As expected, IU is No.1 singer “No.1 in deceiving fans too?”
Singer-actress IU (real name Lee Ji-eun) has solidified her position as an irreplaceable female solo artist by sweeping the top spot not only on music charts but also on music broadcasts
She has also earned the title of “The Epitome of Positive Influence” by consistently donating to the underprivileged and participating in campaigns to find missing children.
She has also shown exceptional love for her fans. On the occasion of her 15th debut anniversary exhibition, IU personally handed out individual cards. During her concerts, she even showcased her devotion to fans by giving out sitting cushions to those sitting on hard chairs for a long time.
In February, when a grandfather residing in the United States uploaded a YouTube video asking about joining Uaena (IU’s fandom), IU responded by sharing the link on her personal SNS, expressing her happiness and inviting him to her upcoming concert in the US.
However, IU has remained tight-lipped amidst controversy surrounding misunderstanding illegal ticket transactions. A fan named A’s unfortunate situation came to light when they published a lengthy post titled “Request for Explanation of IU Concert Ticket (Why)” on their personal blog.
According to A’s post, they successfully pre-booked tickets for the 2024 IU H.E.R. WORLD TOUR CONCERT IN SEOUL at KSPO DOME. However, their tickets were flagged as illegal transaction because a friend made the payment on their behalf. Despite providing documents such as ID, payment confirmation and the ticketing process, A felt uncomfortable with the excessive personal information requested.
A shared conversation records with their friend to explain why the tickets were purchased on their behalf. Fortunately, A received a confirmation message from Melon Ticket before the concert, ensuring they could attend.
However, on the day of the concert, A did not receive their tickets. Despite providing confirmation page and ID at the ticket booth, A was told the tickets had been taken. Even after showing their certificate at the agency booth, they still didn’t receive the tickets. Consequently, A was permanently expelled from IU’s official fan club Uaena due to alleged unauthorized ticketing and failure to verify their identity properly.
IU’s agency EDAM Entertainment apologized to A but uploaded the apology to the official fan cafe where A could not access. The controversy continued afterwards. Some netizens tried to confirm A’s absence by checking videos and photos taken inside the venue, but they found someone occupying A’s seat. EDAM Entertainment claimed the seat wasn’t resold or given away.
EDAM Entertainment admitted to monitoring the venue through cameras but could only confirm who was in their seat or not, unable to determine if the person moved from another seat.
Fans criticized IU’s agency rather than IU herself. However, past incidents such as IU gifting tickets to the grandfather in the US, offering tickets to comedians Yoo Jae-suk and Yang Se-chan, and past incidents involving fans buying tickets for their technologically inexperienced parents all surfaced, drawing criticism.
A’s story spread worldwide, bringing attention to the useless perks of fan clubs. EDAM Entertainment’s ineffective response fueled criticism. Fans demanded clear explanations rather than vague justifications to avoid losing more fans.
IU, aware of her fans’ unwavering support, needs to address the issues transparently. Otherwise, regret may come when it’s too late.
