Metro.Style Most Beautiful Korean Actresses: IU And Her Career Highlights

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What can we say? IU's career is every bit ideal for anyone who's ever hoped to make a name for themselves in Korean show business. Born with the looks, the talent, and the drive, IU made her singing debut in 2007 at 15 years old after undergoing a rigorous 10-month training in Korea's (often notorious) dog-eat-dog world K-Idol camps. Within the same year, she released her first album "Lost and Found," which earned her an award as the "Rookie of the Month" from South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

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IU continued to seek the right formula of musical style and personal branding for the next three years to find her way into the mainstream. Her efforts didn't go unnoticed as her sophomore album, 2008's "Growing Up," peaked at Top 6 in Korea while her third album, 2009's "IU...IM," proved to be the big break she was waiting for.

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Her rising popularity made her fourth album, "Real," released in 2010, a soaring success. The record won nine out of the 10 awards it was nominated for that year, and despite having just seven tracks, it's lead single "Good Day" went on to become one of the most beloved K-Pop songs of the decade. Arguably, the song is also what helped IU gain international fame; for the first time in her career, Western audiences took notice of her songs even before the decade's Hallyu wave began. Billboard, for one, gave "Good Day" the top spot in its 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s list.

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Post-"Real" success, IU released five more studio albums, namely "Last Fantasy," "Modern Times," and "Palette," all of which were massive hits on their own. Aside from her establishment as one of Korea's most famous solo artists, it was also during this time when IU embraced the edgier, unconventional, and individualized look her fans adore her for today. Shedding her girl next door image and finding confidence to establish her own identity, IU grew into a style icon and helped pave the way for other K-Pop idols to do away with the cookie-cutter approach to branding.

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To date, IU has 13 albums to her name, including both studio and extended play albums, and more than 20 number one singles. Seeing her success grow exponentially over the years, the singer took advantage of her pop culture phenomenon-status and ventured out into acting in 2011 via K-Drama "Dream High," three years after she debuted as a singer. Her crossover to acting, however, was not as smooth sailing as her singing career's beginnings. Given that IU had no acting experience, directors and producers had many doubts about casting her, but in the end, she proved them wrong!

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Her first lead role were in K-Dramas "You're the Best, Lee Soon-shin" and "Dream High," and like her first albums, her performances were definitely well-received! More offers for leading roles in television came pouring in, much to the surprise of IU herself who never envisioned herself as an actress. She turned out to be a great choice for dramatic roles, a newly discovered talent that landed her solid spots in big hits like "Bel Ami," "The Producers," "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo," "My Mister," and "Persona." Her last TV project, "Hotel Del Luna," was especially popular among Filipino viewers.

Photo Credit: ISOI

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All of IU's career achievements (and really, there are too many to fit in a single article!) haven't only culminated in her personal gains. She's a hero of philanthropy, too, and she continues to participate in charitable events and initiates her own efforts in helping vulnerable groups. She's especially known for helping out students in need; she's given scholarships, made annual donations to her high school, and started anti-bullying campaigns, to say the least. With the COVID-19 crisis, IU has been a leading force in Korean show business, offering both financial assistance and purchasing critical medical supplies and gear for front liners.

Photo Credit: Image from ISOI

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As for her status as a beauty icon, this is her most recent feat. Just as the world paid more and more attention to Korean beauty, IU stepped up to the plate and showed everyone the perks of intensive skincare! She's a sun screen plus toner kind of girl, and on a regular basis, likes to keep her skin fresh and makeup sheer. She barely looks 27, and we predict she'll look forever young with the kind of TLC she gives her skin.

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Also worth highlighting is the dizzying array of endorsements IU has gained over the years. It's a status symbol to have brands partner with you, and for IU, it wasn't a struggle to get brands to notice her, but to cut down on endorsements and just pick the best ones! Fashion, beauty, food, gaming, and tech have all sought her out, all of which have resulted in partnerships with Samsung, Guess, The Saem, J.Estina, and even Gucci. It's even earned her a nickname: "CF Queen" or Queen of Commercials.

Photo Credit: @dlwlrma