With her comforting music, immense talents, and adorable personality, it’s not difficult to love Lee Ji Eun and join thousands of people all over the world in being part of her fandom, UAENA. She has captivated the hearts of people of all ages and earned the respect of many including her colleagues and peers.
In her 11 years in the industry, IU has proven herself to be a top class artist who is not afraid to venture outside her comfort zone and experiment on her craft. She has challenged herself, diving into acting and proving herself capable of being a lauded actress.
As we count down to ten more days before the singer-actress’ sold-out Philippine concert debut at the SMART Araneta Coliseum on December 13, we listed down five reasons why we will always love and adore IU — and why you should too (if you haven’t already).
READ: 5 IU Songs That Should Be Part Of Your Playlist
#1 She is adorable!
The “Blueming” singer is effortlessly cute, to be honest, that it is no longer surprising she earned the nickname “Nation’s Little Sister” earlier in her career. She is full of aegyo — from wearing cute bunny hats to that little run she did back at the Melon Music Awards in 2017 — and her interactions with her fans and staff make her extra adorable.
#2 She is a great friend!
We do not need much words for this bullet as the years have given us so much evidence on what kind of friend IU is. She is supportive and appreciative, forming great relationships with her co-stars and colleagues, as well. She has also displayed her closeness with her staff, even taking part in their milestones and helping them experience some (Remember that time she helped her manager have a photo with Red Velvet or that time when she performed “Good Day” on her backup dancers’ wedding?)
Aside from her family and friends, IU is also generous to those in need, constantly donating to charity for underprivileged children and to her alma mater which set up a scholarship in her name.
#3 She challenges herself!
Whether in her music or in acting, IU goes out of her way to venture outside her comfort zone. She has tapped on various genres in her music and taken active roles as a songwriter, composer, and producer for her albums. In addition, she also worked with other acts including BIGBANG’s G-Dragon, Block B’s Zico, Park Myung Soo, Oh Hyuk, Seo Taiji, g.o.d, Sungwoo Jungah, Epik High, and more.
In terms of acting, she has delivered stunning performances in different roles — from a student who aspires to be a singer in Dream High to a cold owner of Hotel Del Luna. She also did not limit herself into singing and acting, but also tried variety shows and hosting.
#4 She works hard!
Success did not come overnight for IU. In fact, she shared that her debut stage was met with negative comments which she admitted initially discouraged her, but later on, became a beneficial experience for her. Her first extended play Lost and Found also did poorly commercially. But these setbacks did not stop the singer-actress from trying again and went on to release singles and albums, taking slow but fulfilling steps towards the top.
Her perseverance and her strength have bore fruits that she is now regarded as one of the influential artists of her generation.
#5 She is an inspiration!
IU was only 15 years old when she debuted as a singer. Despite her young age, she has proven herself as a capable singer and performer who impressed critics with her vocal ability. Although her first step in the industry was rocky, she stood firm and continued to work hard for her passion and dreams.
It was definitely not an easy journey especially in the competitive world of K-Pop and the society. Despite the many struggles and the heartbreaking moments, the singer-actress went on, moved forward, and send encouragement to others. She was not afraid to show her weakness and to encourage her fellow artists to not be afraid to show their emotions.
In her speech at the 32nd Golden Disc Awards where she brought home a daesang, IU acknowledged that she is still very sad as she had just said her farewell to a precious person who was her friend and a fellow musician.
“It’s a shame and even more sad that we are all busy with things to do tomorrow. We have to worry about what’s happening next month and make plans for next year, so we cannot let ourselves feel sadness as much as we need to. I hope that you will let natural things show and accept them naturally — like feeling happy when happy, crying when sad, feeling tired when hungry, and slowing down when sick. As artists, we are people who comfort other people, so while it’s good to have a professional mindset, I truly hope that no one becomes sick and pained,” she said.
