IU (singer) Age, Wiki and Bio

IU (singer)

Quick Info

ProfessionMusician, Actress
NationalitySouth Korean
Date of Birth16/05/1993
Age31 years
BirthplaceSongjeong-dong, Seoul, South Korea

Bio/Wiki

Real nameLee Ji-eun
Nickname(s)
  • Lee Ji-geum ('geum' means gold)
  • dlwlrma (‘Lee Ji-geum’ typed in Hangul on an English keyboard spells ‘dlwlrma’)
  • Jingjjang (‘Jing’ is short for Jieuni or Jingni (IU’s real name is Lee Ji-eun) and ‘jjang’ means ‘the best.’)
  • Gasiyu (meaning GodessU)
  • Nation’s Little Sister
  • Nation’s Sweetheart
  • Bong-Si
Names earned
  • Nation’s Little Sister
  • Nation’s Sweetheart
  • Bong-Si

Physical Stats & More

Height163 cm (5’ 4”)
Weight45 kg (99 lbs)
Eye ColorBlack
Hair ColorBlack

Educational Qualification(s)

School
  • Seoul Guui Elementary School
  • Hanam Cheongyeon Elementary School, Gyeonggi-do
  • Seoul Yangnam Elementary School, Seoul
  • Gwangjin Middle School, Seoul
  • Singok Middle School, Gyeonggi-do
  • Eonju Middle School, Gangnam-gu
  • Dongduk Girls’ High School, Seoul (2012)

Personal Life

Marital StatusUnmarried
Date of Birth16/05/1993
BirthplaceSongjeong-dong, Seoul, South Korea
Zodiac signTaurus
NationalitySouth Korean
HometownSeoul
Blood GroupO
Food HabitNon-vegetarian
Hobbies
  • Writing Diary
  • Journaling
  • Playing Games on Computer

Relationships & More

Marital StatusUnmarried
Affairs/Boyfriends
  • Jang Woo-young, South Korean singer and model (2011) (rumoured)
  • Eunhyuk, South Korean singer (2012-2015)
  • Lee Hyun-woo, South Korean actor (2013)
  • Jang Ki-ha, South Korean singer, actor, and radio host (2014-2017)
  • Lee Joon-gi, South Korean actor and model (2016) (rumoured)
  • Kang Ha-neul, South Korean actor (2017) (rumoured)
  • Lee Jong-suk, South Korean actor and model (2022)

Family

FatherLee Jinkook
MotherKim Misam
Siblings
BrotherLee Jong-hoon (younger)
SisterNone
SpouseN/A
ChildrenN/A

Career

Debut
Song'Lost Child’ from the EP ‘Lost and Found' (2008)
TVDream High (2011) on KBS as Kim Pil-sook
Film‘Broker’ (2022) as So-young
Awards, Honours, Achievements
Awards (Music)
  • Excellent Rookie Record of the November for her EP ‘Lost and Found’ at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Awards in 2008
  • Best Collaboration Award for the song ‘Nagging’ featuring Seulong at the Mnet Asian Music Awards in 2010
  • New Generation Singer Award at the Republic of Korea Entertainment Arts Awards in 2010
  • Best Vocal Performance – Solo Award for the song ‘Good Day’ at the Mnet Asian Music Awards in 2011
  • Bonsang Award at the Seoul Music Awards in 2011
  • Song of the Year – February for the song ‘Only I Didn’t Know’ at the Gaon Chart Music Awards in 2012
  • Female Musician of the Year Netizen Vote Award and Best Korean Pop Song Award and Song of the Year Award for the song ‘Good Day’ at the Korean Music Awards in 2012
  • Best 3 New Artists (Asia) Award at the Japan Gold Disc Awards in 2013
  • Best Female Solo Singer Award at the Korean Entertainment Awards In Japan in 2013
  • Best Female Artist and Most Popular Vocalist at the Mnet Asian Music Awards in 2014
  • Best Female Solo Award at Soompi Awards in 2015
  • Album of the Year Award for the album ‘Palette’ and Best Songwriter Award at the Melon Music Awards in 2017
  • Digital Bonsang and Digital Daesang Awards at the Golden Disc Awards in 2018
  • Song of the Year – October Award for the song ‘Bbibbi’ at the Gaon Chart Music Awards in 2019
  • Best Lyricist Overseas Awards for the song ‘Love Poem’ and Outstanding Song of the Year Award for the song ‘Eight’ featuring Suga of BTS at the Asian Pop Music Awards in 2020
  • Song of the Year – November for the song ‘Love Poem’ Gaon Chart Music Awards in 2020
  • Digital Bonsang and Digital Daesang for the EP ‘Blueming’ at the Golden Disc Awards in 2021
  • Best Female Artist, Best Vocal Performance – Solo, and Best Collaboration Awards at the Mnet Asian Music Awards in 2021
  • Five awards including Best Female Artist, Best Songwriter, and Artist of the Year at the Melon Music Awards in 2021
  • Best Female Solo Artist and Top 10 Artist Award at the Melon Music Awards in 2022
  • Visionary Award in 2023
Awards (Acting)
  • Best New Actress Award for the TV series ‘You Are the Best!’ and ‘Bel Ami’ at the KBS Drama Awards in 2013
  • Best Couple Award (with Lee Joon-gi) for the TV series ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ at the SBS Drama Awards in 2016
  • Top Excellence Award and Actress in a Miniseries for the TV series ‘My Mister’ at the APAN Star Awards in 2018
  • Best Actor Award and Popularity Award (Actress) at the Asia Artist Awards in 2018
  • Most Popular Actress Award for the TV series ‘My Mister’ at the Baeksang Arts Awards in 2019
  • Best Actress – Television for the TV series ‘My Mister’ at the Baeksang Arts Awards in 2019
  • Popular Star Award for the South Korean film ‘Broker’ at the Blue Dragon Film Awards in 2022
  • Best New Actress Award for the film ‘Broker’ at the Chunsa Film Art Awards in 2022
  • Best New Actress Award for the film ‘Broker’ at the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards in 2022
  • Most Popular Actress Award for the film ‘Broker’ at the Baeksang Arts Awards in 2023
Honours
  • Prime Minister’s Commendation Award at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards in 2015
  • Donation Angel Award by the Journalists Federation of Korea in 2018
  • Presidential Commendation by National Tax Service in 2020
  • ‘A Proud Korean Who Makes Korea Honorable’ Award at the K-Star Awards in 2023
Achievements
  • Listed 3rd on the ‘Korea Power Celebrity 40’ list of Forbes in 2012
  • Listed 8th on the ‘Korea Power Celebrity 40’ list of Forbes in 2013
  • Listed 5th on the ‘Korea Power Celebrity 40’ list of Forbes in 2018
  • Asia’s Annual Heroes of Philanthropy by Forbes in 2019
  • Listed on Forbes 30 Under 30 (Asia) list in 2021
  • Ranked 9th on the ‘Most Influential People in Broadcasting and Entertainment’ list by Sisa Journal in 2021
  • Ranked 135th on ‘The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time’ list by Rolling Stone in 2023

Favourites

Singer(s)
  • Gummy
  • Ha Dong-kyun
  • Taeyang
  • Corinne Bailey Rae
Song(s)
  • ‘Old Love’ by Lee Moon-sae and Hwang Joo-myung
  • ‘Ugly Duckling’ by Seung Yeon-son
  • ‘Officially Missing You’ by Geeks and Soyou
ActressHan Ji-min
ActorKang Ji-hwan
Book‘One Day I Died’ by Lee Kyung-hye
AuthorGuillaume Musso
FilmOnce (2007)
TV ProgramYoon Do-hyun’s Love Letter (2002)
CharacterThumper from ‘Bambi’ (1942)
Food
  • Raw fish
  • Sweet potato
  • Mint chocolate ice cream
Snack(s)
  • Geonbbang (hardtack)
  • Chocolates
Animal(s)
  • Dog
  • Horse
ColourPurple
FlowerViolet
DayMonday
SeasonWinter
Number8

Style Quotient

Car CollectionPorsche Cayenne
Money Factor
Assets/Properties
  • A villa in Bangbaedong ($748,400; 2012)
  • A penthouse flat at Eterno Cheongdam ($11.7 million; 2021)
  • A property in Gwacheon ($3.43 million)
  • A vacation home in Yangpyeon district ($1.64 million) and land surrounding it ($596,000)
  • An apartment at Raemian Caelitus apartment complex, Yongsan ($2.6-$3.3 million)
Net Worth (approx.)$35-$40 million

Some Lesser Known Facts

IU found her passion for the entertainment industry at a young age.
During her childhood, IU lived in a small studio apartment with her grandmother.
Facing financial difficulties, IU's grandmother sold hair accessories to earn money.
IU served as the class president in elementary school.
She decided to pursue a singing career after receiving praise for a performance at a school event.
IU owns a collection of marble balls.
Before her debut, IU took part in numerous auditions and encountered rejections.
She once auditioned for JYP Entertainment without success.
In 2008, IU made her debut as a singer.
IU has achieved many accolades and awards in the music industry.
Aside from her music career, IU has won acting awards and recognition as an actress.
Active in philanthropy, IU has made notable donations.
She established the IU scholarship to assist students from low-income backgrounds.
IU has dealt with controversies, including plagiarism accusations and false spy claims.
Having been in relationships, IU has notably dated Jang Ki-ha and Lee Jong-suk.
IU shares a close friendship with actress Yoo In-na.
She has a strong bond with her fans, affectionately known as Uaena.