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SM Entertainment, the music label of Red Velvet, announced on November 4 that Red Velvet's Irene will make her solo debut on November 26, with her first mini-album Like A Flower. The album will feature 8 tracks, including the title song, Like A Flower, showcasing a range of moods.
Fans around the world were thrilled by this news. Furthermore, they flooded X with excitement and celebratory posts. One fan shared,
"8 TRACKS?? OH WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE"
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"8 songs?? Various genres based on pop?? Oh Irene will eat on this one. So 'Ka-Ching' and 'I Feel Pretty' is in this but this is the dream set up cuz I thought she will only have 4 new songs in this but its still 6 new songs so we move," wrote a fan.
"VERY MUCH WORTH THE WAIT. 8 SONGS IS AWESOME FOR A MINI ALBUM !!" shared a netizen.
"EIGHT SONGS WITH ONLY HER VOICE WAITED FOR THIS MOMENT," said an X user.
Fans were eagerly awaiting the album's release, as they mentioned that it took SM Entertainment ten years to release the idol's solo debut.
"THE QUEEN OF ORIGINAL VISUAL IRENE FINALLY GOES SOLO?????? HEYYY PINCH ME IF THIS IS A DREAM," remarked one X user.
"THE TIMES OF GLORY HAVE ARRIVED OMG I WILL ONLY TALK ABOUT THIS SOLO FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR AND NEXT YEAR AND ALL THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS," added another fan.
"Finally! Can’t believe it took SM 10 years to realize that their 3rd Gen IT girl needed a solo debut," noted another X user.
One fan highlighted how the album's concept and title, Like A Flower, perfectly suit the idol's aesthetic.
"Omg!!! Finally!! I am so happy for her! Like A flower is already something that fits Irene too! I will definitely buy it," shared this fan.
Red Velvet's Irene to make solo debut 10 years after her debut with the girl group, with mini-album Like A Flower
The upcoming mini-album Like A Flower marks the solo debut of the Red Velvet leader, coming 10 years after her debut as a member of Red Velvet. SM Entertainment announced the release on November 4, through the girl group's social media pages, accompanied by a promotional poster.
The poster aligns with the album's title. It depicts an illustration of Irene in a garden filled with flowers and butterflies.
The idol will be the fourth member of Red Velvet to make a solo debut, following Wendy, Seulgi, and Joy. Previously, in 2022, she collaborated with Seulgi on the song Monster, which achieved significant success, reaching the top of the iTunes album charts in 45 countries.
Like A Flower is set to be released on November 26 at 6 PM KST. Presales for the album opened on November 4, allowing fans to secure their copies ahead of the official release date.
More about Red Velvet leader Irene
Irene took on the role of leader when Red Velvet debuted on August 1, 2014, alongside members Seulgi, Wendy, and Joy. The group initially launched as a quartet under SM Entertainment. Then, in March 2015, Yeri joined the group, expanding it to a five-member lineup.
Red Velvet is widely known for its dual concept, blending bright, whimsical elements with darker, mature themes. This approach is evident in their discography, which includes hit songs like Red Flavor (2017), Psycho (2019), Bad Boy (2018), Peek-a-Boo (2017), and Feel My Rhythm (2022). Their versatility has earned them a reputation as one of K-pop's strongest vocal groups.
Shortly after her debut with the group, Irene captivated fans with her unique charm and vocal skills, quickly building a dedicated solo fanbase.
In addition to her role in Red Velvet, she is also part of the group’s first sub-unit, Red Velvet - Irene & Seulgi. The duo debuted on July 6, 2020, with their EP Monster, which received critical acclaim for its edgy style.
Beyond her group activities, the artist has also pursued acting and solo music projects. She made her acting debut in 2016 with the web drama Women at a Game Company. Later, she starred in the film Double Patty (2021) opposite Shin Seung-ho. Irene has also released a few solo songs, including A White Night (2019) and I Feel Pretty (2021).
