Are You Ready for IU’s Comeback? Feat. BTS’ SUGA

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Singer-songwriter-actress-philanthropist IU  has fans primed for her comeback single, “Eight,” which is set for release on May 6. Coming just six months after her last mini album, “Love Poem,” the song is a collaboration with BTS rapper Suga. An accompanying music video has already been filmed.

BTS has collaborated with some of the biggest western pop stars, but this partnership between two Korean superstars is exciting for international and Korean fans. Both born in 1993 (Suga is the elder by a couple months), they are long-time admirers of each other’s talent and bring unique elements to the table. Both are strong songwriters, who write honest, compelling lyrics. His rapping set against her gorgeous vocals all but ensure that “Eight” will be another all-kill for both.

One of South Korea’s most generous celebrities, IU made her annual donation of 100 million KRW (about 82,000 USD) to the children’s welfare institution Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation. It wasn’t timed to the release of her record, but rather the Children’s Day holiday, which is observed in Korea this year on May 5.

Earlier this year, the idol and actress donated more than 200 million KRW total to two organizations to help those in need after the coronavirus pandemic hit Korea. The money she donated to the Korean Medical Association was earmarked for protective gear for the medical staff working around the clock in Korea’s hardest-hit city of Daegu. She also gave money to the nonprofit Good Neighbors.

She’ll make her leading lady big screen debut later this year opposite Park Seo-Joon in the feature film “Dream.” (That’s the working title for now.)

Facts about IU:

Real name: Lee Ji-Eun

Birthday: She was born on May 16, 1993 in Songjeong-dong, Seoul.

Nickname: For many years, IU was regarded as the Nation’s Little Sister. It’s an informal title Koreans bestow on popular (and cute) girls or young women in the entertainment business.

“Running Man“:  Yoo Jae-Suk referred to her as the Nation’s Little Sister when she was an 18-year-old guest on “Running Man.” She made several appearances on the variety show. On one episode, she played along when the regulars said that since she had recently celebrated a birthday, Yoo Jae-Suk should buy her a brand new car!

K-Dramas: A skilled songwriter and vocalist, IU is also a talented actress who showed her stunning acting range in K-Dramas such as “Hotel del Luna” and “My Mister.” Some of her other roles were in the 2011 teen high school series “Dream High,” with other rising stars Kim Soo-Hyun, Suzy, Ok Taec-Yeon and Hahm Eun-Jung. Some of her other work that you can watch right here on KOCOWA include “Dream High 2” (cameo), “The Producers,” “Bel Ami” and “You are the Best”

Kim Soo-Hyun: IU and Kim Soo-Hyun remained friends after filming “Dream High.” After both were established stars, they reunited for 2015’s  “The Producers.” And when Kim asked her to make a cameo in his feature film, “Real” — which was his last acting project prior to enlisting for his mandatory military duty — she said of course. He returned the favor to make a much-talked about cameo in her series “Hotel del Luna,” which was his first acting project after his military discharge.

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