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Wendy (Red Velvet) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 14, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth21 February 1994

Age29 Years

BirthplaceSeongbuk District, Seoul, South Korea

ProfessionSinger, Host, DJ

NationalitySouth Korean

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilySister - Shon Seung-hee (elder)

Wendy (Red Velvet) Biography

Wendy (born Shon Seung-wan) is a South Korean singer, host and DJ best known as a member of SM Entertainment’s girl group Red Velvet. Raised in Seoul and,,

Early life and background
Shon Seung-wan, known professionally as Wendy, was born on 21 February 1994 in the Seongbuk District of Seoul, South Korea. She spent part of her childhood in Jecheon before moving abroad with her family for studies. Wendy attended schools in Canada and the United States, including Richmond Hill High School in Ontario and Shattuck-Saint Mary’s School in Minnesota. Those years abroad helped her become fluent in English and gave her exposure to additional languages.

Her family includes an elder sister, Shon Seung-hee. Wendy’s parents initially urged her to focus on academics, but they later supported her decision to pursue a career in music while she was still in high school.

Career
Wendy’s path into K-pop began with auditions and training. She was discovered by SM Entertainment while accompanying a friend to a global audition in Canada and successfully passed after performing a Korean song. After less than two years of training she joined SM Rookies and debuted as a member of Red Velvet in 2014.

Red Velvet’s debut single, “Happiness,” drew immediate attention and set several early milestones for the group, including strong viewership on release and a chart placement on the Billboard World Digital Songs chart. Wendy has remained an integral vocalist of the group through its diverse discography and public appearances.

Beyond group activities, Wendy has pursued a range of solo and collaborative projects. She released a solo extended play, Like Water, in 2021. She has performed as part of the project supergroup Got the Beat on the 2022 track “Step Back.” Her screen credits include appearances in SMTown: The Stage (2015) and a cameo as herself on the television series Descendants of the Sun (2016). In 2023 she took on a theatre role as Rebecca in a stage production titled I.

Wendy has also been active on variety and reality programs, participating in and hosting shows such as King of Mask Singer, Raid the Convenience Store, and Mysterious Record Shop. Her broadcast work extended to radio, where she earned recognition for her program Wendy’s Youngstreet.

Commercial endorsements and public engagements have been a recurring part of her career. She served as a spokesperson for products and campaigns, notably for a rice porridge brand alongside a fellow group member, and later for several beauty and lifestyle campaigns. In 2018 she received a commendation from South Korea’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and has been included multiple times in Forbes’ Korea power lists and digital star compilations.

Public profile
Wendy is publicly identified with the color blue within Red Velvet’s group imagery. Her career with Red Velvet has been marked by numerous group awards across years, including rookie awards, Bonsang honors, and recognition at domestic and international music ceremonies. As a solo artist and broadcaster she has also been honored with awards for radio work and ballad performance.

Her public life has included moments of hardship. On 25 December 2019 she suffered a serious on-stage accident during a rehearsal that resulted in multiple injuries. She underwent hospitalization and a period of recovery, returning to public performance in early 2021.

Philanthropy and public contributions
Wendy has made charitable donations and been recognized for those contributions. She donated to Covid-19 relief efforts in Daegu and later was named a member of the Honor Society of the Community Chest of Korea for a substantial donation.

Latest updates
Wendy’s more recent activities include her solo EP release in 2021, participation in the Got the Beat project in 2022, and her stage role in 2023. She continues to be active as a singer, radio host and public figure within Red Velvet’s ongoing career.
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Recent Work

Like Water (EP)

Solo EP release

2021
Step Back (song) — Got the Beat

Collaborative project song with Got the Beat

2022
I

Theatre role as Rebecca

2023
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Career Highlights

  1. Debuted with Red Velvet in 2014 with the single "Happiness"
  2. Released solo EP Like Water (2021)
  3. Member of project group Got the Beat on "Step Back" (2022)
  4. Performed in theatre production I as Rebecca (2023)
  5. Recipient of a cultural commendation from South Korea's Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (2018)
  6. Multiple awards as part of Red Velvet and individual awards for radio and performance
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Wendy (Red Velvet) born?

21 February 1994

What is Wendy (Red Velvet) known for?

Singer, Host, DJ

What is Wendy (Red Velvet)’s marital status?

Unmarried