Beyond the Hits: Fun Facts & Quirky Tidbits About IU

1. IU's Food Corner: From Hardtack to... Liver?

• Hardtack Hero: Her absolute favorite snack? Believe it or not, it's geonppang (Korean hardtack), especially dipped in strawberry jam! This is actually the origin of her fan nicknames: male fans are "Geonppang" and female fans are the rare "Byeolsatang" (star candy found inside). Cute, right?
• An Unexpected Palate: Here’s a shocker: IU apparently loves raw beef liver and cheonyeop (omasum/tripe), eating them a couple of times a month! She mentioned on Hello Counselor back in 2011 that her dad introduced her to adventurous foods like raw fish, skate, and liver from a young age, giving her a somewhat "middle-aged man's palate." Her reason for liking liver? The "bloody, fishy smell." Yep, you read that right. It even earned her the temporary nickname "Gumiho" (a mythical nine-tailed fox).
• Chicken Over Pizza, Always: When faced with the ultimate choice, Chicken vs. Pizza, IU didn't hesitate: "Pizza isn't even on the same level." She's Team Chicken all the way, preferring the breast meat over wings or legs. She's also firmly team jjikmeok (dipping sauce on the side) for things like tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), calling bumeok (pouring sauce over) fans an "imaginary tribe."
• Sweet Tooth, Not So Much Coffee: She's not a big coffee drinker, which is kinda funny since she's advertised Maxim coffee mix. Interviews in cafes often see her sipping something like misutgaru (a roasted grain powder drink). She even freaked out when her bestie Yoo In-na poured americano over her vanilla ice cream to make an affogato. On Hyori's Homestay, she learned to make coffee for guests but never drank it herself. Chocolate, jellies, and sweet snacks like Banana Kick, though? Absolutely loves 'em.
• Lightweight Drinker: Despite being the long-time face of Chamisul soju, she's known to be a lightweight drinker. When she does drink on camera, she often gets flushed and tipsy pretty quickly.
• Bread Preferences: She revealed on her YouTube channel that she dislikes "serious-tasting" bread, like savory pizza bread or sausage bread. She also prefers green onions to garlic.
• The Mint Choco Saga: Ah, the great mint choco debate. IU used to be firmly on Team Mint Choco, even feeling pity for non-believers. But hold on! She later admitted in an Elle Korea interview that her love might be specifically for the ice cream version. Why the change of heart? A mint choco cupcake that apparently tasted exactly like toothpaste finally made her understand the haters. So now? She's calling herself a 'mint choco moderate.' The plot thickens!

2. A Peek into Her World: What IU Enjoys

• Webtoons & Anime Fan: She's known to enjoy webtoons like The Sound of Your Heart and Guardian of the Video Game. Anime-wise, she's mentioned loving Natsume's Book of Friends and Fruits Basket, even saying she'd like to play a character who sees yokai, just like Natsume.
• Bookworm: IU's a known bibliophile, a habit apparently instilled by her parents who used reading as an alternative to punishment. She loves Guillaume Musso's books, and has also mentioned Nietzsche, Hermann Hesse's Demian, and Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov as impactful reads. Her deep reading likely fuels her amazing lyricism.
• Movie Buff: She loves movies, especially ones with warmth, romance, or a family focus, often leaning towards indie or lesser-known films. One of her all-time favorites? The World of Us. She also raved about Everything Everywhere All At Once, saying she could easily talk to anyone else who loved it.
• Big Fan Of...:god: She became a fan watching god's Baby Diary at age 9 and still proudly calls herself a fangod. She famously attended their concert in the standing section and eventually collaborated with them twice! Inviting the full group as guests to her 10th-anniversary concert was peak fan-girl moment for her.
• BIGBANG's Taeyang: Another long-time favorite! She's attended his concerts (in the standing section with Yoo In-na!) and guested at his solo show. She instantly recognized his disguised voice on Infinite Challenge.
• Corinne Bailey Rae: Her role model. IU often covered her songs, mentioned her as an ideal type, and even opened for Corinne's concert in Korea, eventually collaborating on the song "4AM" for IU's Last Fantasy album. The love is real – it even made it into the lyrics of "Palette"!
• Oh My Girl: Mutual fans! IU praised them early on, her listening to "Dolphin" caused it to go viral, and she later revealed her song "dlwlrma" ("Lee Jieun") was written thinking of them. Members Hyojung and Seunghee even guested on her YouTube show.
• Other Preferences: Loves the gloomy vibe of London. Prefers comfy clothes but likes cute socks, underwear, and bedding. If she were invisible, she'd visit an all-boys high school because she thinks guys look cool in uniforms. Her favorite color is purple 💜. Takes lots of selfies (often using the rear camera!). Always snaps food pics before eating, just for her own records.

3. Skills You Didn't Know She Had

• Impressions: Early in her career, she often showed off impressions of Pikachu and Maruko-chan. She also nailed an impression of singer Hwayobi.
• That Bendy Wrist Trick: Remember this? She can rotate her wrist a full 360 degrees and do that double-jointed hand-flip thing. She's busted it out on shows like Weekly Idol and Knowing Bros.
• Unexpected Yogi: Despite admitting to not being naturally athletic (and struggling during Kiss & Cry), IU took up yoga after Hyori's Homestay. She got pretty good, even mastering headstands, which she also demonstrated on Knowing Bros.
• Pretty Good English: To connect with international fans, IU apparently studied English quite diligently, even learning from star instructor Lee Geun-cheol to handle concert ments in English.

4. A Little About IU Herself

• Forever Young: She's a classic example of someone who looks younger than her age, thanks to those round eyes and small features. Interestingly, she looked quite mature for her age at debut, but as she's gotten older, her youthful features stand out more.
• Striking Collarbones: On Weekly Idol, she named her collarbones as her most confident physical feature. And honestly, many of her iconic stage outfits definitely highlight them!
• Hair Chameleon: Long hair? Short bob? She rocks both, sparking endless debates among fans. While she personally prefers short hair (as mentioned in "Palette"), she switches it up often, causing "short hair fever" whenever she goes for the chop. The wispy bangs she sported in Hotel Del Luna also became a huge trend.
• Tiny Hands, Low Voice: She's mentioned her small hands were a bit of a complex, especially during the "You & I" choreography. Her speaking voice is surprisingly low and slightly husky compared to her singing, which many find charming.
• Health Hiccups: IU has openly shared her struggles with 'Patulous Eustachian Tube,' a condition affecting the ear tube that can make hearing one's own voice difficult – a huge challenge for a singer. She also deals with Sketer syndrome (severe allergic reactions to mosquito bites - she hates mosquitos more than cockroaches!) and catches colds easily.

5. Loyalty Runs Deep: Her Agency Journey

Here's something cool: IU has essentially been with the same company family since she joined Loen Entertainment as a trainee in 2007. Though the names changed (Loen Tree → FAVE → Kakao M → EDAM), it's always been under the same umbrella, and crucially, her long-time manager Bae Jong-han eventually founded EDAM Entertainment with IU and her entire dedicated team ("IU Team") moving over together. When renegotiating her contract with Kakao M, her only conditions were reportedly job security and pay raises for her staff. That speaks volumes about her loyalty.

6. School Days Snippets

• Lots of Moves: IU transferred schools quite a bit – twice in elementary and twice in middle school!
• Student Leader & Bookworm: Despite the moves, she was often a class president (and even school president in 6th grade!) and known for always having her nose in a book, even joining the library club. This dedication earned her respect from teachers and peers. Her old schoolmates remember her being studious and already writing lyrics back then. She continues to support her alma mater, Dongduk Girls' High School, with scholarships and book donations.
• Funny Minime Fight: There's a legendary story about middle school IU getting mad at a friend for posting her photo online without permission, leading to a comment thread threat involving "rat-like" photos and "disturbing the calm lake." Classic teenage drama!

7. Music Tidbits & Legends

• Taxi Serenade: Back in 2010, she unknowingly hopped into a taxi that was live-streaming on AfreecaTV. The driver asked her to sing, and her impromptu performance of "Nagging" went viral, showcasing her live vocals even then.
• Cup Ramen Vocal Hack?: For the "Good Day" 3-octave note, she once revealed a quick (but unhealthy, she warned!) trick: quickly eating cup ramen to warm up her throat. Only for emergencies, folks!
• The Aion Live Party Incident (2013): Told she'd just be answering questions, she arrived an hour before the event to find a script making her the sole host! Combined with poor sound quality, a frustrated IU decided to give her agency a "surprise" by leaking snippets of unreleased songs like "Voice Mail," "Friday," and "Hate You" months ahead of schedule. Oops!
• Seasonal Queen: IU practically owns certain seasons on the charts. "Not Spring, Love, or Cherry Blossoms" is a perennial spring anthem, while "Merry Christmas in Advance" dominates every December. "Friday" also used to see a bump every... well, Friday.
• Broadcast to the North: Yes, her songs have been used in broadcasts aimed at North Korea! "Heart" was played during high tensions in 2015, likely chosen for its popularity and touching lyrics. Her hit "Good Day" was even reportedly used as an intro signal for a suspected numbers station.
• The Age Series: IU has famously chronicled her growth through songs tied to her age (Korean age): "Twenty-three," "Palette" (25), and "Eight" (28). Fans keep wondering if a 30s song is next! She still often refers to herself using her Korean age in concerts and shows.
• Personal Favorites: She often mentions "Heart" and "Knees" as the songs she hopes people remember her by long after she's gone.
• The Power of "Through the Night": This mega-hit was one IU personally pushed for as a pre-release, against some company skepticism. Her instincts were spot-on, as it became one of her most defining and successful songs, winning Daesangs and setting chart records.
• Title Mystery: Quite a few of her songs don't actually feature the title in the lyrics, especially on albums like Modern Times and Palette.
• No Summer Albums? Interestingly, she's never released a full studio album (excluding singles/features) in the summer, feeling her voice doesn't quite suit the season.
• Global Critical Acclaim: Beyond domestic charts, IU's music gets recognition from international critics like Billboard, Pitchfork, NME, and The New York Times, who've praised tracks ranging from hits like "Good Day" and "Palette" to deeper cuts like "Lost Puppy" and "Empty Cup." Billboard even named "Good Day" the #1 K-Pop song of the 2010s.
• Pronunciation Perfection: She's known for her meticulous pronunciation, even consulting announcers like Son Beom-su to ensure she gets Korean grammar and sounds just right in her recordings (like correctly differentiating '밖' and '밟' in "Above the Time").
• COVID Prophecy?: Fans jokingly pointed out how lines from 2018's "BBIBBI" like "Skinship is declined, back off back off," "If you cross this line, I'll be serious, Beep," and "Stop it, maintain the distance" sounded eerily predictive of social distancing during the pandemic.
• You Quiz BGM Queen: She's apparently the most frequently featured artist for background music on the popular show You Quiz on the Block, with even deep cuts being used. When she guested for the 100th episode, the soundtrack was almost exclusively IU songs!
• Cover Song Curse?: Contestants on singing shows like King of Mask Singer who choose IU songs often face elimination. It's attributed to her unique vocal color and the immense popularity of the original versions making comparisons inevitable.
• Melon Playlist Dominance: She's the most added artist to DJ playlists on Melon, with "Through the Night" being her most frequently included track.

8. The Giving Angel: IU's Generosity

IU's consistent and massive charitable donations are legendary, earning her the nickname "아또기" (A-Tto-Gi: "IU Donated Again"). As of early 2025, her publicly known donations exceed a staggering 7.5 billion won (roughly $5.5 million USD)! It's not just the amount; she's known for thoughtfully choosing causes and ensuring the funds go where they're needed most – supporting her alma mater, children from low-income families, disaster relief (wildfires, floods), medical aid for healthcare workers (especially during COVID-19), single mothers, the elderly, people with disabilities, and more.

She often donates under the name "IUAENA" (combining her name and her fandom's name) on special occasions like her birthday and debut anniversary. Her generosity often inspires her fans (Uaena) to hold their own donation drives, creating a beautiful cycle of giving. In 2019, Forbes even named her one of Asia's 'Heroes Of Philanthropy' – the youngest on the list that year.

9. Let's Talk Memes: "K-Hip Hop Top" & "IU vs. IU"

• "국힙원탑" (K-Hip Hop Top): This hilarious meme started partly because Post Malone randomly followed IU on Instagram, sparking jokes. Around the same time, the Korean hip-hop scene was debating "singing rap." Critics of certain styles sarcastically crowned IU the "K-Hip Hop Top" because she had great rhymes (like in "BBIBBI"), could actually sing (unlike some rappers trying to sing?), and topped the charts – beating rappers at their own game, ironically. The meme took off, embraced by actual rappers like Changmo, Zico, Swings, and Loco, and IU herself acknowledged it good-naturedly in videos. When she actually rapped in "Coin," the comments exploded. It's just a fun internet thing, but highlights her lyrical skills!
• "아이유의 적은 아이유" (IU's Enemy is IU): This refers to the frequent phenomenon where IU's own songs compete against each other on charts or for awards. Examples include "The Red Shoes" vs. "Everybody Has Secrets" nominated for #1 on Inkigayo, her hit "Friday" being pushed off the charts by her own CHAT-SHIRE album bomb, the "Through the Night" → "Can't Love You Anymore" → "Palette" chart relay, and "Love poem" vs. "Blueming" battling for music show wins and even Gaon monthly awards. It just goes to show how dominant her releases are! She's even commented on finding the situation amusing herself.

10. Resilience in the Spotlight

It might be hard for newer fans to imagine, but IU faced incredibly harsh and persistent negativity from anti-fans for years, especially during her "Nation's Little Sister" era. Malicious rumors and coordinated online attacks were common, particularly before portal comment sections were moderated more heavily. Despite this, she persevered, and her agency has taken strong legal action against defamation and harassment since 2013. While she's developed a thick skin ("I'm confident I'm in the Top 5 celebrities who don't care about malicious comments"), it doesn't mean the behavior is acceptable, and the fight continues. Some antis even resorted to bizarre claims, like trying to link her makeup trends to societal issues or falsely accusing her of supporting political positions to report her to the CIA (which obviously has no real-world impact).

11. Other Fun Facts!

• Global Search Power: Even back in 2019-2020, she ranked high in global YouTube and Google searches for K-Pop idols.
• Namuwiki Aware: She actually read part of her (very extensive) Namuwiki page in a 1theK video and was amazed by its length. Her English Wikipedia page is also incredibly detailed.
• Melon Queen: She has the most followers of any artist on Melon, Korea's top music platform (over 786k as of late 2022).
• Record-Breaking Insta Post: Her photo from the Cannes Film Festival for Broker garnered over 7 million likes!
• Net Worth Buzz: Hong Kong's SCMP once estimated her net worth as the highest among female K-Pop stars (around 56.1 billion won or ~$45-50M USD), though take these figures with a grain of salt.
• Birth Dreams: She supposedly had two powerful conception dreams (태몽): one of two dragons fighting, with the winner ascending with a wish-granting jewel, and another of a giant chicken smashing a path – symbolizing winning competition and breaking new ground.
• No Singer Rookie Award: Despite winning rookie awards for variety, drama, and film, she strangely never won one specifically for singing.
• Famous Older Fans: Respected figures like journalist Sohn Suk-hee and former President Moon Jae-in are self-proclaimed fans. Rocker Park Wan-gyu shyly asked for her autograph on Radio Star.
• The "Reverse Run" Maker: IU recommending a song on her SNS has often caused it to surge back up the charts (e.g., DEAN's "Instagram," Oh My Girl's "Dolphin"). That's influence!
• Aegyo Aversion: She famously dislikes doing overly cute displays (aegyo), especially the "Gwiyomi Song." Natural cuteness sometimes slips out, though! There's a classic clip of her struggling mightily when fans requested it at an event.
• Survey Darling: She constantly tops polls for things like "Female celebrity you'd want to spend Christmas with," "Female celebrity who suits spring," and "Artist Yonsei students most want at their festival." Even kids want to be her friend on SNS!
• The Infamous Falls: She's had a few memorable tumbles – at the 2011 MMAs ("It was a performance!"), during a basketball game 시투 (first pitch), and at the 2014 MAMAs. It happens!
• That Diet Myth: The extreme "IU diet" (apple, sweet potato, protein shake) you see online? She did it once for a few days early in her career and strongly advises against it now.
• Phone Preference: While she's used Galaxy phones, she seems to favor iPhones lately, often picking the purple or unique color options.
• MapleStory Mania: During MapleStory 2's pre-character creation, "IU" was attempted over 710,000 times as a character name, vastly more than any other celebrity.
• Moon Connection: Moons feature prominently in her work – dramas like Moon Lovers and Hotel Del Luna, the OST "Dear Moon," and her single "strawberry moon."
• Graduation Concert Dream: She once mentioned wanting to hold a concert themed around graduation, specifically for her fellow '93-liners, perhaps because she missed out on typical school memories due to her early debut.
• No Public Baths Since '04?: She mentioned at a concert she hasn't been to a public bathhouse since 2004 and prefers bathing alone.
• Directionally Challenged: She's hilariously known for being bad with directions, often needing staff to physically guide her backstage. The "Behind the Stage IU" incident at a festival (where she literally stood behind the MCs instead of off-stage) is peak adorable IU confusion. It even happened again at the Golden Disc Awards in 2022!
• K-Pop Taxonomy Meme: A popular internet comment structure you'll see everywhere: "There are 3 types of K-POP: 1. Boy groups 2. Girl groups 3. IU". It highlights her unique solo dominance.
• Sleep Paralysis Hack: Her trick to break out of sleep paralysis? Sticking her tongue out (making a 'merong' face)! She found her tongue wasn't paralyzed like her limbs, and wiggling it helped wake the rest of her body up.

Phew! That's just scratching the surface of all the little things that make IU who she is. She's a fascinating blend of incredible talent, down-to-earth charm, surprising quirks, and genuine kindness. What's your favorite IU trivia?