A recent post on Pann has sparked widespread discussion regarding Red Velvet Irene‘s “real” height and stirred up scrutiny from Korean netizens.
Titled “Seriously, Irene’s height is 150cm?” the post has garnered over 103,100 views and a multitude of comments dissecting the issue.
The original poster juxtaposes Irene’s height with that of her fellow member Seulgi, whose profile lists her at 161cm. Even after accounting for a potential 2-3cm discrepancy, the alleged difference between Irene and Seulgi — as well as with Yeri and Wendy at approximately 156-7cm — remains a focal point of contention.
Considering Seulgi’s profile says 161cm, even accounting for a 2-3cm discrepancy, the difference with Seulgi… Yeri and Wendy are also around 156-7, right? There’s quite a difference with them too.
— OP on Pann
Attached to the post is a screenshot from Red Velvet’s recent comeback stage, in which Irene appears notably shorter than the rest of the group. However, keen-eyed netizens pointed out in the comments that Irene’s posture in the screenshot, due to the “Cosmic” choreography, involves a hunched stance with bent legs.
Red Velvet members, excluding Joy who notably stands taller, are popular for their petite frames and have even gone viral multiple times for looking much, much smaller next to young K-Pop groups.
help so is red velvet really THAT tiny?? sooyoung had to bow her head to talk to irene and seulgi and aespa?😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/taqYvVqXE6
— my (derogatory) (@aescakegirlies) February 2, 2021
I thought this was one of those edited photos but no, Wendy, Seulgi, Irene and Yeri are really short next to Joy 😆 pic.twitter.com/dgwV645CSB
— yeriette | Cosmic ✴️ (@yeripurp) July 9, 2021
The comments section reflects a variety of opinions, with some debating the significance of height when assessing Irene’s overall appeal if you consider her visuals and popularity.
- “Irene is petite, but isn’t she slightly hunched in that photo?”
- “Even so, what does height matter when her face is Irene’s? lol”
- “Wow, how did they pick only such short people except for Joy… SM must not care about height, considering they pick male idols in their 160s.”
- “Lol, the height difference with Seulgi isn’t that much to begin with. Why does she bother living like that and claiming to be 150cm with a photo like that?”
- “Irene is bending her legs, isn’t she?”
Source: Pann