IU (singer) Height, Age, Boyfriend, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About IU

• IU, a South Korean artist, holds the titles of singer-songwriter, composer, and actress. Renowned and revered, she stands as one of South Korea’s most esteemed soloist idols. Her accomplishments span various domains, including music, acting, and philanthropy, resulting in numerous accolades and honors. Not only does IU wield significant influence in the industry, but she also ranks among the wealthiest female K-pop artists.

• As a young child, she made the conscious decision to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, leading her to enroll in acting classes. A childhood photograph of IU.

• Because of her family’s financial struggles, IU’s parents had to work tirelessly, resulting in their inability to provide proper care for IU and her younger brother. However, this nostalgic snapshot portrays IU’s cherished childhood moments with her affectionate parents and beloved brother.

• IU and her brother resided in a cramped one-room studio apartment, sharing the space with their grandmother and cousin. Unfortunately, the apartment was infested with cockroaches. In order to make ends meet, IU’s grandmother would sell various hair accessories at a nearby market, with IU often assisting her.

• In her elementary school years, she was chosen to be the class president.

• During her time in middle school, she would often showcase her talents at the school’s sports competitions, receiving enthusiastic applause for her performances. This experience led her to pursue a career as a singer. Additionally, she achieved remarkable success academically, securing first and second place in her class while studying in middle school.

• Since childhood, she has been collecting marble balls, but unfortunately, she lacks the knowledge of how to play with them.

• Despite participating in approximately 20 auditions, she unfortunately did not succeed in clearing any of them. Additionally, she fell victim to numerous fraudulent companies. One particular company even went as far as demanding money from her for training and TV appearances, ultimately taking away all the money she had inherited from her grandmother.

• While auditioning to become a trainee at an entertainment agency, she took the opportunity to audition at JYPE, a renowned entertainment agency in South Korea. Unfortunately, she did not make the cut. However, J. Y. Park, the agency’s owner, later expressed regret over his decision to reject IU. Her audition at JYP highlighted her impressive talent and potential.

• After training at Good Entertainment, she was on the verge of making her debut in a five-member girl group. Unfortunately, the group never ended up debuting, prompting her to resign from the company.

• After becoming a trainee at LEON Entertainment company, she relocated to Bangbae, Seoul in 2007. During the early stages of her singing career, she faced a financial crisis. In an interview, she revealed that she found solace in the music studio, where she could indulge in unlimited meals and find a peaceful place to rest.

• After undergoing ten months of training at LEON Entertainment, she made her singing debut in 2008.

• IU made her debut live performance at ‘M Countdown’ on 18 September 2008 with the song ‘Lost Child’.

• She made her debut performance on MBC’s ‘Show! Music Core’ on September 20, 2008, singing her song ‘Lost Child.’

• Her debut studio album, titled ‘Growing Up,’ was released on 23 April 2009, featuring the lead single ‘Boo.’ Additionally, in that same year, she introduced her EP ‘IU…IM.’

• She released the pop ballad duet song ‘Nagging’ on June 3, 2010, featuring Lim Seul-ong from the boy band ‘2AM.’ The song entered the Gaon Digital Chart at number 12 and held the top spot for three consecutive weeks.

• Her third EP ‘Real’ was released on 9 December 2010, accompanied by the lead single ‘Good Day.’ During the EP’s promotion, several songs from the album achieved high positions on renowned music charts like M Countdown, Music Bank, and Inkigayo. Notably, ‘Good Day’ reached its peak on Billboard’s ‘The 100 Greatest K-pop Songs of the 2010s’ list.

• In March 2011, Corinne Bailey Rae, the beloved British singer-songwriter, held her inaugural solo concert in Seoul. To the delight of fans, IU, a devoted admirer of Corinne, was graciously invited to perform as the opening act for the event.

• This poster features the 2011 album ‘Last Fantasy’ by IU, which was her second studio album. The lead single from the album, ‘You & I,’ is considered one of IU’s most successful songs, with over 5 million digital copies sold by 2012. The song reached its peak on the Gaon Chart and Billboard K-pop Hot 100 chart.

• It has been reported that she has been consistently donating all the money she earns from fan meetings starting from 2011 onwards.

• She participated in the reality TV show ‘Kim Yuna’s Kiss & Cry’ in 2011, where celebrities competed by showcasing their ice skating skills.

• In 2011, there were rumors circulating that IU and Jang Woo-young, a member of the South Korean pop band ‘2PM,’ were in a relationship. These speculations arose after the two stars worked together as love interests in the K-drama ‘Dream High.’ Despite feeling nervous about filming romantic scenes with Jang Woo-young due to it being her first television show, IU decided to spend more time with him to alleviate any awkwardness. They were frequently spotted having dinner together, leading to further speculation about their relationship. However, both IU and Jang Woo-young later clarified that they were simply good friends.

• From 2011 to 2013, IU served as the host of SBS’s music program ‘Inkigayo’.

• After graduating from Dongduk Girls’ High School in Seoul in 2012, she chose to discontinue her studies. She explained her decision by stating that she lacked confidence in her ability to excel in the College Scholastic Ability Test due to her busy schedule in high school, which hindered her study time. Her performance during high school was below average, and she did not possess a strong interest in pursuing higher education. Even if she managed to secure admission into a college, she doubted her commitment to attending classes regularly, as evidenced by her struggles with attendance in high school. Consequently, she believed that pursuing a college education would be a futile endeavor. Interestingly, her mother, who was unable to attend college due to financial constraints, desired for her to pursue higher education. To fulfill her mother’s wishes, she made a promise to work harder than those who attended college and assured her that she would dedicate herself to studying music. Her mother understood and supported her decision. It is important to note that her choice to forgo college should not be seen as a reflection of her moral character, but rather as a result of her underachievement as a student and lack of confidence in her academic abilities.

• She co-hosted the MBC quiz show ‘Quiz Show Q’ in 2012, alongside Park Myeong-su, a South Korean DJ and singer, and Sun Bom Soo.

• In June 2012, IU embarked on her inaugural concert tour in South Korea, titled ‘Real Fantasy.’ It is worth noting that within just 30 minutes of ticket sales opening, her concert completely sold out, a remarkable feat. Interestingly, over 70% of the ticket buyers were male, which is rather atypical for a K-pop concert. The promotional poster for the ‘Real Fantasy’ tour prominently featured IU.

• The National Police Agency of South Korea appointed her as the ambassador for anti-bullying campaigns in schools in 2012.

• In 2012, IU and Eunhyuk became friends through their involvement in the South Korean music industry. During that time, they took a photo together that gained a lot of attention. In the picture, Eunhyuk appeared shirtless and they were both sitting on a bed. By mistake, IU posted the photo on Twitter, surprising her fans. She quickly deleted it and apologized, but it had already spread widely. Rumors started circulating that IU and Eunhyuk were in a romantic relationship, but IU denied them while Eunhyuk remained silent. There were also false rumors about them getting married and IU being pregnant, but their management companies clarified that they were just close friends. According to sources, they were together as friends from 2012 to 2015. In an interview, IU expressed her remorse about the photo incident, saying it had a significant impact on her. She found it hard to eat properly and constantly dwelled on her mistake. She felt a deep sense of remorse towards many people and wondered who she should prioritize apologizing to. She questioned whether it was best to apologize to her fans or to the person she had wronged in the photo. She also debated whether to confront everyone and clear up any misunderstandings or to remain silent. This internal struggle led her to postpone appearances on TV shows. On that particular day, her close friend Yoo In-na visited her and showed support by offering food and engaging in unrelated conversations. Despite IU’s insistence for her to leave, Yoo In-na stayed by her side and continued to care for her.

• In the year 2013, she took on the character of Lee Soon-shin, an ordinary girl who was often overshadowed by her more attractive and intelligent sister, in the South Korean TV series ‘You’re the Best, Lee Soon-shin’ on KBS2. During the show, she joined forces with her co-star Jo Jung-suk to create a song called ‘Beautiful Song,’ which they both wrote themselves.

• IU and Lee Hyun-woo, both well-known figures in South Korea, were widely recognized as close friends. However, their relationship came under scrutiny in 2013 when paparazzi from the Korean media outlet, Dispatch, captured photos of them leaving a movie theater together. These images quickly spread like wildfire, causing fans and the media to speculate about the nature of their connection. IU, later on, clarified that she had no knowledge of the photos being taken and that they were simply returning from the theater. Meanwhile, Lee Hyun-woo received numerous calls from his agency alerting him about the circulating pictures on social media. In response, Lee Hyun-woo issued an apology to IU’s male fans, explaining that he had no intentions of hurting their feelings.

• In 2013, IU was bestowed with the title of an honorary member of the South Korean police force. The following year, she received a promotion and assumed the esteemed position of an honorary senior police officer, serving for a span of two years. IU’s exceptional contributions as a South Korean police officer have been widely acknowledged and commended, earning her well-deserved recognition and celebration.

• During 2014, a concert was organized by her at Mary Hall of Sogang University. Remarkably, tickets for the event sold out within a mere 10 minutes of being available. The funds generated from this concert were generously donated towards aiding the victims affected by the Sewol Ferry Disaster. Distinguished South Korean music artists, such as Kim Jong-hyun, Jung Yong-hwa, Hwang Kwanghee, and Kim Bum-soo, also participated in the concert, collectively contributing towards the charitable cause.

• In 2014, IU received a diagnosis of Bulimia, an eating disorder characterized by a loss of control over food intake, often leading to depression and self-induced vomiting in order to lose weight. In an interview, she opened up about her struggle with this disorder and the negative impact it had on her overall health. She explained that the immense stress she experienced caused even the smallest incidents to trigger an uncomfortable sensation beneath her skin. As a result, her unhappiness grew exponentially, leading her to develop a strong dislike for herself. This spiral of self-pity caused her to sink deeper into a state of despair. Feeling lethargic, she felt limited to two choices: either sleep or indulge in excessive eating. Consequently, during her waking hours, she found herself frequently engaging in binge eating.

• In 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2020, she generously contributed a total of ₩100 million to the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation, aiming to provide aid to underprivileged children. Specifically, on South Korean Children’s Day in 2018, she made a notable donation of 100 million.

• Included in her impressive list of South Korean variety show appearances and performances are KBS’s ‘Star Golden Bell,’ SBS’s ‘Kim Jung-eun’s Chocolate,’ KBS’s ‘You Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook,’ and Kocowa TV’s ‘Eat in Style.’

• In 2015, there were rumors circulating that IU and Jang Ki-ha, a South Korean singer, actor, and radio host, were in a relationship. Jang Ki-ha was known to be one of IU’s closest friends. Later that year, both IU and Jang Ki-ha’s management companies confirmed that they were indeed in a romantic relationship. However, their busy schedules posed challenges for the couple, making it difficult for them to spend time together. Additionally, there were rumors suggesting that IU’s close friendship with South Korean actor and singer Lee Joon-gi caused a growing distance between her and Jang Ki-ha. In 2017, both of their respective management companies confirmed that they had broken up due to their demanding schedules.

• In 2015, Ize magazine bestowed upon her the prestigious title of ‘Person of the Year,’ while GQ Korea recognized her as the esteemed ‘Women of the Year.’

• In August 2015, during a tense standoff with North Korea, the South Korean Defence Ministry chose the song ‘Heart’ by IU from her 2015 album ‘Chat-Shire’ as one of the K-pop tracks for their propaganda broadcasts. These broadcasts were intended to highlight the vibrant youth culture of South Korea.

• In 2016, IU established the ‘IU scholarship’ at Dongduk Girls’ High School, her alma mater. She consistently contributed to the IU scholarship program, assisting students from low-income backgrounds who required financial assistance to pursue their education.

• IU was chosen for the leading role of Hae Soo, a time-traveling girl, in the widely acclaimed historical K-drama series ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ by SBS in 2016. This show is an adaptation of the Chinese novel ‘Bu Bu Jing Xin.’ A still from the 2016 TV series ‘Moon Lovers – Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ showcases IU’s presence.

• In 2016, Lee Joon-gi and IU co-starred in the television series ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’. There were speculations about their relationship due to their close bond outside of work. However, once the show concluded, the rumors surrounding their association also ceased. Certain fans supposedly held Lee Joon-gi responsible for the breakup between IU and Jang Ki-ha. [23]Otakusmart

• In 2016, Kang Ha-neul and IU starred together in the South Korean TV series ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo,’ sparking dating rumors due to their on-screen chemistry. Despite the speculation, both actors maintained that they were just good friends. On September 10, 2017, IU and Kang Ha-neul were spotted together at a cafe, a day before his military enlistment. This encounter fueled more speculation about their relationship, but Kang Ha-neul’s agency quickly denied any romantic involvement, stating that their meeting was purely friendly. [24] Soompi

• IU portrayed the character of Lee Ji-an, a diligent 21-year-old woman burdened with her mother’s debt and responsible for her hearing-impaired grandmother, in the TV series ‘My Mister’ on tvN in 2018. Her exceptional performance garnered acclaim from critics, propelling the show to become one of the most highly-rated Korean dramas in cable television history.

• In 2018, upon her departure from LEON Entertainment, she selflessly made a request to the company. Instead of seeking a substantial sum as her contract’s down payment, she humbly asked that the company prioritize employment security and salary increases for all 40 members of her staff.

• She joined the viral internet trend known as the ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ in 2018, aiming to increase awareness about Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and generate funds to support individuals affected by the disease.

• The Deaf Senior Citizens Support Center received a generous donation of ₩50 million from her in 2019.

• On the occasion of celebrating her 11th debut anniversary, she generously contributed ₩100 million to support senior citizens, with an additional ₩100 million donation to the Korean Foundation for Support of the Senior Citizens.

• She achieved the distinction of being the youngest philanthropist to be featured on Forbes’ ‘Asia’s 2019 Heroes of Philanthropy: Catalysts For Change’ list.

• She played the character Kim Gyu-ri in the tvN fantasy mystery drama series ‘Hotel del Luna’ in 2019. In the show, she portrayed an assertive owner of Hotel del Luna who had a strong affinity for expensive and lavish items.

• She has showcased her talent by covering songs from various music artists and K-pop bands such as Girls’ Generation, Sweet Sorrow, Super Junior, and BigBang.

• She has made regular guest appearances on various radio shows, such as ‘Kiss the Radio’ on KBS Cool FM, ‘Volume Up’ on KBS 2FM, and ‘Starry Night’ on MBC Standard FM.

• IU has had multiple encounters with paranormal phenomena. In an interview, she shared a specific incident that occurred during the recording of the song ‘You & I.’ She mentioned that due to a slight disagreement with the composer, they decided to temporarily halt the recording session. While in the recording booth, she noticed her manager entering, but to her surprise, when she looked inside, nobody was there. Strangely, her manager then appeared from a completely different room.

• During the year 2019, IU’s tracks ‘Love Poem’ and ‘Blueming’ vied for the top two spots on KBS’s ‘Music Bank’ competition.

• Reports state that IU has disclosed her experiences of witnessing apparitions both in real life and in her dreams while she was living in her dormitory. In an appearance on the SBS TV show ‘Strong Heart,’ she shared the incidents and mentioned that during her stay in the dorms, she encountered a peculiar ghostly presence while peacefully sleeping and recording ‘Good Day.’ This spectral entity would softly speak the words ‘I love you’ and breathe gently into her ear. Later on, she encountered this ghostly figure in a dream, where she found him to be incredibly attractive.

• While staying in the dormitory, IU had a distressing dream featuring Seo In-young, a famous singer and actress from South Korea. This encounter left her deeply unsettled, prompting her to approach her CEO and express her desire to leave the dormitory. During an interview, IU recounted the incident, explaining that in her dream, Seo In-young constantly approached her, laughing in a high-pitched voice. However, something felt off, leading her to question whether it was truly just a dream. To her surprise, upon opening her eyes, she discovered a disheveled girl sitting beside her bed. The girl, with messy hair and baggy clothing, had been looking down, but then lifted her head, revealing that it was IU herself. This terrifying experience compelled IU to seek refuge elsewhere. Summoning her courage, she informed her CEO about the incident, and fortunately, he granted her permission to return home.

• IU was named the ‘Woman of the Year’ and graced the cover of GQ Korea in 2020.

• On December 31, 2022, Lee Jong-suk’s agency, HighZium Studio, confirmed his romantic involvement with IU through an official statement. The statement announced that Lee Jong-suk and IU have officially become a couple after being acquaintances and are now in a committed relationship. HighZium Studio kindly asks for support as they begin this new phase in their lives and expresses gratitude for understanding and encouragement. [28]Soompi

• IU and Lee Jong-suk were seen together on SBS’s Inkigayo, a popular South Korean music program, during their younger years. The couple had actually started dating four months before their official announcement by HighZium. According to a Korean media outlet, they spent Christmas in Nagoya, Japan in 2022. Before becoming romantically involved, they had been close friends for a considerable amount of time. In an interview, Lee Jong-suk opened up about his feelings for IU, stating that his affection for her had existed even when they were just friends. He described it as a deep connection that went beyond mere infatuation, but he couldn’t help but feel a sense of regret knowing that it was unattainable. Despite pursuing their own paths, IU remained a unique presence in his heart, occupying a special place that couldn’t be easily expressed.

• IU made her debut in the 2022 film ‘Broker’ playing the role of So-young, a single mother who leaves her baby at the baby box. Renowned film critic Ben Rolph commended IU’s performance in the movie. A still from ‘Broker’ showcases IU’s appearance.

• According to Naver, IU has reportedly made a donation of ₩4.3 billion starting from 2008 up until 2022.

• Her stage name, IU, was chosen to represent the idea of unity through music, as it symbolizes “I and You” coming together as one.

• Her devoted followers are known as ‘Uaena,’ a name that holds significance in every syllable. The ‘U’ symbolizes ‘You,’ ‘ae’ represents the Sino-Korean term for ‘love,’ and ‘na’ signifies ‘me’ in Korean. Meanwhile, her male admirers are affectionately referred to as ‘Geonbbang,’ reminiscent of South Korean dry bread, and her female supporters as ‘Konpeitõ,’ drawing inspiration from the Japanese sugar candy. The vibrant neon or lime green hue represents the unity and identity of her dedicated fan base.

• According to Professor Myung-jin Bae, her vocal range is rumored to be soprano, while her voice exhibits qualities of a mezzo-soprano. Renowned for her enchanting and commanding voice, she has earned a reputation for its melodious and strong nature.

• Her mother instilled in her a love for reading, and as a result, she developed a habit of immersing herself in books. Among the numerous titles she has delved into are Hermann Hesse’s ‘Demian’, Alain de Botton’s ‘Essays in Love’, and Park Min Gyu’s ‘Pavane for a Dead Princess’.

• Performing together onstage are IU and her role model, the renowned English singer, Corinne Bailey Rae.

• According to reports, she has a dislike for wearing multiple layers during the winter season. On one occasion, she was observed wearing merely two t-shirts despite the chilly weather.

• INFJ is her personality type according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), characterized by introversion, intuition, feeling, and judging.

• She claims that she hardly ever goes shopping and admits to being extremely lazy. At one point, she managed to survive on a mere 10 Korean Won per month.

• Her ideal types include Taeyang from the K-pop boy band ‘BigBang’, as well as South Korean actors Yoo Ah In and Yoo Seung-ho. Additionally, she admires IU with Taeyang.

• When she got her first paycheck, she surprised her father by giving him his dream car as a gift.

• If IU were to be reborn, she aspires to resemble Bae Suzy, a renowned South Korean singer, whom she considers to be the epitome of beauty in the country.

• Instead of taking the South Korean college entrance exam, CSAT, as planned after finishing high school, IU opted to attend a jacket photoshoot for her music album on the very same day.

• In 2011, during her appearance on MBC Radio’s show ‘Shim Shim Tapa,’ IU showcased her thoughtfulness by personally preparing and hand-feeding rice balls to a lucky male fan.

• Her desire is to collaborate on a song with her fans, and additionally, she longs to enjoy a movie together with them.

• To compose the lyrics for her 2014 track ‘4AM,’ she adopted a routine of rising at 4 o’clock in the morning for an entire week. During this period, she transmuted her early morning contemplations into the song’s heartfelt verses.

• In preparation for her stage performances, she frequently warms up her voice by hastily devouring a bowl of piping hot ramen.

• Rosé of Blackpink is her ultimate dream collaborator.

• IU’s parents were against her performing any kissing scenes in her debut TV series ‘Dream High.’

• Going on blind dates was never something IU was interested in.

• IU has stated that she does not consider good looks as a factor of attraction.

• In an interview, when asked about her preference for raw liver consumption, she expressed her fondness for indulging in this unique delicacy. While her desire to consume raw liver on a daily basis is strong, she unfortunately only has the opportunity to do so 2 or 3 times per month. The enticing taste and aroma of blood on raw livers greatly appeal to her, and their visually appealing appearance adds to the allure. She specifically enjoys consuming raw liver from a cow.

• According to IU’s cousin, it has been disclosed that she enjoys performing sultry dance moves while in the karaoke room.

• IU has expressed that she does not consider her own body attractive. She appreciates slim waistlines as she believes they complement skinny jeans beautifully.

• On a bus brimming with passengers, she gave a remarkable performance.

• IU’s mother was apprehensive about her driving a car after obtaining her driver’s license due to concerns that she might inadvertently harm someone.

• Including Elle, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, GQ, Bazaar, and numerous others, she has graced the covers of numerous fashion magazines.

• According to an interview on Allkpop, it is evident that IU and Yoo In-na, a famous actress from South Korea, have an exceptionally strong connection. Yoo In-na expressed that IU holds significant significance in her life.

• IU made history in 2022 when she became the first Korean female artist to grace the stage of the Seoul Olympic Stadium with her remarkable concert titled ‘The Golden Hour: Under the Orange Sun’.

• One of the renowned luxury brands, Gucci, has chosen IU as a global brand ambassador. A noteworthy moment occurred in 2023 when she attended the Gucci Cruise 2024 event held in Seoul, South Korea. A photograph capturing this occasion featured IU alongside esteemed individuals including Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri, Hollywood actress Dakota Johnson, and American actor Blake Lee. From left to right, the photo showcases Blake Lee, Dakota Johnson, Marco Bizzarri, IU, and Alia Bhatt in the Gucci Cruise 2024 event.

• Koreaboo reports that she dislikes both caffeine and the smell of cigarettes. [32]

• Koreaboo reported that she has a preference for Soju, a popular distilled alcohol in South Korea, as it does not harm her voice and vocal cords. Consequently, she rarely indulges in alcohol consumption. [33]