Red Velvet's Irene was recently praised for her leadership skills and taking a stand for her members at the Gaon Chart Music Awards. On the award ceremony's red carpet, photographers requested the members remove their masks for a better image, but the leader denied the request.Although the group later obliged, Irene's consideration and guts to refuse the request were hailed by fans across Korean forums and Twitter. K-netizens commented on loving Irene's "guts" for refusing to take masks off.Fans comment on Red Velvet Irene's leadership skillsRed Velvet dazzled in white dresses and complimentary white masks at the red carpet of the 11th Gaon Chart Music Awards. While on the red carpet, photographers and reporters constantly requested the group members to remove their masks and pose for the cameras.Everyone looked to Irene, the leader, for her instruction, and she refused, making an X mark with her hands. Seulgi also joined her and made an even bigger gesture denying the request. zena@redveluviesbaewe can clearly see how many times red velvet gave signs that they don’t wanna take off their mask. irene even shake her head while saying no but the reporters insisted. please don’t force them to do things knowing that they also value their health12:53 PM · Jan 27, 202226562we can clearly see how many times red velvet gave signs that they don’t wanna take off their mask. irene even shake her head while saying no but the reporters insisted. please don’t force them to do things knowing that they also value their healthhttps://t.co/jeqHM5rwIlAfter multiple refusals, the group's members reluctantly took their masks off, but their discomfort was apparent. Smiles left a majority of members’ faces, especially Irene’s. The awkwardness and being forced to comply with something that could potentially harm her teammates was apparent on the leader’s face.Irene’s decision to make her members feel safe and not give in to the photographers’ requests was hailed by fans. They also lashed out at the staff for forcing the group to remove their masks and for not caring about health repercussions.t@joyistheticsred velvet said “” but the press kept asking them to take off their masks so they did eventually 🤒12:36 PM · Jan 27, 202299793761red velvet said “🙅” but the press kept asking them to take off their masks so they did eventually 🤒 https://t.co/uMlWA2XEYtgyu@choihyukangNot related to txt but why're the gaon staff forcing red velvet to take off their mask when they repeatedly said no???12:49 PM · Jan 27, 2022527Not related to txt but why're the gaon staff forcing red velvet to take off their mask when they repeatedly said no??? https://t.co/WYdLNhkyQT⁷⁷ h🕷@yestoxiaojunall of these idols are testing positive for covid, i don’t blame red velvet for not wanting to take their mask off…1:02 AM · Jan 27, 202281all of these idols are testing positive for covid, i don’t blame red velvet for not wanting to take their mask off…⁷⁷ h🕷@yestoxiaojunall of these idols are testing positive for covid, i don’t blame red velvet for not wanting to take their mask off…1:02 AM · Jan 27, 202281all of these idols are testing positive for covid, i don’t blame red velvet for not wanting to take their mask off…æ | Get Well Soon Umji@aekuosmoShe knows, she's probably hating everyone who pressured her to take off her mask#RedVelvet #IRENE1:04 AM · Jan 27, 202264She knows, she's probably hating everyone who pressured her to take off her mask#RedVelvet #IRENE https://t.co/YPpUbhxUB3alana renaè 🦋@akira_janaeeall these idols catching covid and they had the audacity to to keep telling Red Velvet to take their mask off glad they got queen irene7:31 AM · Jan 28, 20222all these idols catching covid and they had the audacity to to keep telling Red Velvet to take their mask off glad they got queen ireneJ Grandma (~_^) ミ ✰@tears_angelStupid gaon team if rv don't want to open their mask its their choice.. plus they all hv other event n daily work shooting n radio so they need to take more safety precautions respect red velvet choice..1:00 AM · Jan 27, 202251Stupid gaon team if rv don't want to open their mask its their choice.. plus they all hv other event n daily work shooting n radio so they need to take more safety precautions respect red velvet choice..sharahf👑 waiting for rv@sharahf23i'm a nurse, i really appreciate what red velvet did to not take off the mask, especially in korea, when the covid19 case is soaring11:30 AM · Jan 27, 202211i'm a nurse, i really appreciate what red velvet did to not take off the mask, especially in korea, when the covid19 case is soaringLeader Irene outrightly refusing to take off masks became a heated topic of discussion, as COVID-19 cases in South Korea have spiked over the past month. January started with around 3,000 new cases, to 5,800 by mid-month, 8,566 cases on January 23, and 17,540 on January 28.K-pop idols who tested positive for COVID have continued to make headlines over the past couple of weeks, with members from Kep1er, THE BOYZ, WINNER and other groups reported to have tested positive.Meanwhile, Red Velvet won the Artist of the Year - Digital Music Monthly (August) award for Queendom at the 11th Gaon Chart Music Awards.