IU donates W200m on debut anniversary

Singer and actor IU marked her debut anniversary Friday by donating to organizations supporting vulnerable communities.

According to her agency, Edam Entertainment, IU donated 50 million won ($36,200) each to the Korea Social Welfare Society, Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital, the Heart-Heart Foundation and Habitat for Humanity Korea, totaling 200 million won.

The funds are expected to support a range of causes: helping youth aging out of the foster care system achieve financial independence, covering rehabilitation treatment costs for children and teenagers living in poverty, assisting young women with their livelihoods and mental health recovery, and improving housing conditions for veterans in their old age.

IU has maintained a tradition of donating under the name "IU-ANA" — a combination of her stage name and her official fan club name, "Uaena" — on meaningful occasions. This year, she donated 100 million won on Children's Day, May 5, and followed that with 300 million won on her birthday, May 16.

IU's philanthropic efforts have expanded steadily since her debut in 2008. She has donated to cover medical costs for children with pediatric cancer and rare diseases, and has extended support to grandparent-headed households, single mothers, elderly people living alone, low-income scholarship programs, and disaster relief efforts following Gangwon Province wildfires and heavy-rain flooding. Her known cumulative donations now exceed 5 billion won, and she has become a leading example of a star and fandom building a sustained culture of giving — well beyond one-off contributions.

IU is also performing well on the music front with her newly released digital single "From This Star." Both title tracks — "From This Star" and "Dear My Crazy Soulmate" — shot to the top of major streaming charts immediately after release.