Career, boyfriend, and more
A Taurus born in the Year of the Rooster
South Korean singer IU was born on 16 May 1993. She is a Taurus and, according to the Chinese zodiac, she was born in the Year of the Rooster.
The rooster occupies the 10th position in the Chinese zodiac, and people belonging to this year are deemed loyal, confident, hardworking, organised and passionate. They are also owners of great wealth.
IU was born in Seoul
Born Lee Ji-eun to parents Lee Jin-kook and Kim Mi-sam, IU belongs to the Jeonju Yi clan — the same clan as the former House of Yi which ruled the Joseon dynasty and the Korean Empire. She grew up in Songjeong-dong, Seoul, South Korea.
She graduated from Dongduk Girls’ High School in 2012.
IU decided to drop out of her post-secondary education to focus on her singing career.
She had a difficult childhood
IU’s life is a rags-to-riches story to tell. The K-pop idol has shared in various interviews that as her parents were mostly away working, IU and her younger brother had to live with her grandmother in a dilapidated room. Recalling her bygone days, IU has even mentioned that she was so used to surviving amid roaches during her elementary school that she could kill one with her bare hands.
IU was conned by fake agencies before debut
Did you know K-pop idol IU was a victim of fraud like her character Lee Soon-shin from the hit 2013 K-drama You Are the Best!.
In a May 2013 guest appearance on the Korean variety show Happy Together, IU revealed that she had fallen victim to fake entertainment companies while hustling to debut as a South Korean singer.
IU said, “Before I made my debut, I was actually scammed on multiple occasions. Typically, when a company asks for money, it’s a clear red flag that they’re trying to deceive you. Unfortunately, I fell prey to the tactics of three such companies before I realised what was happening. These companies could demand as much as 3 million won. If you do succumb to their high fees, they often offer you only minor roles or extra work. I ended up losing a significant amount of money to these fraudulent individuals.”
She faced multiple rejections
Every journey is challenging and even a star singer like IU had to face rejections in the entertainment industry.
One of the most successful South Korean singers of the century, IU was turned down by big entertainment companies like JYP Entertainment, around 20 times as a trainee.
At the age of 14, she finally signed with LOEN Entertainment.
Debut in music
IU was 15 years old when she debuted with her single “Lost Child” in the K-music program M Countdown on 18 September 2008.
“Lost Child” is the lead single from her first album Lost and Found, an extended play (EP) that was released on 24 September 2008. The album earned her the “Rookie of the Month” award by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in November 2008.
Her stage name
The name IU is derived from the phrase “I and You,” symbolising the fact that people can become one through music.
IU can play multiple instruments
IU was interested in the Korean entertainment industry from a young age and even attended acting classes for the same, in her junior years in school.
At the age of 14, IU performed in front of a huge gathering for her school’s sports competition, and since then, never looked back.
Singer IU made her acting debut in 2011 with the K-drama series Dream High, starring acclaimed South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun. This was followed by her impressive performance in the 2015 K-drama The Producers, which made IU one of the nation’s most loved actors.
IU is multilingual
In addition to her native Korean, IU can speak English and Japanese. In multiple interviews, live concerts and live streams, the singer is seen flaunting her language skills.
Her popular three-step skincare routine
The Korean singer has revealed in multiple interviews that the skincare products she relies on are sunscreen, toner and facial oil.
She has a special love for facial oils. According to IU, two drops of facial oil can make her face look radiant in no time.
Credit
COMMENTS