Let’s get to know IU’s Famous Close Friend from the K-Entertainment Industry
An incredibly talented Korean singer-songwriter and actress, IU is considered the Queen of Korean Music Chart. IU was born May 16, 1993, in Songjeong, Seoul. Her native name is Lee Ji Eun.
IU began her career in the entertainment industry at the age of 15. She found a passion for singing after getting appreciation for her performance in a school competition. Although failed countless times during auditions, she finally got accepted as a trainee. Her agency coined her stage name, “IU”, which stands for I and You.
Even at a young age, she already established herself as the star of the Korean music industry. In over a decade of having her career in music and acting, she developed friendships with several other famous Korean celebrities. Find out her close friends are in the article below!
Brown Eyed Girls Gain
IU and Gain from the Brown Eyed Girls have collaborated on several music projects. They participated in teasers promoting each other’s album. Gain appeared in a teaser for her duet in IU’s song, Everyone Has Secrets, which was released in March, 2014.
In February, 2014, Gain invited IU and other friends to feature in a teaser for a song titled Truth or Dare. In the teaser, they talk about Gain’s character, rumors, and other personal things. Gain is notoriously famous for her strong older sister image, and IU joked she can’t talk behind Gain Unnie’s back. She can only talk about Gain in front of her. In the Everyone Has Secrets music video, IU jokingly confessed that Gain asked her to dress up like a man so Gain could wear provocative clothes and seduce IU.
Singer/Songwriter SHINee’s Jonghyun
IU and SHINee’s Jonghyun debuted in the same year. Jonghyun composed a song titled Gloomy Clock for IU’s third album, “Modern Times”. IU fell in love with the song and begged Jonghyun to give the song to her. The album “Modern Times” received positive reviews and debuted at number one on album charts.
In 2015, Jonghyun invited IU to perform at his solo concert “The Story by Jonghyun”. They sang Gloomy Clock together at the concert. The singers were known to be close friends.
At her 10th anniversary concert in Singapore, IU paid a tribute to the late SHINee member Jonghyun. She sang Gloomy Clock with Jonghyun’s voice as original backing vocal. The song initially wasn’t on the set list, but she prepared it to honor the one-year anniversary of hs death.
Through her speech at recent award ceremony, she recalled Jonghyun as a colleague who shared similar dreams, worries, and problems. They also had similar career development in the entertainment industry.
Comedian/DJ Park Myungsoo
IU was invited to make a guest appearance on MBC’s popular variety show Infinite Challenge. In the music festival segment, each regular member of the show was challenged to produce a song with a partner artist. IU was paired with Park Myung Soo to perform for the Infinite Challenge music festival. They formed a group called God-G and released a song titled Leon. Their song and concert performance were inspired by the film Leon: The Professional. The song went on to top all the Korean music charts for two days straight in August, 2015.
Following the success of their duet performance, Park Myung Soo invited IU to collaborate with him multiple times. He even prepared a song for her as female featuring artist. IU promised that in the future she would collaborate with Park Myung Soo. Every Thanksgiving holiday, IU sends holiday gifts to several Korean artists, and Park Myung Soo is one of the few lucky people.
Actress Yoo In Na
Yoo In Na and IU met on the set of SBS’s Heroes in 2010. An 11-year age difference didn’t stop IU and Yoo In Na from being close friends. Yoo In Na said that they have similar characters, soft on the outside but strong on the inside. Yoo In Na said IU was more mature and she depended on IU a lot for advice.
IU and Yoo In Na said they recently learned to play traditional Korean card game called “Go Stop”. It’s IU’s favorite game and she wants to play more often than Yo In Na. When they met, IU and Yoo In Na rarely talked about guys. Yoo In Na said that IU seemed to enjoy working and living her life happily. She considered IU as her sister, best friend and favorite singer.
IU mentioned Yoo In Na during her speech for “Best album of the Year” at the 2017 Melon Music Awards. She said although Yoo In Na wasn’t related by blood, she was her best friend and her number one fan. IU also thanked Yoo In Na for always supporting her.
Yoo In Na attended IU’s concert, “24 Steps: One, Two, Three, Four”. IU noticed her during the performance and announced Yoo In Na’s presence to the audience. Tghe actress waved at IU and appeared touched by IU’s attention. They promised to meet every week despite their busy schedules.
Recently, on February 13, 2019, IU showed her support to Yoo In Na on the set of her current drama, Touch Your Heart. IU sent various main dishes, side dishes, and fruits to the drama staff. She also sent a coffee truck to the set and wished good luck to all the actors and staff members.
Actress/Singer Suzy
On an episode of MBC’s Weekly Idol hosted by Jung Hyung Don and Defcon, IU told the hosts about her close friendship with the beautiful actress Suzy. Although a year younger than IU, Suzy is considered as one of her best friends. She said that Suzy is like a magnet to her and they attract and stick to each other as magnet polar opposites. Even during their busy schedule, they always had time to text each other.
Their close friendship started at the end of their drama Dream High, where they played the roles of high school friends. Due to her shy character, IU had a hard time talking to new people. IU wanted to be close to Suzy during filming, but she didn’t have the courage until they were nearly finished shooting the drama. She kept using honorifics when talking with Suzy even though Suzy asked her to drop the honorifics. At first, they are not interested in each other.
IU usually went to Suzy’s dormitory if they had a time to meet. They went to play in a nearby playground. IU called a taxi for them and asked the driver to go directly without mentioning a destination.
IU admired Suzy’s beauty and has even called Suzy the prettiest out of all Korean singers. If possible, IU wanted to be born with a face and body like Suzy’s. Coincidentally, they both have birthmarks at the same position on the underside of their right hand.
T-ara Member/Soloist Jiyeon
IU and Ji Yeon of T-ara have had a close friendship since young age. They both appeared on the variety show Heroes in 2011. However, since the T-ara bullying scandal was exposed in public and T-ara was boycotted, the girls couldn’t be seen together and weren’t as close as once were. IU received criticism for leaving behind a close friend who’s having a difficult period.
However, both IU and Jiyeon pay attention to each other activities. Jiyeon supported IU by cheering her at her 10th anniversary concert, while IU supported Jiyeon by praising her dance videos on Instagram.
T-ara Jiyeon , Suzy, and IU are known to be close friends. Jiyeon appeared jealous when IU and Suzy were hanging out during lunchtime and leaving her. Envious, she asked Suzy to eat together and leave IU behind. Suzy responded sweetly by saying she will alternate and go out with both of them.
