Introduction

Red Velvet is a South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment. Originally debuting as a four-member group on August 1, 2014, with the single “Happiness”, the lineup expanded in 2015 with the addition of Yeri during promotions for “Ice Cream Cake”.

The group is known for its dual-concept approach, represented by “Red” and “Velvet.” Their Red side features bright, energetic pop tracks while their Velvet side showcases a more sophisticated and R&B-influenced sound. Some releases, including “Russian Roulette” and “Rookie”, blend both styles.

Prior to debut, Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, and Yeri were introduced as part of SM Rookies, a pre-debut project featuring SM Entertainment trainees. Members gained early recognition through appearances in music videos and pre-debut content. Seulgi, the first to join SM Entertainment in 2007, was featured in Henry’s Fantastic, while Irene and Wendy, recruited in 2009 and 2012 respectively, appeared in various projects, including OST releases and music video cameos. Joy and Yeri were later recruited through global auditions in Seoul and the U.S.

Red Velvet has achieved widespread recognition, earning prestigious awards such as the Golden Disc New Artist Award, Mnet Asian Music Award for Best Female Group, Korean Music Award for Best Pop Song, and Asia Artist Award for Song of the Year. Their influence in the Kpop industry is evident, with Forbes Korea Power Celebrity ranking them 11th in 2018 and 5th in 2019. On a global scale, they have been acknowledged by Time and Billboard as one of the leading Kpop acts and were among the top five most-streamed Kpop artists worldwide on Spotify as of February 2020.

On April 4th, 2025, SM Entertainment announced that Yeri and Wendy did not renew their contracts with the company, but will continue activities as Red Velvet members.