Irene is showing off her enduring power by topping a terrestrial music show during her solo full-album promotions. Meanwhile, she is sparking a lot of buzz after revealing an unexpected special connection with actor Kim Jae-won.
A video titled “Biggest Day 260330-최종호” was uploaded to Irene’s official YouTube channel, ‘IRENE’.
In the video, after grabbing the first-place trophy on KBS 2TV’s ‘Music Bank’, Irene returned to the waiting room and was visibly moved by the tears of the staff who worked hard alongside her.
“I thought the fireworks were going to go off even before the winner was decided because they suddenly started exploding,” Irene shared, recalling her nervous feelings at the time. Adding to the heartwarming atmosphere, Red Velvet members Wendy, Seulgi, and Joy visited the waiting room one by one to monitor the show and join in on challenges, showing their strong bond.
The most eye-catching moment of the day was her meeting with ‘Music Bank’ MC and actor Kim Jae-won, who recently gave a great performance as Shin Soon-rok in the drama ‘Yumi’s Cells 3’. While waiting to film a challenge video together, Irene surprised the production team and fans by pointing to Kim Jae-won and introducing him as “my friend’s cousin.”
Born in 1991, Irene and Kim Jae-won (born in 2001) seemed to have nothing in common due to their ten-year age gap and different career paths, but the revelation of this unexpected “friend’s family” link has captured everyone’s attention.
Kim Jae-won politely bowed in a shy manner but skillfully followed Irene’s lead with the choreography, showing off some hidden idol vibes.
The playful chemistry between the two during the shoot was a highlight of the video. Conscious of Kim Jae-won’s height, which is well over 180cm, Irene jokingly asked, “Should I go up on those stairs?” making the whole set burst into laughter.
Dressed in a bright lavender outfit, Irene and Kim Jae-won, in his sporty uniform, completed a perfect visual chemistry that made the age gap irrelevant as they successfully finished the challenge.
Fans are amazed at how small the world is, while also reacting enthusiastically to this unique combination of a rising actor and a top idol.
Having achieved the valuable feat of taking first place on a terrestrial broadcast through her successful solo debut, Irene has further solidified her position as an artist. With Kim Jae-won also continuing his path as a trendy actor while balancing music show hosting and acting, this encounter between the two stars was even more special.
Meanwhile, 35-year-old Irene (born in 1991) debuted in 2014 with the girl group Red Velvet. She released a solo album in 2024 and began promotions this past March with her first full-length solo album, ‘Biggest Fan’.
