IU's Profile
- Real Name: Lee Ji-eun
- Native Name: 아이유
- Nicknames: Nation's Little Sister
- Birthday: May 16, 1993 (32 years old)
- Blood type: A
- Height/Weight: 162 cm (5’4") / 47 kg (103 lbs)
- Gender: Female
- Zodiac Sign: Taurus
- Debut: September 18, 2008
- Position: Solo Artist
- MBTI: INFJ (The Advocate)
- Birthplace: Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
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Nationality:
South Korean
- Profession: Singer, Songwriter, Actress
- Languages: Korean, English
- Current Agency: EDAM Entertainment
- Years Active: 2008–present (17 years)
IU (Lee Ji-eun, born 1993) is a South Korean singer, songwriter, actress, and producer. She earned the nickname “Nation’s Little Sister” in the late 2000s due to her wholesome public image and wide appeal.
Early life
IU grew up in a family with her parents and younger brother. Her childhood was overshadowed by financial hardship after her father’s business failure, which forced the whole family to move in with her grandmother under difficult conditions. In an interview on the program Healing Camp, IU once shared about having to survive on instant noodles and live in an unheated room during winter—a tough time in her youth that she has recalled in many later interviews.
Career Highlights
In 2008, IU officially debuted with the mini album Lost and Found under LOEN Entertainment. However, this first release was not well received by the market, both commercially and critically. Nevertheless, just two years later, IU began to gain wide attention thanks to the success of songs like Good Day (2010) and You & I (2011), establishing her as one of the most prominent solo artists of her generation.
In addition to music, IU ventured into acting starting in 2011. After years of gaining experience, she made a significant impact with the lead role in My Mister (2018), a television drama highly praised for its emotional depth. Her role in the film Broker (2022)—which was selected to compete at the Cannes Film Festival—further solidified IU’s status as a serious actress, not just a “singer-turned-actor.”
Difficulties
Despite her success, IU has also faced several controversies. In 2012, she sparked public uproar after posting a private photo with Eunhyuk (Super Junior), showing the two sitting close together on a bed. The image spread rapidly and became her first personal scandal. In 2013, IU went public with her relationship with Jang Kiha, which ended in 2017. Since then, she has chosen to keep her love life private.
Another controversial moment was the release of her song Zezé (2015). In this track, IU was criticized for attributing mature overtones to a child character from the novel My Sweet Orange Tree. Although she explained that her interpretation was personal and artistic, the backlash continued for years. Nonetheless, Zezé marked a turning point when IU began taking full creative control over her songwriting—something rarely seen among female artists in K-pop.
From the album Palette (2017) to Love Poem (2019) and Lilac (2021), IU wrote her own lyrics, participated in production, and determined the musical direction of her work—a rare feat for female artists in the industry. With her mezzo-soprano voice, IU doesn’t focus on vocal acrobatics but rather on conveying emotion—most evident in the ballad Through the Night, a gentle, chorus-free track that topped the Gaon Chart for six consecutive weeks in 2017.
Reputation
Beyond her artistic career, IU is also known for her generosity and humble lifestyle. She regularly donates quietly to charity funds, supporting children, the elderly, and people in need. This positive image has helped IU overcome various controversies and continue to be widely loved by the public. With her refined persona and unique artistry, she was chosen as a global ambassador for Gucci from 2022 to the present.
After more than 15 years in the industry, IU has built a strong reputation in singing, songwriting, acting, and personal branding. Despite the harshness of South Korea’s entertainment world, she has maintained her title as the “Nation’s Little Sister” and a “chart-topping guarantee,” constantly striving for growth and making a positive impact on popular culture.
Fun Facts
- She doesn’t have a driver’s license — IU has never learned to drive.
- She’s great at bottle flipping — fans were surprised by her skill at this random talent.
- She once said she liked singer Corinne Bailey Rae more than her own mom (jokingly, of course).
- She can rotate her wrist 360° — she demonstrated this on TV, shocking viewers with her flexibility.
- She enjoys eating raw cow liver and omasum, a very uncommon taste.
- She only likes mint chocolate when it’s frozen — otherwise, she dislikes chocolate, especially with nutty or bitter fillings.
- She’s afraid of water — doesn’t like swimming or going into the sea.
- She’s like an unofficial wedding singer, occasionally performing at weddings of acquaintances just for fun.
- Her Instagram username @dlwlrma comes from typing “Lee Ji-geum” (a childhood nickname) in Korean on a QWERTY keyboard.
- Her favorite color is purple — she often wears pastel purple outfits.
- She thought she had blood type A, but it’s actually type O.
- Her height is around 161–162 cm, though often reported as 165 cm for media purposes.
- Her older brother once tried to hide the fact that he was related to her, because classmates would ask for autographs or her number — he even changed schools.
- As a child, she was extremely frugal — even with a 10-won (about 0.2 cents USD) monthly allowance, she rarely spent any of it.
- She once wrote a song at 4 AM after suddenly waking up — the track “4AM” was inspired by that real emotion.
- She once jokingly categorized her fans: female fans are “star candy,” male fans are “bread,” and anti-fans are… “milk.”
- In StarCraft II, fans nicknamed the Void Ray unit “IU Ray” because its charging sound matches IU’s famous high notes from “Good Day.”
- She and actress Yoo In-na are best friends, despite their 10-year age gap — they’re neighbors and consider each other like sisters.
Photo Gallery
