IU recently opened up about her family dynamics, inheritance, and her striking resemblance to her younger brother during her appearance on the web entertainment show “Salon Drip 2,” which aired on YouTube on March 11. Hosted by comedian Jang Do-yeon, the episode featured IU discussing her latest projects, including her upcoming Netflix series, “When Life Gives You Tangerines.”
IU, often regarded as an introvert, humorously acknowledged her unexpected reputation as a social butterfly in the entertainment industry. “I actually have about four group chats,” she admitted, but emphasized that the most important one is her family chat, which includes 11 members.
“Our family is quite large, about 12 people. Due to our family circumstances, I grew up living with my older cousins. Although we don’t share the same last name, I consider them my real sisters. Both of them are now married and each has a child. Then there’s my mom, dad, grandmother, younger brother, and me,” she explained.
She also shared insights into her playful relationship with her younger brother: “Everyone has a role within a family. Whenever my younger brother says something, I always have a little comeback for him. It’s not that I intentionally want to tease him – it’s just part of our routine, almost like a show.”
Comedian and host Jang Do-yeon then brought up an amusing rumor, “I heard your brother transferred schools because you two looked too similar.” IU burst into laughter before confirming, “Yeah, we do look a lot alike. On my worst days, I basically look just like him.”
Reflecting on how their appearances have changed over time, she added, “He was really cute when he was little, but now he’s taken a different path. Since I’m in an industry where I’m always seen, I have to take care of my appearance, but he doesn’t need to, so he just lives however he wants,” drawing laughter from the audience.
Beyond these lighthearted family anecdotes, IU also made an unexpected revelation about her inheritance. While discussing the topic, she shared, “I actually asked my parents how they planned to divide it, and my dad said, ‘We’ll split it equally among the four of you.’ So I just said, ‘I’m fine, I’ll opt out—just divide it into thirds instead.’” Her decision left many surprised, highlighting her independent approach to finances.
Although IU has chosen to forgo any family inheritance, she has built an impressive real estate portfolio of her own. In 2022, she purchased a luxury apartment in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, for 13 billion KRW (approximately 9 million USD). She also owns a studio in Gwa-cheon, Gyeong-gi Province, which she bought for 4.6 billion KRW (approximately 3.2 million USD), and a private villa in Yang-pyeong County, Gyeong-gi Province, worth approximately 3 billion KRW (approximately 2.1 million USD), reportedly used as a vacation home.
These investments reflect her keen financial acumen, further reinforcing her decision to manage her wealth independently.