On October 7, news that Irene Bae was spotted at Zhang Yixing’s “Voyage 5: Havoc in Heaven” concert at the Beijing National Stadium quickly went viral on social media. The Red Velvet member reportedly flew to Beijing over the Mid-Autumn Festival for a low-profile concert visit, dressed casually in a black top, baseball cap, and mask. With zero fanfare or publicity, her quiet presence was jokingly dubbed by fans as “a top idol’s secret fangirl night.”
According to audience members at the venue, Irene sat among the crowd and watched the show attentively. When approached by fans, she even leaned in for friendly selfies, showing warmth and approachability without any trace of celebrity distance. Though several other stars such as Oh Sehun, Ding Chengxin, and Jike Junyi were also present, Irene kept to herself and made no public interactions—clearly treating the event as a personal outing rather than a work appearance.
This sighting has further reinforced Irene’s image as a true concert enthusiast. She has been spotted at numerous live performances before, leading fans to affectionately tease that she’s “more active chasing concerts than attending schedules.” Her decision to fly to Beijing just to attend a show during a major holiday added to her charm, with comments like “so real and relatable” flooding social platforms.
Yet what seemed like a simple personal leisure moment unexpectedly became a quiet instance of cross-cultural connection. As the central figure of Red Velvet, Irene’s choice to attend a Chinese artist’s concert was viewed by many as a symbol of “breaking cultural boundaries.” In particular, Zhang Yixing’s performance showcased rich traditional Chinese aesthetics—from Dunhuang-inspired stage art to animated projections of Along the River During the Qingming Festival, and even live intangible heritage performances. Her attendance, therefore, added symbolic weight to the concert’s cultural impact. One online comment summed it up: “When a top Korean star chooses to experience it in person, it speaks volumes about the global appeal of Chinese-style stages.”
At the same time, fans found themselves charmed by the natural “celebrity-as-audience” dynamic. Despite calls for respecting privacy and avoiding intrusive behavior, Irene’s gentle attitude toward fans—taking casual selfies and keeping a low profile—ended up creating a rare and healthy kind of mutual connection between stars and the public.
There is no indication that her appearance had any professional ties or collaboration involved; all signs point to it being a purely private activity. Ironically, that very lack of commercial intent made the moment all the more meaningful. What began as an unplanned concert visit turned into a reflection of cultural resonance without words. While some fans debated “who’s benefiting from whose fame,” Irene and Zhang Yixing quietly demonstrated that true cultural influence never needs deliberate performance—it simply happens naturally.
