Desk Report,
The girl who lived in a house full of cockroaches is now the richest singer in Korea
First ridicule, then rejection, then betrayal—she had to endure it all. But she built her empire by fighting hard while clinging to the ground. The story of this Korean singer is nothing less than a fairy tale.
The girl who lived in a house full of cockroaches is now the richest singer in Korea
There is no shortage of amazing success stories in the K-pop world. But IU’s story is a little different. While many are chasing international fame, she has remained in her own country, in her own culture. And Korea has loved her with all her heart. Now in 2025, she has maintained her position as the richest singer in South Korea—Lee Ji Eun, known as everyone’s favorite ‘Nation’s Little Sister’. Whom everyone knows as IU.
She debuted at just 15 years old, but behind her is a long story of starvation, rejection, betrayal, and unfinished friendship. Yet she never stopped fighting. According to Celebrity Net Worth, IU’s estimated wealth in 2025 is between $40 and $45 million. That means she is now the richest K-pop star in the world. Her success began with singing—she effortlessly turned down glamorous international offers.
Along with singing, IU has also gained fame as an actress. She has played the lead role in popular series like ‘Hotel Del Luna’ and ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’. She has written and produced songs for not only her own songs, but also for other artists. She is also associated with major luxury brands. She also has commercial contracts with major technology companies and mobile phone companies. IU was born in Songjong-dong, Seoul in 1993. Her childhood was spent in poverty. When the family was in debt, her parents could no longer afford the expenses. IU and her younger brother were forced to take up residence in their grandmother’s small, unsanitary house. That’s where her dream—to make a name for herself in the music industry—was born.
As a teenager, she would run to auditions wherever she heard about them. But she would often return empty-handed. In a YouTube interview, she said, “There was no food. I lived in a cold, insect-filled room. My grandmother sold hair clips to support her family.” She would sleep in the studio for food. At one point, she started having mental tension over food. In an interview with SBS, the singer-actress said, “There was so much pressure that my body would shiver over even the smallest things. I started hating myself. At that time, I felt like I only had two things to do—sleep or eat. I did nothing but eat.”
Failed auditions more than 20 times
IU’s own relatives also said that she could not become a singer. But that only made her more determined. She failed more than 20 auditions, including JAYP Entertainment—who later publicly admitted that turning IU away was a big mistake. But the betrayal hurt more than the rejection. Fake agencies would promise her acting and then disappear with money.
Finally, at the age of 15, Loen signed with Entertainment. Although she debuted with her first song, ‘Lost Child,’ it did not receive much response. This song, with a sad, adult theme, was completely different from the popular K-pop songs of the time. When she sang the song on her first stage, the audience directly shouted for her to leave the stage. The album was also a commercial failure.
However, IU did not stop. Gradually, her songs ‘Boo’ and ‘Marshmallow’ began to gain popularity.
‘Good Day’ changed the scene
In 2010, ‘Good Day’ was released. IU’s singing in the song was widely praised. The song caused a stir throughout Korea. From there, IU received the title of ‘Nation’s Little Sister.’ With success and money, she freed her family from debt. However, she did not continue her studies. In an interview, he said, “I don’t have the time to study at university, and I haven’t put in the effort required to study. So it’s not for me.”
