Irene's Buzz Surges After a Few Drinks, Ranks High on K-POPIT BOARD

K-pop girl group Red Velvet's Irene has climbed into the upper ranks of K-pop's domestic and global power indexes. The group's full-member comeback, coupled with a web variety appearance that showed a different side of her, has boosted her individual visibility.

According to the K-pop analytics index K-POPIT BOARD as of Aug. 18, Irene ranked second on the domestic Power Index (PWR(KR)) with 67.2 points. She placed third on the Global Power Index (PWR(GL)) with 68.1 points.

Her MOM score, which tracks recent momentum, reached 90.3 points in both the domestic and global rankings. Much of the recent attention surrounding Irene has centered on the web variety show "My Alcohol Diary," hosted by rapper Lee Young-ji. In an episode released on Aug. 14, Irene shared drinks and conversation with Lee. It marked her first time drinking on camera since her debut.

Known for her calm and composed image, Irene drew attention as she loosened up after a few drinks. During a round of the card game Halli Galli, she also showed off quick reflexes and impressive skills. Clips showing sides of Irene rarely seen on television were widely shared across online communities and social media.

Her interactions with staff on set also drew attention for a different reason. Footage showing Irene casually chatting and spending time with staff brought renewed attention to a 2020 controversy in which a stylist accused her of mistreatment. At the time, Irene apologized, saying her attitude and careless words had hurt others. As her current interactions with staff drew notice, the past controversy also resurfaced, broadening the conversation surrounding her.

Her Media Attention Score (MAS), which reflects interest based on Korean entertainment media coverage, stood at 60.4 points. Several moments from "My Alcohol Diary" generated additional coverage. After Irene was seen eating durian while drinking alcohol, some overseas fans raised concerns about potential health risks, and their reactions were subsequently covered by Korean media outlets.

Her Fandom Health Index (FHI), which measures fandom activity and sustainability, reached 70.1 points. The figure coincides with Red Velvet's recent return as a full group. Red Velvet released its new mini-album "Velvet Summer" on Aug. 3, marking its first full-group album in about two years and two months since "Cosmic" in June 2024. It is also the group's first release featuring all five members since Wendy and Yeri left SM Entertainment last year.

Red Velvet's long-awaited group return drew renewed attention from the fandom just as Irene's individual content began generating buzz. While the comeback energized the group's fan base, "My Alcohol Diary" expanded interest in Irene herself. With the two developments overlapping, Irene rose to No. 2 domestically and No. 3 globally on K-POPIT BOARD.