IU Wraps Up Anniversary Fan Meeting & Announces Royal K-Drama Role
Fresh off her sold-out 2025 fan meeting, K-pop queen IU is set to star in a new romance K-drama, '21st Century Grand Prince's Wife'. Here’s everything we know.
K-pop’s reigning queen, IU (Lee Ji-eun), has been busy, and for her fans, Uaena, it’s been a whirlwind of excitement. Fresh from celebrating her 17th debut anniversary, she just wrapped up a heartwarming fan meeting and is already gearing up for her next big acting project.
Here’s a full recap of IU’s recent activities and what to look forward to.
A Heartfelt ‘Bye, Summer’ with Uaena
On September 13th and 14th, IU held her ‘2025 IU FAN MEET-UP [Bye, Summer]’ at the iconic KSPO Dome in Seoul. The event, which was her first fan gathering in nearly two years, was completely sold out, proving her unwavering popularity.
Fans were treated to a mix of new songs, beloved hits, and drama OSTs. But the most touching moment came during the encore. IU made a surprise appearance in the audience to sing “I’ll Be Your Audience,” personally greeting fans in the wheelchair section, holding their hands, and making eye contact. It was a beautiful reminder of the deep connection she shares with her Uaena.
Adding to the warmth, IU invited child actress Kim Taeyeon to the event. Kim recently played the younger version of IU’s character in the Netflix series ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ (“폭싹 속았수다”). Kim Taeyeon’s mother shared photos on social media, calling it a “very happy” time and highlighting IU’s kindness to her junior.
From Pop Queen to Royal-Adjacent: IU’s New K-Drama
Get ready to see IU back on your screen! Her next project is the highly anticipated MBC drama, ‘21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife’ (working title: “21세기 대군부인”).
The drama is a romance set in a fictional 21st-century South Korea that has a constitutional monarchy. Here’s the plot:
- IU will play Sung Hee-joo, a woman from a wealthy chaebol family who has everything but holds a commoner status.
- Byun Woo-seok (of Lovely Runner fame) will star opposite her as Grand Prince Lee Ahn, the king’s son who has royal status but none of the freedom that comes with it.
The story will follow their romance as they navigate the challenges of their vastly different social statuses. With two powerhouse leads and a unique “what-if” premise, this K-drama is already one of the most anticipated shows of 2025. Filming is currently underway, with a planned release in the second half of the year.
Between her heartfelt fan interactions and her exciting new drama, IU continues to prove why she is one of South Korea’s most beloved artists.