If you’re a Kpop or a Kdrama fan then for sure you already know who IU is. Perhaps you’re a fan of hers already. She’s now being hailed as one of Korea’s sweethearts and she has also gained international fame as well. But what many people don’t know is that she had to overcome numerous challenges to be able to reach her current status. The true IU Kpop story is like a kdrama series. It’s full of ups and downs. But ultimately, the heroine emerged victorious in the end. Read on if you want to know more about IU and her rise to stardom.
It’s just right to start this IU Kpop story at the very beginning. Her real name is Lee Ji-eun and she was actually born into a well-off family. But because of mounting debts her family lost their money and Ji-eun and her brother were forced to live with their grandmother. They moved to hide from creditors who were always calling on their phone. It’s during this time that Ji-eun dreamed of being an entertainer. She practiced regularly. But when relatives learned of her dream, they mocked her and doubted her ability instead of giving her encouragement. But the criticisms didn’t stop Ji-eun from dreaming. They even gave her the motivation to work harder.
IU’s woes continued when she started to actively pursue her dream. Before she had a hit song, IU had a hard time looking for an agent. And within two years, she failed 20 auditions. Seeing IU now, it’s hard to believe that she was passed up by entertainment execs and talent scouts in the past. But you can bet they are now regretting what they did. In fact, the CEO of JYP Entertainment, Park Jin-young, revealed that his heart breaks everytime he sees IU. He also said that he’ll find the person who rejected IU and penalize that person.
IU also experienced being scammed by fake agents. She paid a lot of money to a fake agent who promised her a television appearance and training. It was a heartbreaking experience for IU because the money she used came from her grandma who had to sell accessories to come up with the amount. But her fate was about to change. In 2007, she was offered a contract by Loen Entertainment. A year later, she debuted as a singer.
IU is not only an accomplished singer. She is also a talented actress who starred in high-rating kdramas such as Hotel Del Luna and My Mister. But it was her song for the hit series Crash Landing On You that really made her popular. It became a hit just hours after it was released. Before that, she already had three hit songs, Palette, Bbibbi, and Blueming. IU is only 28 years old and there are more things that she can accomplish in her career. This IU Kpop story proves that good things do happen to those who wait and persevere. IU never gave up on her dreams and that’s why she succeeded.
