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Indian Express
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Richest K-pop idol failed 20+ auditions, lived in a cockroach-infested room, scammed by agencies; now beats BTS, G-Dragon in net worth
K-pop has its fair share of jaw-dropping success stories, but this idol built hers by staying rooted. While many chased global fame, she chose home, and the country loved her back for it. In an industry ruled by idol groups and global powerhouses like BTS, Lee Ji Eun, aka IU, has quietly held her spot as South Korea's richest singer, and she's still going strong in 2025. Debuting at just 15, her success journey is packed with poverty, rejection, scams, and friendships lost far too soon. But through it all, she never lost her voice. According to Celebrity Net Worth and Ranker, which track the earnings of public figures, IU's estimated net worth sits around $40-45 million, making her the richest K-pop idol in the world. She built her empire on music first, saying no to flashy overseas offers. Alongside her singing career, she's also made her name in acting, headlining hits like Hotel Del Luna and When Life Gives You Tangerines. IU holds multiple songwriting and producing credits, not just for her own tracks but for others too. She's the face of major luxury names like Estée Lauder and Gucci, while also backing homegrown brands like Woori Financial Group, Evezary, Black Yak, and more. On the tech front, she's inked deals with Samsung Korea, Sony, and SK Telecom. Also Read: Not Jungkook or V, this BTS star alone powered HYBE's 85% North American revenue boost in Q1 2025 Born in 1993 in Songjeong Dong, Seoul, IU grew up poor. When her parents struggled to pay off debt and couldn't afford to raise their kids, IU and her younger brother were sent to live with their grandmother in a small, cramped home. That's where she spent most of her childhood, and it's also where she discovered her voice and knew early on what she wanted to do. As a teen, she ran after every audition she could find, only to be turned down over and over. In a YouTube video, IU once said they barely had anything to eat. They lived in a freezing, cockroach-infested room, and her grandma would sell hair clips in the market just to bring some money home. IU recalled sleeping in studios just so she could get a proper meal. She's also spoken about struggling with an eating disorder while growing up. 'Because I was so stressed, even the smallest thing would actually make my skin crawl. I was really unhappy. Once I started disliking myself, there was no end to that. I kept digging deeper and deeper into a hole of self-pity. I was so lethargic and felt like I only had two choices, sleep or eat. So whenever I wasn't sleeping, I was binge eating,' she told SBS. Also Read: Park Bo Gum shocks IU with harsh beauty confession, admits to starving himself for clear skin: 'I skipped meals' While growing up, IU's own relatives used to mock her, saying she'd never make it as a singer. But instead of backing down, it only made her hungrier to prove them wrong. She auditioned for over 20 agencies and got rejected by every single one, including JYP Entertainment. JYP, one of the biggest K-pop labels, led by Park Jin Young, has since publicly admitted that they regret letting her go. What stung more than rejection, though, were the scams, fake entertainment companies promising her a role on TV and then vanishing, stealing money from a kid who was already scraping by. At 15, she finally signed with Loen Entertainment (now Kakao M) and debuted with the song 'Lost Child'. But her debut didn't exactly get a warm welcome. The track, a mature, melancholic ballad, was way ahead of time and different from the bubbly, soft concepts people expected from young female idols at the time. During her first public performance, people in the audience booed her, shouting for her to get off the stage. The album flopped. But IU kept climbing, slow and steady, until songs like 'Boo' and 'Marshmallow' finally started getting attention. In 2010, she got her first real breakthrough with the release of 'Good Day'. The song, still iconic for its three-step high note, became a massive hit across the country. That's when IU earned the nickname 'Nation's Little Sister'. The success and money that came with it helped her pay off all her family's debts, a huge personal and emotional milestone for her. But despite finally making it, she never got the chance to finish her studies. 'College entrance is for those who worked hard for it. I won't even have time to actually have a college life, so I will not be pursuing a college education,' she said in an interview. By 2011, she was unstoppable, dropping hits like 'The Red Shoes,' 'My Old Story,' 'Friday,' and 'Last Fantasy,' all topping charts in Korea and even landing on the Billboard K-pop Hot 100. In 2015, IU took full control of her music with the album Chat-Shire, and by 2020, she was running the game. But her second biggest setback hit when her close friend Sulli (former f(x) member) died in October, reportedly taking her own life. IU delayed her album release. Just days later, another friend, Goo Hara of KARA, also passed away. IU was mid-performance when she got the news. She had already lost SHINee's Jonghyun in 2017. Fans feared she'd spiral. But after taking time, she made a strong comeback. First with a song for Crash Landing on You, and that May, she dropped 'Eight,' produced by and featuring BTS' SUGA. In 2021, her track 'Celebrity' became a TikTok sensation, and skyrocketed IU to global fame. With her talent, clean image, and philanthropic work, IU is now one of the most respected singer-songwriters in the business.
Korea Herald
01-08-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Guilt-free shopping, calming art and cool games
"No buy July" is over, making this a perfect time to shop guilt-free at a Goodwill Store. If you are going to the mall to escape the heat, why not add an exhibition to your list? The oppressive heat is a perfect excuse to indulge in a gaming lounge to try new games or play your favorites. Here are some suggestions for the weekend. Where shopping meets giving What if shopping could spark joy and create social good? At the Goodwill Store by Milal Foundation, it does just that. With 42 locations nationwide, including one tucked into the basement of Woori Financial Group's headquarters in central Seoul, this network of donation-based shops offers more than just secondhand bargains — it invites you to be part of a meaningful mission. You may walk in without knowing exactly what you'll find, but that's part of the charm. On any given day, shelves are full of surprises: a lightly used guitar or violin, a vintage sewing machine, wine glasses, ceramic bowls, sports gear or barely-worn sneakers. The inventory changes constantly, depending on what generous donors bring in. If you have clean, functional items to spare, you can drop them off at donation counters conveniently located at each store. What makes Goodwill Stores especially impactful is the team behind the counter. Many of the employees are people with disabilities, gaining valuable work experience and building confidence in a supportive environment. Every purchase you make helps fund job training and social programs that promote inclusion and independence. Goodwill Store Woori Financial Group Headquarters 51 Sogong-ro, Jung District, Seoul Take a breather with tranquil paintings If you are looking for a reprieve from city life, why not escape into the serene beauty of Alice Dalton Brown's paintings? Located on the 6th floor of The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido, Alt.1 is a multipurpose exhibition space that regularly hosts a range of shows. Currently, "In A Moment, Forever," a major solo exhibition of works by the renowned American painter, is being held. Some 120 works, spanning from Brown's early pieces from 1957 to her latest works from 2025, are on show, along with over 40 sketches and props that offer deeper insight into her creative process. Known for her meditative landscapes of everyday life, Brown was born in 1939 in Danville, Pennsylvania. She studied at Oberlin College and moved to New York in 1970, where she began building her international presence. Her works are part of the permanent collections at prestigious institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Admission is 20,000 won for adults, 15,000 won for teenagers and 12,000 won for children. The exhibition runs through Sept. 20. The Hyundai Seoul Alt. 1 108 Yeouidaero, Yeongdengpo-gu, Seoul Hide out at this cozy gaming lounge With the relentless heat waves, heading outside this summer has become more of a hazard than a leisure option. Fortunately, there's a perfect indoor escape: a fully air-conditioned space designed for casual hangouts and immersive gaming sessions. Whether you're going alone or spending time with friends, Lounge PlayStation Room offers access to PlayStation 4 Pro, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch consoles — all connected to large screens for an elevated gaming experience. Choose a sofa, pick a game and press start. You'll need to stick with your selected title for at least 30 minutes before switching. If you're not sure what to play, ask the manager — they're happy to recommend something beginner-friendly or a fan favorite. The lounge also caters to co-op fans, with a library of popular multiplayer and couple-friendly games such as It Takes Two, Overcooked, Mario Party and Split Fiction. Pricing is budget-friendly. 3,000 won gets you 50 minutes per person, with an additional charge of 100 won for every two minutes thereafter. If you need fuel for your sessions, a selection of snacks, microwaveable meals and drinks is available on-site. Open daily from 12 p.m. to 3 a.m., this gaming hideout is an ideal weekend retreat — especially when home feels a little too stuffy and the outside weather too hot. 12 Jandari-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul gypark@
Korea Herald
20-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Woori Financial unveils AI-led growth strategy
Woori Financial Group held a business management strategy meeting Friday to share its vision for growth centered on group-wide synergy and a shift toward artificial intelligence. Woori Financial Chair Yim Jong-ryong highlighted that the group will pursue synergy following the recent acquisition of Tongyang Life Insurance and ABL Life Insurance earlier this month, in addition to the launch of Woori Investment & Securities last year. "Now that Woori Financial has completed its transition into a comprehensive financial group with the inclusion of a securities firm and insurance companies, this is truly a golden time to demonstrate real synergy," Yim said. He further stressed the need to push for a company-wide shift to integrate artificial intelligence, which the firm labeled as AI Transformation, or AX. "AI is no longer just a tool. It is a partner we work alongside. Those who understand and know how to leverage AI will become the key talents of the future," Yim said. Oak Il-Jin, head of the digital and IT unit at Woori Financial, shared the strategic direction of the group's AX efforts. Twenty-five working-level staff members in charge of AX were introduced, sharing their insights from the field as well. Lee Jae-jin, professor of computer science and engineering at Seoul National University, gave a lecture, highlighting the importance of securing high-quality training data to support the AI transformation. Friday's meeting was Woori's first group-wide business management strategy event since the addition of the two new insurers, bringing together some 400 executives and employees from all affiliates, including banking, insurance, card services and securities.
Korea Herald
20-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Woori Financial unveils AI-led growth plan after insurer M&As
Woori Financial Group held a business management strategy meeting Friday to share its vision for growth centered on group-wide synergy and a shift toward artificial intelligence. Woori Financial Chair Yim Jong-ryong highlighted that the group will pursue synergy following the recent acquisition of Tongyang Life Insurance and ABL Life Insurance earlier this month, in addition to the launch of Woori Investment & Securities last year. "Now that Woori Financial has completed its transition into a comprehensive financial group with the inclusion of a securities firm and insurance companies, this is truly a golden time to demonstrate real synergy," Yim said. He further stressed the need to push for a company-wide shift to integrate artificial intelligence, which the firm labeled as AI Transformation, or AX. "AI is no longer just a tool. It is a partner we work alongside. Those who understand and know how to leverage AI will become the key talents of the future," Yim said. Oak Il-Jin, head of the digital and IT unit at Woori Financial, shared the strategic direction of the group's AX efforts. Twenty-five working-level staff members in charge of AX were introduced, sharing their insights from the field as well. Lee Jae-jin, professor of computer science and engineering at Seoul National University, gave a lecture, highlighting the importance of securing high-quality training data to support the AI transformation. Friday's meeting was Woori's first group-wide business management strategy event since the addition of the two new insurers, bringing together some 400 executives and employees from all affiliates, including banking, insurance, card services and securities.
Korea Herald
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
Seoul shares soar nearly 2% as US-led trade talks to continue till Aug.
South Korean stocks closed higher for two sessions in a row Tuesday as investors were relieved with US President Donald Trump's letters to trade partners that extend the deadline for tariff talks to the start of next month. The local currency fell slightly against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 55.48 points, or 1.81 percent, to close at 3,114.95. Trade volume was heavy at 735.5 million shares worth 13.2 trillion won ($9.65 billion), with gainers outnumbering decliners 643 to 240. Foreign investors led the bullish mode, scooping a net 251.6 billion won worth of stocks, and institutions bought a net 21.6 billion won. However, individuals dumped a net 263.1 billion won. Earlier in the day, Trump unveiled a letter addressed to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, saying that the United States will start imposing 25 percent tariffs on South Korean products on Aug. 1. He also sent such letters to Japan and other countries. Analysts said that the letter is negative for South Korea but it brushed off uncertainties over US tariff policies. Washington imposed country-specific reciprocal tariffs in April but placed a 90-day pause, which was set to end Tuesday. Financial and energy shares were among the biggest winners. Hana Financial Group surged 10.27 percent to 94,500 won, and Woori Financial Group soared 8.32 percent to 25,400 won. Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance jumped 5.11 percent to 463,000 won, and Kyobo Securities vaulted 9.1 percent to 9,110 won. Korea Electric Power Corp. rose 4.46 percent to 38,650 won, and Doosan Enerbility advanced 5.88 percent to 66,600 won. Carmakers also finished in positive territory, with industry leader Hyundai Motor gaining 1.2 percent to 211,000 won and its sister Kia adding 0.51 percent to 99,100 won. However, Samsung Electronics lost 0.49 percent to 61,400 won following its worse-than-expected second-quarter earnings guidance. The world's largest memory chipmaker estimated its second-quarter operating profit plunged 55.9 percent from a year earlier due to sluggish chip business and the fallout from US trade policies, missing market expectations. The local currency was quoted at 1,367.9 won against the greenback at 3:30 p.m., down 0.1 won from the previous session. (Yonhap)
