If you're a newbie K-Pop fan, you probably heard BTS's Jungkook, TWICE's Nayeon, Red Velvet's Yeri, and other K-Pop idols mentioning IU. Aside from being your idols' respected sunbaenim (senior), how well do you know South Korea's superstar?
IU or Lee Ji-eun, known for her angelic voice and music producing skills, has been in the entertainment industry for a long time. She debuted under LOEN Entertainment, now KakaoM, with “Lost Child” in 2008 at the age of 15.
According to reports, IU experienced financial hardships when she was young. She used to live in a small, cockroach-infested room with her grandmother and younger brother.
For IU, the road to stardom was not easy. She experienced the tedious process of auditions and faced countless rejections. But she knew she wanted to be in the entertainment industry at a young age, so she worked hard to make her dreams come true.
Earning the title of “Nation's Little Sister” and “Nation's Sweetheart,” IU secured numerous endorsements from major brands and became a household name in South Korea.
IU gained popularity with her smash hit "Good Day" in 2010. In 2015, she stepped up to the next level and proved her ability to craft emotional and relatable music by releasing her first self-produced album "CHAT-SHIRE," followed by “Palette” which topped Billboard's 20 Best K-Pop Albums in 2017 and the rest is history.
Since then, IU has released chart-topping tracks, performed sold-out concerts, and received numerous awards from various award shows, including seven Daesang, the most significant award given in the Korean music industry. With this huge recognition, she has been recognized by Billboard as the all-time leader of its K-Pop Hot 100 chart with the most number-one songs.
She has also proven her versatility as an actress. She began building an acting career in 2011 by appearing in the KBS teen drama 'Dream High' and has starred in hit TV series including 'Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo' (2016), 'My Mister' (2018), and 'Hotel Del Luna' (2019). She is set to debut on the big screen via the upcoming movie 'Dream' with actor Park Seo-joon.
Get to know more about IU in this gallery:
IU's real name is Lee Ji-eun. She was born on May 16, 1993, in Songjeong-dong, Seoul, South Korea.
Her stage name IU, is derived from the phrase "I and You," symbolizing that people can become one through music.
Just like any aspiring K-Pop idol, IU joined different auditions and failed 20 times including one with JYP Entertainment.
IU made her debut as a professional singer at the age of 15 with her album 'Lost and Found' in 2008.
It wasn't until "Good Day," the lead single from her 2010 album 'Real,' that she achieved national fame. IU's amazing three high notes at the end of the song brought her into the public spotlight. In 2019, “Good Day” ranked number one on Billboard magazine's 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s.
Singer IU has a record of scoring perfect “all-kill,” a term in K-Pop used to describe a song or album topping the major music charts simultaneously. Because of this, she is often called the “Queen of Korean Music Charts.”
You cannot spell genius without IU. She is not only known for her vocal skills, but also for her ability to produce her own music that resonates with listeners of different ages.
Among her famous collaborations feature BIGBANG's G-Dragon with “Palette” in 2017 and BTS rapper Suga with "Eight" in 2020.
Building her career in acting, she debuted as an actress in the teen drama 'Dream High' with Bae Suzy, Kim Soo-hyun, and 2PM's Taecyeon. In 2013, IU starred in her first leading role with 'You're the Best, Lee Soon-shin.' She also starred in numerous hit TV series like 'Pretty Man,' 'The Producers,' 'Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo,' 'My Mister,' and 'Hotel del Luna.'
IU is set to star alongside Park Seo-joon in her debut film 'Dream.' She will take on the role of Lee So-min, a production head who dreams of getting a big break from filming a documentary about Yoon Hong-dae's unconventional soccer team.
Among her numerous awards, IU made new history as she became the first female soloist to receive two grand prizes at the Golden Disc Awards, one of the most prestigious music awards in Korea. She has now won seven Daesang awards, the most significant award given in the Korean music industry.
IU's popularity has brought her several endorsements including beverages, jewelry, cosmetics, video games, and more. She's also an ambassador for luxury brand Gucci in Korea.
Named as one of Forbes Asia's “Heroes of Philanthropy,” IU has a heart of gold. She regularly makes meaningful donations to different charities and organizations for the less fortunate.
Known for her loyalty, IU's one demand in renewing her contract with her previous agency was to raise the salaries of her staff who worked with her for a long time. In 2020, IU has signed with EDAM Entertainment, a new company established by Bae Jong-han, her manager of 12 years.
IU's thoughtful fan service to her 'Uaenas' is undeniable. Aside from giving them good music, she gained attention from personally buying various snacks and giving them one by one to fans that she would meet while working abroad. In one of her past guestings, she revealed that her goal is to become a singer who takes care of her fans.
Actress Yoo In-na and IU have been best friends for quite some time despite their 11-year age gap. They met on the SBS variety show 'Heroes' in 2010. During her acceptance speech in the 2017 Melon Music Awards, IU dedicated the Album of the Year award to Yoo In-na calling her her number one fan, best friend, and muse.
In an episode of IU's Homebody Signal, IU described her Love Poem in Manila concert as the “perfect concert.” She revealed, “Everyone has a different opinion on what a 'perfect concert' means. Some may say a perfect concert is a concert without any mistake or it could be something that the audience feels highly satisfied with. But, at that time, I think it was a perfect concert in a whole new way.”
IU once again set new records in the Korean music charts history with her recent track “Celebrity” as it swept major real-time charts in Korea just a few hours after its release. IU is now the only artist in history to achieve real-time all-kill for 10 years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.) “Celebrity” is a pre-release track from her upcoming fifth full-length album.
IU graduated from Dongduk Girls' High School in February 2012. She originally planned on taking up Korean literature but decided to focus on her singing career.
She also purchased a property for residency at Eterno Chungdam, a new complex to be fully constructed in December 2022, with its super penthouse unit projected to be the highest valued apartment unit locally.
With her charisma and strong fanbase, it's no surprise IU is well-loved by luxury brands. For her birthday on May 16 2021 Gucci
sent IU a birthday cake
On her 13th anniversary since her debut in 2008, IU donated $700,000 worth of goods and supplies to various charities and organizations.
The singer also celebrated her 13th anniversary with a cooking vlog.
The K-pop stаr also served аs аn honorаry senior police officer and spokesperson for the Nаtionаl Police Agency's аnti-bullying cаmpаign in schools.
Among IU's remarkable accomplishments is becoming the youngest person on Forbes' “Asiа's 2019 Heroes of Philаnthropy: Cаtаlysts For Chаnge” list.
To end 2022, the “Celebrity” songstress embarked on two endeavors that wholly reflect her good-natured character.
During the Christmas season, IU donated 200 million won to communities and groups in dire need of help, including cancer patients and children from low-income families.
“This is a difficult time when everyone is feeling exhausted, but I wanted to share feelings of warmth and help with those who needed it. I hope that everyone can spend a warm winter without a single neighbor being left out,” she said.
IU revealed a new side of her in a belated Christmas gift she especially prepared for her uaenas: a year-end album titled 'Pieces.'
“Rather than a perfect picture, it's more fitting to describe them as pieces that make up the picture. When you fit the pieces together and gather the five songs, it becomes a [complete] picture,” she explained in one of the teasers for the 5-track package.
In this latest endeavor, IU masterfully uses the language of music to speak life into her precious, unheard-of memories.
According to a Soompi report, a representative of Naver Webtoon announced that IU together with Ryu Jun-yeol, Park Jung-min, Park Hae-joon, and Bae Sung-woo will be starring in the upcoming eight-episode series 'Money Game.'
In an interview with Marie Claire Korea, IU shared her dreams for the next 10 years. She said, "As an actor, I want to be an actor that the public is willing to invest their time in. I want to be an actor where you are willing to make the time to watch them no matter what project they're doing. At the same time, I want to be a musician that continues to make people curious."
On March 11, IU and Jay Park released the music video for their collaboration single titled "GANADARA." This is the first time IU and Jay Park collaborated together.
IU is starring in the film titled 'Broker' along with Song Kang-ho, Gang Dong-won, Bae Doona, and Lee Joo-young. The film is set to premiere in the upcoming Cannes Film Festival and is slated to release in theatres on June 8, 2022.
May 16, 2022 is a special day for IU who just turned 30 (Korean age).
The hashtag #30SpringsWithIU was on the top trends on Twitter Philippines as fans celebrated her day.
She continues to soar as a rising solo star.
She's ethereal and angelic in all white.
IU is a top luxury brand endorser, sought-after by brands such as Gucci.
She showed off her new look for her H.E.R. promotions.
IU's barefaced look
She and Korean rapper Jay Park are Gucci's latest international ambassadors.
She is scheduled to come back to the Philippines on June 1, 2024.
She is winning hearts with her pre-release track, "Love Wins All."