IU, Billboard’s Top Korean Artist, Faces Baseless ‘Pro-North Korea’ Allegations

IU Faces Unfounded Political Criticism Amidst Success

On December 16, K-pop sensation IU shared a video from her popular show, “IU’s Palette,” on social media. Shortly after, a wave of unrelated and critical comments emerged, including phrases like “Go North,” “Left-wing IU,” and “Be a North Korean singer.” These critiques, which stem from unfounded political allegations, have bewilderingly branded IU as “left-wing”and “pro-North Korea,”despite her maintaining a neutral stance on political matters.

Remarkable Achievements: IU’s Stellar Year

This year marked a major milestone for IU as she kicked off her first world tour, drawing an impressive audience of over 500,000 fans across Europe and North America. Notably, she became the first female artist to perform at all stadium venues in Seoul during an extraordinary two-day concert held in September.

Chart-Topping Success with “Love Wins All”

IU’s album “Love Wins All” quickly gained traction, reaching the Melon Top 100 chart’s number one spot within just one hour of its release. The album dominated the charts for four consecutive weeks and went on to achieve a perfect all-kill on iChart 339 times, alongside securing the top position on the February monthly chart. Her artistic accomplishments are a testament to her enduring popularity and influence in the music industry.

Controversy and Backlash

Despite her immense success, IU found herself at the center of controversy following reports that she pre-paid for meals at a restaurant near Yeouido for fans attending a rally in support of President Yoon Seok-yeol’s impeachment. This generous gesture was inexplicably twisted into accusations of her being ‘pro-North Korea,’ further intensifying the online attacks against her.

Moreover, IU faced false allegations in the past, including claims that she is a North Korean spy. Her agency disclosed that last year, deceptive leaflets labeling her as a spy linked to various scandals were distributed. In response, IU and her team initiated legal proceedings to counter these defamatory claims and sought an inquiry from the relevant authorities.

Fan Support and Call for Action

Her dedicated fanbase is currently voicing their disbelief and frustration over how IU’s kind actions—meant to support her fans—have led to such baseless accusations. Many have begun advocating for further legal action to protect her reputation and ensure that similar untruths do not continue to proliferate.

Source & Images