

💛🫧 250703 pic.twitter.com/BSrJniryBg

— 🫧📸 (@reneventory) July 3, 2025

2025 IRENE & SEULGI CONCERT TOUR [ BALANCE ] in #SINGAPORE ❤️#RedVelvet_IRENE_SEULGI#레드벨벳_아이린_슬기 #IRENE #아이린 #SEULGI #슬기#RedVelvet_IRENE_SEULGI_BALANCE#RedVelvet_IRENE_SEULGI_CONCERT_TOUR pic.twitter.com/Qf58m23O3p

— Red Velvet (@RVsmtown) July 8, 2025

Many even talked about how Irene’s visuals remain top-tier, regardless of makeup or lighting, and even after more than ten years of being one of the most popular stars in the industry.

| Pann

• “She’s only 35, barely even halfway through life, and you’re acting like that? If you’re going to say 35 is old, go ahead and start preparing coffins for your parents first. Do that and maybe I’ll take your opinion seriously.”
• “It looks like her mask had slipped down, and the weather was hot, so her face looks tired. Judging her based on a single candid photo is just sad. Consider what people might say if someone snapped a photo of you like that.”
• “What even looks old about her? You can’t even see half her face because of the mask, and you’re saying she looks old based on that? LOL. In real life, her visuals are still legendary.”
• “So now people are freaking out over a tired-looking face in sweltering heat? Post your own photo first before judging someone else. Are you even in a position to talk?”
• “People have been trying to drag her for ‘looking old’ using bad screenshots for years, but when you actually watch her in videos, she’s just as stunning as ever, right up there with current idols.”

Despite the original poster’s harsh take, the overwhelming support Irene received from fans and general commenters proves that she continues to be one of the most loved idols, as well as one of the most beautiful stars.

Red Velvet