Red Velvet’s Irene and Seulgi spark debate over popularity gap after Macau tour
A viral Korean forum post has highlighted a clear popularity gap between Red Velvet members Irene and Seulgi. The post quickly hit over 29,000 views, focusing on their return to Korea after the successful BALANCE tour stop in Macau.
Photos show Irene swarmed by fans and reporters at the airport, drawing major attention with her visuals. Meanwhile, Seulgi walks calmly ahead with minimal fanfare, despite being just steps in front.
The stark contrast is fueling reactions online as fans weigh Irene’s enduring star power against Seulgi’s quieter presence. Irene’s popularity seems to remain massive nearly a decade into Red Velvet’s career.
Fans commented:
“Honestly, if I had to choose between Seulgi and Irene, I’d probably go see Irene too.”
“But Seulgi is insanely good at her job.”
“Isn’t Irene responsible for like 60-70% of Red Velvet’s popularity?”
“At their level of experience, I’m sure they’ve seen this kind of thing countless times lol. She probably doesn’t even care anymore.”
“You just can’t deny Irene’s impact.”
While some expressed surprise at the fan differences, others stressed both idols have unique strengths and continued support in the industry.
