Dramatic Difference In Red Velvet Irene And Seulgi’s Airport Reception Shocks Netizens, Photos Go Viral

The photos show a shocking difference.

A recent post on the Korean forum Pann has gone viral for highlighting what many netizens believe is a significant popularity gap between Red Velvet’s Irene and Seulgi.

The post — which has gathered over 29,000 views within hours — features photos of the two idols returning to Korea after their successful BALANCE tour stop in Macau.

Thank you, #MACAU ReVeluv 💫#RedVelvet_IRENE_SEULGI #레드벨벳_아이린_슬기#IRENE #아이린 #SEULGI #슬기#RedVelvet_IRENE_SEULGI_BALANCE#RedVelvet_IRENE_SEULGI_CONCERT_TOUR pic.twitter.com/rgrk1Tn8qG

— Red Velvet (@RVsmtown) July 13, 2025

In the shared images, Irene is seen surrounded by a crowd of fans and reporters, drawing attention with her striking visuals. Seulgi, on the other hand, is captured walking calmly through the airport with little fanfare, despite being just steps ahead of her groupmate.

The contrast in the photos has sparked major reactions from Korean netizens, with many taking it as a clear reflection of Irene’s enduring fanbase. Known as one of the standout visuals of third-generation K-Pop, Irene has long been a key factor in Red Velvet’s popularity. Her star power seems to still draw massive attention, even nearly a decade into the group’s career.

Seulgi’s quieter arrival also stood out to netizens, with many pointing out that while the attention may differ, both idols continue to receive support for different reasons.

• “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 difference in the crowd response, others mentioned how both Irene and Seulgi have established their own strengths and reputations within the group and the industry.

Red Velvet