Your Ultimate IU Drama Guide
We love shining the spotlight on singer-songwriter-actor Lee Ji-Eun—also known as IU—a Hallyu star that shines so bright!
In the entertainment industry, you have triple threats, and then you have Lee Ji-Eun. Better known as IU to her massive fanbase, Lee is no stranger to the spotlight having made her debut as a solo artist in 2008 as young as fifteen years old. In that year, she launched her first mini-album "Lost and Found" with the song titled "Miya"—and the production was an instant success.
IU performing | GIPHY
There is no doubt that IU is first and foremost a very talented singer and songwriter, but she found another outlet for her creative spirit in acting and found out that she was incredibly good at it, too. Her first ever role was in the teen musical drama Dream High on KBS back in 2011 where she starred alongside Bae Suzy and Kim Soo-hyun. Afterwards, a slew of leading roles and critical recognition followed for IU, while she maintained a careful balance between the different facets of her entertainment career. Currently, she has a film project that she is working on alongside Park Seo-Joon titled Dream, set for release next year.
Shining bright as a multi-faceted gem, IU is definitely the whole package and then some. To honor this Hallyu queen, we round up all 9 dramas that she has appeared in ever since she hit our radars just a little over a decade ago!
Your Ultimate Lee Ji-Eun (IU) Drama Guide
Your Ultimate Lee Ji-Eun (IU) Drama Guide
Dream High (2011)
Shortly after joining variety show Heroes, IU was cast in teen drama Dream High. Dream High finds its setting at Kirin High School of Art and follows the lives of students as they aspire to become superstars.
Photo Credit: KBS
Dream High (2011)
Playing Kim Pil-sook in her first acting role, IU brought to life the character completely of the shy and overweight school girl who dreamt of becoming a professional singer. Others who starred in this successful teen drama are Bae Suzy, Kim Soo-hyun, Taecyeon, and more—all of whom became superstars in their own right today.
Photo Credit: KBS
Dream High 2 (2012)
Dream High 2 sees Kirin High School of Art being taken over by Oz Entertainment and sees Oz Entertainment's idol stars to Kirin High to avoid a law requiring under age entertainers to study for a set time.
Photo Credit: KBS
Dream High 2 (2012)
Episode 1 saw the cameo apperance by IU who had brought to life the character of shy Kim Pil-Suk in season 1. Her appearance involves main female character Shin Hae-Sung who goes to a broadcasting station to watch idol boy band Eden perform. At the station she meets Kirin High alumni Pil-Suk and asks for her autograph.
Photo Credit: KBS
Salamander Guru and The Shadow Operation Team (2012)
This 10 episode drama directed by Park Seung-Min follows swindlers Sun-Dal (Oh Dal-Su) and Won-Sam (Lim Won-Hie) become Salamander Guru (Oh Dal-Su) and Assistant Guru (Lim Won-Hie), with the help of elite computer hacker Min-Hyuk (Minho) who makes the two swindlers look like the real Salamander Guru and Assistant Guru. Meanwhile, the real Salamander Guru Bum-Gyu (Lee Byung-Joon) suffers from Alzheimer's disease.
Photo Credit: SBS
Salamander Guru and The Shadow Operation Team (2012)
IU appears in Episode 6 and is a thief/pickpocket who turns out to be terminally ill. In the episode, IU stole Won Sam (Lim Won Hee)’s wallet and was spotted by others when she was entering the hospital.
Photo Credit: SBS
You Are The Best! (2013)
The fifty episode drama stars IU, Jo Jung-suk, Go Doo-shim, Lee Mi-sook, Yoo In-na, Son Tae-young, Go Joo-won, and Jung Woo. You Are The Best! is about a family, devastated after the sudden death of the father, that learns the true meaning of love and happiness. The storytelling incorporates themes of self-discovery and reconciliation.
Photo Credit: KBS
You Are The Best! (2013)
IU is Lee Soon-shin, named after the famous admiral Yi Sun-sin, a name given by her grandmother so that her mother would have a son. Her name also carries the connotation of believing in oneself in adversity. Soon-shin lives in the shadow of her better-looking, and smarter sisters. She gets poor grades, isn't very pretty, is short, and isn't particularly good at anything. She's not clever or tenacious. She can become overly emotional and is tender-hearted, frequently falling victim to scams, though her good nature means that she brushes off her older sister Yoo-shin's barbs with spunk and humor. When the show starts, Soon-shin is taking a few years off from college, on the pretext of looking for a job. In reality, she is still deciding what she wants to do with her life. When she starts acting, her bright personality and natural talent starts attracting positive attention from audiences and industry veterans.
Photo Credit: KBS
Bel Ami (2013)
Also known as Pretty Man, Bel Ami tells the story of Dokgo Ma-Te (Jang Keun-Suk) who is the most beautiful man in the world. An ambitious man, he wants to make a lot money using his beautiful appearance. Dokgo Ma-Te meets Hong Yoo-Ra, the ex-daughter-in-law of a rich family. Hong Yoo-Ra recognizes Dokgo Ma-Te's ambitions and becomes his mentor. Hong Yoo-Ra then gives Dokgo Ma-Te a mission to seduce 10 different women.
Photo Credit: KBS
Bel Ami (2013)
One day, Dokgo Ma-Te encounters a strange woman by the name of Kim Bo-Tong (IU), an ordinary girl from poor background. She develops a huge crush on Dokgo Ma-Te. Can she make Dokgo Ma-Te love her?
Photo Credit: KBS
The Producers (2015)
In this drama, IU starred with Gong Hyo-jin, Cha Tae-hyun, and was reunited with Kim Soo-hyun. The Producers is a meta-heavy drama about the team behind a TV variety department.
Photo Credit: KBS
The Producers (2015)
IU plays the character of Cindy, a famous singer and celebrity who debuted as a trainee when she was 13 years old. Called the "ice princess" for her poker face, Cindy has complete control over her emotions.
Photo Credit: KBS
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)
Hae-Soo (IU) travels back in time to the Goryeo era when a total eclipse of the sun takes place. In this new world, she falls in love with Wang So (Lee Joon-Gi) who makes other people tremble with fear.
Photo Credit: SBS
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)
In her portrayal of Go Ha-jin/Hae Soo, IU received much acclaim. Hae Soo is a girl with a painful life who travels back in time. She is an optimistic girl and can't stand injustice. She becomes the first one to understand Wang So's pain and decides to help him. She cares deeply for her loved ones.
Photo Credit: SBS
My Mister (2018)
Winning big that year at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards, taking home the award for Best Drama, My Mister solidified IU's place amongst other Korean actresses as a reputable force to be reckoned with.
Photo Credit: tvN
My Mister (2018)
My Mister tells the story of three middle-aged brothers, who are enduring the weight of their lives, and a strong, cold woman—Lee Ji-an—who has been living a hard life of her own, as they come together in healing each other's past scars. IU is Lee Ji-an, who tasked with finding out Park Dong-hoon's weaknesses at the command of her boss, who runs a company she is temporarily working for, but soon ends up falling for his warm charms and learns to trust someone for the first time.
Photo Credit: tvN
Hotel Del Luna (2019)
This Lee Ji-eun and Yeo Jin-goo starrer sees the two bringing to life the characters of the owner and manager of Hotel Del Luna which happens to be a highly supernatural place.
Photo Credit: tvN
Hotel Del Luna (2019)
Jang Man-wol (IU) is the owner of Hotel Del Luna that is located in Myeong-dong, Seoul. Due to a huge sin committed a millennium ago, the hotel caters to the dead has been bound to her soul. As a result of manipulation by the deity Mago (Yi-suk Seo), she meets Gu Chan-sung's father and makes a deal for his son to work for her after 20 years in return for his life and money. With his new found fortune and life, his father takes Gu Chan-sung (Yeo Jin-goo) abroad where the young man grows up as a sincere perfectionist who is level-headed, but also has a soft heart. He comes back to South Korea after his father's death to be an assistant manager at a multinational hotel corporation, only to face Jang Man-wol, after which he ends up fulfilling the agreement and becomes the manager of Hotel Del Luna. Through Gu Chan-sung, the audience is introduced to the mysteries and the secrets behind the hotel and its owner.
Photo Credit: tvN
Through the years, we've come to really love this multi-talented K-pop and K-drama star! Beyond impressing us with her stellar looks and incredible acting chops, she's truly charmed her way into our hearts.
IU in 'Hotel Del Luna' | tvN
Which IU dramas have you seen already? And which are next on your watchlist? We'd love to hear them!
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