IU

Introduction

IU, born Lee Ji-eun, is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actress under EDAM Entertainment. She made her debut on September 18, 2008, with the single “Lost Child” and first gained national recognition with her 2010 hit “Good Day” from the mini album Real. The song’s immense popularity established her as one of Korea’s leading solo artists.

In 2011, IU released her second studio album Last Fantasy, featuring the chart-topping title track “You & I”. The album’s success earned her multiple honors, including Record of the Year at the Seoul Music Awards. Around the same time, she expanded her career into acting, making her debut in Dream High (2011) and earning praise for her role and soundtrack contribution, “Someday”.

IU’s versatility as both a musician and actress continued to shine in the following years. She starred in her first leading role in You Are the Best! (2013), which earned her the Best New Actress award at the KBS Drama Awards. Her fourth studio album Palette (2017), featuring G-Dragon, received widespread acclaim for its introspective themes and went on to win Album of the Year at the Melon Music Awards, with “Through the Night” also receiving Song of the Year at the Golden Disc Awards.

In the late 2010s and 2020s, IU continued to dominate both music and acting. She starred in the Netflix anthology Persona (2019) and the hit fantasy drama Hotel del Luna (2019), solidifying her reputation as a top actress. Her later releases, including “Bbibbi” (2018) and “Eight” (2020) featuring BTS’s Suga, showcased her continued musical evolution. In 2025, IU starred alongside Park Bogum in the critically acclaimed Netflix series When Life Gives You Tangerines, earning Best Actress at the Blue Dragon Series Awards. That same year, she celebrated her 17th debut anniversary with the digital single “Bye, Summer” and a commemorative fan meeting at the KSPO Dome.