IU, often referred to as the ‘Taylor Swift of K-pop’, wrapped up her inaugural world tour with a memorable finale in Los Angeles at the Kia Forum. The South Korean icon, whose real name is Lee Ji-eun, concluded her global journey by fulfilling numerous fan song requests during her performance.
Despite not yet achieving household name status in the United States, IU is a revered figure in South Korea, known affectionately as the nation’s little sister. She made her debut at just 15 years old and has since ascended to the pinnacle of both the music and television industries in her home country, earning acclaim for her acting roles in popular dramas like My Mister and Hotel del Luna.
Now 31, IU continues to enjoy immense popularity. Fans attending her August 2 concert in Los Angeles praised her enduring career and astute songwriting abilities, drawing comparisons to American superstar Taylor Swift.
IU’s HEREH World Tour kicked off in March in her hometown of Seoul and subsequently made stops in 17 cities worldwide, including Hong Kong, London, and Atlanta. The tour’s grand finale paid homage to Los Angeles, where IU performed her hit single “Celebrity” to a crowd of over 10,000 fans holding up pink banners proclaiming, “In the city of stars, you’re our celebrity.”
Beginning the concert with “Holssi” from her latest album, The Winning, IU highlighted the music video’s Los Angeles roots and featured local child backup dancers. Throughout the evening, she delighted the audience with a medley of hits including “BBIBBI,” “eight,” and “Shopper,” whose music video was also shot in LA. Other favorites like “Blueming,” “You and I,” and “Love Wins All” further showcased her versatility and charisma.
IU’s ethereal yet commanding vocals resonated throughout the Forum as she delivered signature ballads such as “Obliviate,” “Through the Night,” and her latest single “Love Wins All,” which featured scenes from the music video with BTS’ V projected on screen, eliciting thunderous applause from her devoted fans.
Between sets, IU expressed heartfelt gratitude and amazement at the overwhelming support she received throughout the tour, seamlessly switching between English and Korean to connect with her international audience. Leading up to the tour’s culmination, she admitted to experiencing sleepless nights, concerned about maintaining her health to complete all scheduled performances.
