IU (entertainer) Biography: Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Partners, Awards, Height

Lee Ji-Eun, professionally known as IU, is a highly acclaimed South Korean singer-songwriter, actress, and philanthropist.

She began her career in the entertainment industry after signing with LOEN Entertainment (now Kakao Entertainment) as a trainee in 2007.

At age fifteen, IU debuted as a singer with her first extended play, Lost and Found, in 2008. Her official debut performance on Mnet’s M Countdown on September 18, 2008, featured her single “Lost Child.”

IU rose to national prominence with the release of “Good Day,” the lead single from her 2010 album Real, which topped South Korea’s Gaon Digital Chart for five consecutive weeks, marking the start of her successful career.

Profile

• Full Name: Lee Ji-eun
• Stage Name: IU
• Born: May 16 1993
• Age: 31 years old
• Birthplace: Songjeong-dong, Seoul, South Korea
• Nationality: Korean
• Occupation: South Korean singer-songwriter, actress, and philanthropist
• Height: 1.62 m
• Parent: Mr. and Mrs. Lee
• Siblings: 1
• Partners: Lee Jong-suk
• Children: Unknown
• Relationship: Not Married
• Net Worth: $5 million and $10 million

Early Life And Education

Lee Ji-Eun was born on May 16, 1993, in Seoul, South Korea, to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee, whose identities remain private.

Raised in a financially challenging environment, IU has one younger brother. During her childhood, she spent significant time living with her grandmother and cousin in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province. She completed her secondary education at Dongduk Girls’ High School, graduating in 2012.

Opting not to pursue higher education, she focused on her music career. IU is of Korean ethnicity, and her religious beliefs are not publicly disclosed.

Career

IU, born Lee Ji-eun, began her journey in the entertainment industry in 2007 as a trainee under LOEN Entertainment, now known as Kakao Entertainment.

She debuted at 15 with her EP Lost and Found in 2008. Although her early releases faced commercial challenges, IU’s exceptional vocal talent and resilience gradually gained her recognition in the industry.

Her breakthrough moment came in 2010 with the release of “Good Day” from her album Real. The song dominated South Korea’s Gaon Digital Chart for five consecutive weeks and was later ranked as one of Billboard’s “100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s.” This success established IU as a national icon, earning her the affectionate title of “Korea’s little sister.”

Her subsequent albums, Real+ and Last Fantasy (2011), further solidified her position as a dominant K-pop scene figure.

As her career progressed, IU’s music evolved significantly. Her third studio album, Modern Times (2013), marked a notable shift in her musical style, incorporating jazz and swing influences that showcased a more mature sound.

This album also marked the beginning of her increased creative involvement as she started writing lyrics and producing her tracks. IU’s 2015 album Chat-Shire was a landmark in her career, as she became the sole lyricist for the entire album.

In 2017, Palette achieved a significant milestone in becoming her first album to top Billboard’s World Albums chart, reflecting her growing international appeal.

Beyond music, IU has successfully ventured into acting, with notable performances in dramas such as Dream High (2011), where she played a supporting role, and later in critically acclaimed series like My Mister (2018) and Hotel Del Luna (2019).

Her acting talent has earned her multiple Best Actress nominations at the Baeksang Arts Awards, establishing her as a versatile and highly respected performer.

IU has also achieved remarkable milestones as a live performer, including being the first female solo K-pop artist to perform at Seoul’s Olympic Gymnastics Arena during her 10th-anniversary concert tour 2018. In 2022, she became the first Korean female artist to hold a solo concert at Seoul Olympic Stadium with her “The Golden Hour” tour.

With five studio albums, nine EPs, and over 30 number-one singles on South Korea’s charts, IU has cemented her position as one of the country’s most successful and influential artists.

Additionally, her philanthropic efforts and multiple accolades, including recognition from Forbes Korea and Rolling Stone, highlight her impact within and beyond the entertainment industry.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @dlwlrma
• Facebook handle: 아이유(IU)
• Twitter handle: @_IUofficial
• YouTube Channel: 이지금 [IU Official]

Personal Life

IU, the South Korean singer-songwriter and actress, has not yet married; she is known for being in a high-profile relationship with actor Lee Jong-suk since late 2022.

Dispatch first revealed their relationship on December 31, 2022, and confirmed by their agencies, who stated that they transitioned from close colleagues to a romantic couple. The two reportedly began dating in September 2022 and spent Christmas together in Japan.

However, rumors circulating in February 2025 suggest a potential breakup, though neither IU nor Lee Jong-suk have confirmed or denied these claims.

Discography

• Growing Up (2009).
• Last Fantasy (2011).
• Modern Times (2013).
• Palette (2017).
• Lilac (2021).
• Lost and Found (2008).
• IU…IM (2009).
• Real (2010).
• Real+ (2011).
• Spring of a Twenty Year Old (2012).
• A Flower Bookmark (2014).
• Chat-Shire (2015).
• A Flower Bookmark 2 (2017).
• Love Poem (2019).
• “Good Day” (2010).
• “Eight” feat. Suga of BTS (2020)

Filmography

• A Turtle’s Tale 2: Sammy’s Escape from Paradise (2012)
• Real (2017)
• Shades of the Heart (2019)
• Broker (2022)
• Dream (2023)
• IU Concert: The Golden Hour (2023)
• IU Concert: The Winning (2025)
• Dream High (2011)
• Salamander Guru and The Shadows (2012)
• Dream High 2 (2012)
• You Are the Best! (2013)
• Bel Ami (2013-14)
• The Producers (2015)
• Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)
• My Mister (2018)
• Persona (2019)
• Hotel Del Luna (2019)
• When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025)
• The 21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife (TBA)

Net Worth

IU’s net worth is estimated to range between $5 million and $10 million, derived from diverse sources, including music streams, album sales, acting roles, concerts, endorsements, and social media earnings.

In 2021, she reportedly earned around $380,000 per episode for her K-drama appearances and approximately $1 million from YouTube.