IU

Korea's measuring stick for solo success. IU (아이유), born Lee Ji-eun (이지은) on May 16, 1993, has spent 17 years redefining what a solo career looks like in a market built around groups. She debuted at 15 with the EP "Lost and Found" (September 2008) under LOEN Entertainment and built her catalog hit by hit until "Good Day" in 2010 introduced the world to her signature three-octave runs and simultaneous No. 1 status on every major Korean chart: the song that first earned the title of "Perfect All-Kill." That standard, which IU helped create, is now her legacy. She has achieved a Perfect All-Kill for 20+ songs, a record no Korean artist has matched. When only BIGBANG sat in the same tier entering 2025, both acts were already benchmarks. Gallup Korea named her Singer of the Year in 2014, 2017, and 2025. The studio catalog runs deep: Modern Times (2013), Palette (2017), LILAC (2021), and the 2024 mini-album The Winning, which opened with "Love Wins All" featuring V. She has composed or co-written the majority of her own work across six studio albums. Acting credentials are no footnote. After My Mister (tvN, 2018) and Hotel del Luna (tvN, 2019), the Cannes-screened film Broker (2022) earned multiple Best New Actress awards. Netflix's When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025) swept year-end drama awards: Grand Prize at APAN Star Awards, Best Actress at Blue Dragon Series Awards, Outstanding Korean Actress at Seoul International Drama Awards. Currently under EDAM Entertainment. Fandom: UAENA (유애나).