Korean actress and singer IU topped the 2025 Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 list.

According to the magazine, IU’s estimated total annual income reached approximately 32 billion won or ₱1.25 billion, factoring in revenue from music, performances, television dramas, and commercial endorsements. 

She also earned top marks in media exposure, social media presence, broadcasting, and awards recognition.

IU recently completed her highly successful HEREH World Tour, which kicked off in Seoul on March 2, 2024, and wrapped up in the same city on September 22, 2024. The tour spanned across Asia, North America, and Europe.

Her most recent album, LILAC, released in March 2021, received platinum certification from the Korea Music Content Association.

This year, she starred in the global hit Netflix series When Life Gives You Tangerines. She played the role of Ae-sun and Geum-myeong in the K-Drama.

In a recent Netflix interview, shared that the emotional depth and unique structure of the story were key reasons for accepting the project.

"I think I was moved mostly by the fact that it is such a beautiful love story," she said. "And secondly, the fact that I get to portray different stages of life of one character, that was very appealing to me because it was a new challenge that I can take on as an actor."

She added: "Also, of course, the fact that I would be working alongside (Park) Bo-gum as my partner, that sealed the deal that is something I couldn't pass up."

IU also noted that the story extends beyond romantic love, focusing deeply on deep human connections and the essence of caring for each other. 

"That's something I truly felt while working on the series, and not just about the romantic love between Ae-sun and Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum), but also just the human-to-human and heart-to-heart relationships and solidarity is something that our series is speaking about," she stated.