Singapore, 2026 – Opening with ‘Like A Flower‘, the elegant title track from her solo debut album, Red Velvet’s Irene immediately captivated Singapore Luvies as she took to the stage for IRENE Asia Tour [I-Will] on 4 July, delivering an evening that beautifully balanced elegant performances with the candid, playful personality that fans have come to love.
The concert also marked Irene’s return to Singapore exactly one year after her previous visit with fellow Red Velvet member Seulgi. During one of her opening ments, Irene smiled as she spotted many familiar faces in the crowd after asking how many had attended last year’s concert, warmly thanking Singapore Luvies for returning to spend another special evening with her.
Beyond showcasing tracks from her solo album, Irene also delighted fans with exciting news about Red Velvet, revealing that preparations for the group’s long-awaited comeback are currently underway. “As you all know, I’m working hard on preparing for Red Velvet’s comeback. Are you looking forward to the comeback? Me too.”
The announcement immediately drew one of the loudest cheers of the night, highlighting just how eagerly fans are anticipating the group’s return.
The concert showcased Irene’s versatility, effortlessly moving between graceful, emotional performances such as ‘Summer Rain‘ and ‘Face To Face‘ before transitioning into the darker, charismatic stages of ‘Black Halo‘ and ‘Spit It Out‘. The latter proved to be one of the evening’s most anticipated performances, marking the first time Singapore fans had the opportunity to experience the song live.
While fans loudly complimented Irene’s striking new hairstyle throughout the night, the singer laughed as she confessed that cutting her fringe had been an impulsive decision, one her hairstylist wasn’t particularly thrilled about.
Explaining that bangs become difficult to manage while performing because they often stick to her forehead or even flip upwards during choreography, Irene joked that although she had considered bleaching and perming her hair, all she ultimately ended up doing was getting bangs.
Her natural humour continued to shine throughout the evening. At one point, fans erupted into screams after Irene casually flipped her hair while adjusting her in-ear monitor—a gesture that looked effortlessly glamorous despite being entirely unintentional. Laughing at the crowd’s reaction, she quickly clarified that she had simply been trying to find her in-ear monitor rather than deliberately trying to look “sexy.”
Another memorable highlight came when Irene spoke about Singapore’s famous fruits. Having tried both durian and jackfruit earlier that day, she happily declared herself a fan of both, learning from the audience that it was currently durian season.
While many fans proudly raised their hands when asked if they liked durian, Irene was surprised that far fewer admitted to enjoying jackfruit. Describing it as chewy and surprisingly delicious despite its distinctive aroma, she encouraged those who had never tried it to give it a chance.
Food remained a recurring topic throughout the night, with Irene revealing that she would once again be enjoying chilli crab before flying straight back to Korea after the concert. Although fans enthusiastically recommended local favourites including kaya toast, laksa, bak kut teh and satay, she laughed that she had already made dinner reservations and would have to save those suggestions for another visit.
As the concert progressed into fan favourites such as ‘Ka-Ching‘, the atmosphere inside the venue became increasingly energetic. Irene shared that watching fans enthusiastically perform the fanchants always gave her extra strength on stage, adding that seeing everyone genuinely enjoy the performances motivated her to give even more in return.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the evening arrived during her closing ment when Irene appeared to accidentally reveal news that many Red Velvet fans had been waiting years to hear. Irene excitedly announced that Red Velvet would finally release a new version of their official lightstick and doll plushies! She even teased that it would feature adorable accessories that fans could attach to it, prompting loud cheers throughout the venue.
The excitement continued into the encore as Irene returned to perform beloved Red Velvet songs including ‘Attaboy‘, ‘Red Dress‘, ‘Rookie‘ and ‘Russian Roulette‘. Returning to the stage slightly out of breath, she laughed that she had rushed back as quickly as possible after hearing Singapore Luvies passionately chanting for an encore.
Fans also attempted to get spoilers about a possible world tour following Red Velvet’s comeback, but Irene playfully admitted there was nothing, joking that there were unfortunately no tickets to hand out either.
Irene confessed that she got distracted with fans collecting and waving the blue confetti at her. She kindly also noted that fans from the upper floors are not able to receive any, so she encouraged Luvies seated in the front sections to collect some and pass it along to those watching from the higher levels. Such a thoughtful gesture!
One of the evening’s most touching moments came when Singapore Luvies effortlessly chanted the names of all five Red Velvet members during one of her performances. Smiling brightly, Irene shared that hearing those familiar fanchants always reminded her of the special bond between Red Velvet and their fans, making every performance feel like something they experienced together.
Before closing the night, Irene noticed several fans wearing shirts featuring “Woo Yongsik”—the affectionate nickname she had previously given her fans. Teasing them that she thought they didn’t actually like the nickname despite proudly wearing it, Irene ended the conversation with words of encouragement that resonated throughout the venue.
“I hope you guys can face this world loudly and bravely. You guys can all do it.”
Before the commemorative photo session, Luvies also surprised Irene with a fan project, raising banners and singing the message printed on them in unison. The heartfelt gesture visibly touched her and created a warm, emotional atmosphere, serving as a fitting conclusion to an unforgettable evening.
With one final singalong during ‘Start Line’, Irene bid farewell to Singapore, promising she hoped to return again soon.
Through stunning performances, candid conversations and countless light-hearted interactions, IRENE Asia Tour [I-Will] was more than just a solo concert, it was an intimate celebration of the bond Irene shares with Luvies, leaving fans hopeful that they won’t have to wait another year before welcoming her back.
StarArena would like to thank FriedRice Entertainment for the invitation to IRENE Asia Tour [I-Will] in Singapore.
Photo Credits: FriedRice Entertainment
StarArena 스타아레나 