Red Velvet comeback on August 3rd, the first full group activity in 2 years and 2 months

Red Velvet's Summer Returns After 2 Years and 2 Months

Red Velvet is returning this summer as a full group. SM Entertainment announced that Red Velvet will release their summer mini-album, 'Velvet Summer,' on August 3rd at 6 PM. This is their first new album as a complete group in approximately 2 years and 2 months since 'Cosmic' was released in June 2024. The album includes a total of five songs, including the title track 'Surfin’ Boy.'

Debuting in 2014, Red Velvet is a veteran girl group entering its 12th year. Even amidst the recent trend in the K-pop market where the career spans of idol groups are lengthening, Red Velvet has built its own unique territory. While Twice and Blackpink assert their presence based on powerful global tours and massive fandoms, Red Velvet has chosen to increase the team's brand value through unpredictable variations in sound and concept.

From the kitschy charm of 'Dumb Dumb' in their early debut days to the iconic summer image established by 'Red Flavor' and 'Power Up,' and the eerie moods seen in 'Peek-A-Boo,' 'Zimzalabim,' and 'Psycho—Red Velvet is a one-of-a-kind team that has made heterogeneous colors coexist within a single group. Recently, through 'Feel My Rhythm,' they expanded the conceptual horizons of veteran groups by combining classical sampling with the balletcore style.

Between 'Red' and 'Velvet,' a New Color of Summer

Red Velvet's musical world is divided into two pillars: 'Red,' symbolizing bright energy, and 'Velvet,' representing a dreamy atmosphere. The key is what kind of color the new album title, 'Velvet Summer,' will take. While 'Red Flavor' and 'Power Up' were summer hits with a strong 'Red' side, this time, as 'Velvet' is explicitly mentioned in the title, a new summer mood defined by the group will be revealed.

Compared to the recent summer activities of other girl groups, Red Velvet's comeback is even more distinct. Recent summer songs, such as aespa's 'LEMONADE' or Hearts2Hearts' 'Lemon Tang,' emphasize intuitive and tangy images aimed at short-form challenges. In a situation where junior groups themed around lemons are pouring out, Red Velvet presents a differentiated summer by putting forward the team's unique, deep concepts.

The fandom, strengthened by the members' individual activities, also serves as the foundation for this comeback. Even during hiatuses, Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, and Joy have consistently proven their musical capabilities by releasing solo albums. In particular, Irene recorded approximately 330,000 copies in first-week sales based on the Hanteo Chart with her first solo album 'Like A Flower,' ranking first in first-week sales among SM Entertainment's female solo artists.

Prior to this comeback, Red Velvet will meet fans by holding the '2026 Red Velvet Fan Concert ' at Korea University Hwajeong Gymnasium from August 1st to 2nd. Pre-orders for the new album will begin on August 6th.