IU (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
IU
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IU in August 2024
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Lee Ji-eun
May 16, 1993 Seoul, South Korea
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 2008–present |
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| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
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| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
이지은
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| Hanja |
李知恩
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| Revised Romanization | I Ji-eun |
| McCune–Reischauer | Yi Chiŭn |
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Lee Ji-eun (Hangul: 이지은), born on May 16, 1993, is better known by her stage name IU (Hangul: 아이유). She is a famous South Korean singer, songwriter, and actress. She started her career as a music trainee in 2007 and debuted as a singer at age fifteen.
IU became a national star with her 2010 song "Good Day". This song stayed at the top of South Korea's music charts for five weeks. Billboard magazine later named it the number one K-Pop song of the 2010s. Her music style has grown over the years. She often writes and produces her own songs.
Besides music, IU is also a successful actress. She has starred in popular TV shows like Dream High (2011) and My Mister (2018). Her role in My Mister was highly praised. IU has released many successful albums and singles. She is one of the best-selling solo artists in K-Pop. She was the first solo female K-Pop artist to perform at the huge Seoul Olympic Stadium.
Rolling Stone magazine listed her as one of the greatest singers of all time in 2023. She has also been called the "Queen of K-pop" by media outlets like NME and Billboard.
Contents
- Early Life and Beginnings
- Music Career Highlights
- 2008–2009: Starting Out
- 2010–2011: Becoming a Star
- 2012: Japanese Debut and First Tour
- 2013: New Acting Roles and Modern Times
- 2014: A Flower Bookmark
- 2015–2016: More Acting and Music
- 2017–2018: Palette and My Mister Success
- 2019–2021: Hotel del Luna and New Music
- 2022–Present: Broker and World Tour
- Artistry
- Awards and Achievements
- Other Activities
- Personal Life
- Discography
- Filmography
- Tours
- Images for kids
- See also
Early Life and Beginnings
IU was born Lee Ji-eun in Seoul, South Korea, on May 16, 1993. From a young age, she was interested in entertainment. She started taking acting classes. Her family faced financial difficulties, and she lived with her grandmother for a time.
During middle school, IU found her love for singing. She decided to become a singer after a performance at school. She auditioned many times but faced rejections and even scams. In 2007, she signed with LOEN Entertainment. She found comfort in the studio, where she could focus on her music.
After graduating from high school in 2012, IU chose to focus on her singing career. She did not go to college.
Music Career Highlights
2008–2009: Starting Out
After ten months of training, IU debuted in 2008. Her stage name, IU, means "I and You become one through music." Her first song was "Lost Child." It was part of her first album, Lost and Found. This album did not sell well at first. IU later said she was thankful for this, as it made her appreciate her success more.
In 2009, she released her first studio album, Growing Up. The main song was "Boo." This song had a fun, retro sound, different from her first ballad. It helped her gain public attention. She also released her second album, IU...IM, with the song "Marshmallow." People found her performances cute.
As she became more popular, IU appeared on many TV and radio shows. She covered songs by other artists, which became very popular online. She also started hosting a music chart show.
2010–2011: Becoming a Star
On June 3, 2010, IU released "Nagging" with Lim Seul-ong. This song quickly reached number one on the music charts. It was used in a popular TV show.
Her third album, Real, came out in December 2010. Its main song, "Good Day", made her a national sensation. The song was famous for its high notes and catchy chorus. "Good Day" topped many music charts. Billboard magazine later called it the best K-Pop song of the 2010s.
IU also started acting in 2010. She joined the TV show Heroes. Then, she got a role in the teen drama Dream High. She played a shy student who wanted to be a singer. She also sang "Someday" for the show's soundtrack, which became a number-one hit.
In 2011, she released Real+ and her second studio album, Last Fantasy. Last Fantasy was a big success, with many songs reaching the top ten. Its main song, "You & I", became one of her most successful songs.
2012: Japanese Debut and First Tour
In 2012, IU began her career in Japan. She released Japanese versions of her hit songs, "Good Day" and "You & I." She also held mini-concerts in five Japanese cities.
In June 2012, IU started her first solo concert tour in South Korea, called "Real Fantasy." Tickets for her Seoul shows sold out in just 30 minutes. She performed in six cities across the country.
She also released her fifth Korean album, Spring of a Twenty Year Old. This album celebrated her turning 20 years old in Korean age. It included the popular songs "Peach" and "Every End of the Day."
2013: New Acting Roles and Modern Times
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In 2013, IU took on her first main acting role in the TV series You're the Best, Lee Soon-shin. She played a bright character who overcomes challenges. Her acting received good reviews as the show went on.
She also released her third studio album, Modern Times, in October 2013. This album showed a more mature sound, exploring genres like jazz and bossa nova. IU helped write and compose many of the songs. The album was a big hit, with its main song, "The Red Shoes," reaching number one.
IU then starred in another romantic-comedy series, Bel Ami. She played a fun and quirky character. She also held her second concert tour to support Modern Times.
2014: A Flower Bookmark
On May 16, 2014, IU released A Flower Bookmark. This was her first album of cover songs. She sang new versions of popular songs from the 1980s and 1990s. Critics praised her for keeping the original feeling while adding her own style.
She held a smaller, more personal concert series called "Just One Step... That Much More." All tickets sold out very quickly. She played the keyboard on stage for the first time. The money earned from these concerts was donated to help victims of the Sewol Ferry Disaster.
IU also performed in the United States for the first time at the KCON music festival in Los Angeles. She collaborated with other artists on several hit songs that year.
2015–2016: More Acting and Music
In 2015, IU starred in the TV series The Producers. She played a famous singer named Cindy. Her character and performance received good feedback. She also released two songs for the show, "Twenty Three" and "Heart," which were very popular.
IU also took part in the Infinite Challenge music festival. She teamed up with Park Myeong-su to create the song "Leon," which became a number-one hit.
Her seventh album, Chat-Shire, was released in October 2015. IU wrote all the lyrics and helped compose many songs. The main song, "Twenty-Three", topped the music charts. Billboard called it one of the best K-pop albums of 2015.
In September 2016, IU starred in the historical drama Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.
2017–2018: Palette and My Mister Success
IU released her fourth studio album, Palette, in April 2017. She wrote most of the lyrics and was the main producer. The album included hit songs like "Through the Night" and "Palette," featuring G-Dragon. Palette was a big success and received many awards. Critics praised IU's creative control and personal touch on the album.
She also released her second cover album, A Flower Bookmark 2, in September 2017. She went on tour to promote this album. IU was named the most popular K-pop artist of 2017 by Gallup Korea.
In March 2018, IU starred in the TV show My Mister. She played a challenging role, and her performance was highly praised. The show was very successful. To celebrate her tenth anniversary, IU released the single "Bbibbi" in October 2018. This song quickly broke records for unique listeners on music sites.
2019–2021: Hotel del Luna and New Music
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On April 11, 2019, IU made her film debut in the Netflix series Persona. She played different characters in four short films.
During the summer, IU starred in the fantasy drama Hotel del Luna. This drama was very popular and had high ratings. She also sang a song for the show's soundtrack.
IU released her ninth album, Love Poem, in November 2019. She decided to postpone the album's release to November 18. The main song, "Love Poem," reached number one. She then started her second Asian tour, also called Love Poem.
In 2020, IU released the song "Eight" with BTS's Suga. This song quickly reached number one on charts. She also released "Into the I-LAND" for a survival show.
In 2021, IU won Song of the Year for "Blueming" at the Golden Disc Awards. She then released her pre-release single "Celebrity" and her fifth studio album, Lilac. Both were very successful. She also released the digital single "Strawberry Moon" and a special album called Pieces.
2022–Present: Broker and World Tour
In 2022, IU released the song "Ganadara" with Jay Park, which topped the charts. She also starred in the film Broker. She played a single mother, and her performance was highly praised by critics.
On September 17 and 18, IU held a concert called "The Golden Hour: Under the Orange Sun" at the Seoul Olympic Stadium. She was the first Korean female artist to perform there.
In 2023, IU collaborated with Suga again on the song "People Pt. 2". Her film Dream was also released. She held an art exhibition to celebrate her 15th debut anniversary.
IU released the single "Love Wins All" in January 2024, followed by her sixth album, The Winning, in February. She then started her "IU HEREH World Tour," visiting Asia, North America, and Europe. The final concert was at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, making her the first female musician to perform there.
Upcoming Projects
IU is set to star in upcoming TV series like When Life Gives You Tangerines and 21st Century Grand Prince's Wife.
Artistry
Songwriting
IU has written over seventy songs throughout her career. These include songs for herself, for other artists, and for films or TV shows. Her first self-composed song was "Hold My Hand" in 2011. She has taken more creative control over her music since her album Last Fantasy.
She wrote all the lyrics for her albums Chat-Shire and Palette. She also wrote all the lyrics for her album Lilac. Many of her self-written songs have reached number one on the charts. Themes like comfort and healing are often found in her music.
Voice
IU has a beautiful singing voice. Experts have praised her ability to sing both sweetly and hit powerful high notes. Her voice is known for its stability and strong lung capacity.
Awards and Achievements
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Since her debut in 2008, IU has won over 100 awards from more than 200 nominations. She has won many awards from major music shows like the Melon Music Awards, Gaon Chart Music Awards, and Golden Disc Awards.
She has also won awards for her acting, including "Best New Actress" at the 2014 KBS Drama Awards. IU has received ten "Daesang" (grand prize) awards, which are the highest honors in Korean music.
In 2012, Forbes magazine named her one of the most influential people in South Korea. She has been on this list five times. In 2015, she was honored by the Korean Ministry of Culture for her impact on the music industry.
Other Activities
Activism
IU has shown support for social causes. In December 2024, she provided meals and snacks to people protesting in South Korea.
Helping Others
IU is known for her kindness and donations. Since 2010, she has given money from her songs and fan meetings to charity. In 2012, she became an ambassador for the National Police Agency's anti-bullying campaigns. She was even made an honorary senior police officer.
In 2016, IU started a scholarship at her old high school. She has regularly donated to the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation since 2018. She helps low-income families, single parents, and disabled children. She also makes donations on her birthday and debut anniversary to help various groups in need.
She has supported awareness for ALS (a disease) and donated to the Deaf Senior Citizens Support Center. Forbes recognized her as one of "Asia's 2019 Heroes of Philanthropy" for her efforts.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she donated medical protective clothing and cooling vests for nurses. She has also helped with natural disaster relief efforts, donating money to flood and wildfire victims. As of December 2024, IU has donated over 6 billion Korean Won since her debut.
Endorsements
IU is one of the highest-earning celebrities in South Korea. She has endorsed many products, from electronics and clothing to cosmetics. She has worked with big brands like Samsung, Sony, and New Balance.
In 2020, Gucci made her their brand ambassador for South Korea, and later a global brand ambassador in 2022. In 2022, she became an advertising model for Woori Financial Group, which led to a big increase in their users. In April 2024, Estée Lauder announced IU as their first Korean global brand ambassador.
Personal Life
IU's net worth is estimated to be around US$31–45 million, making her one of the wealthiest female K-Pop idols.
She publicly dated indie rock singer Chang Kiha from 2013 to 2017. In December 2022, it was confirmed that IU is in a relationship with actor Lee Jong-suk.
Discography
- Growing Up (2009)
- Last Fantasy (2011)
- Modern Times (2013)
- Palette (2017)
- Lilac (2021)
Filmography
Selected Filmography
- Dream High (2011)
- You Are the Best! (2013)
- Bel Ami (2013)
- The Producers (2015)
- Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)
- My Mister (2018)
- Hotel del Luna (2019)
- Broker (2022)
- Dream (2023)
Tours
- Real Fantasy (2012)
- Modern Times (2013)
- Chat-Shire (2015)
- 24 Steps: One, Two, Three, Four (2016–2017)
- Palette (2017)
- Dlwlrma (2018)
- Love, Poem (2019)
- The Golden Hour: Under the Orange Sun (2022)
- IU H.E.R.E.H. World Tour (2024)
Images for kids
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IU performing at a Disney Channel and Disney Junior launching event in South Korea on June 29, 2011.
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IU at a fansign event in July 2016.
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IU at a Sony product launching event on September 20, 2017.
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See also
In Spanish: IU (cantante) para niños
