IU Donates $200K to Charity on Her Birthday

When Korean actress and singer IU turned another year older this May 16, she marked the occasion by giving $200,000 to people in need.

The star of the hit drama Perfect Crown donated the funds under the name "IUAENA," a combination of her stage name and her fanbase UAENA. Her agency EDAM Entertainment confirmed the contribution split across five organizations helping patients facing financial hardship, at-risk youth, elderly people living alone, single mothers, and people with disabilities.

IU sent $66,000 to Asan Medical Center to help patients who can't afford treatment. She distributed the remaining funds equally among four other charities: Walking With Us supports children and teens with educational programs, Milk Delivery to Check on the Elderly serves isolated seniors, the Korean Unwed Mothers Families Association helps vulnerable single-parent households, and Walk Together provides advanced assistive devices for people with disabilities.

This birthday donation continues a pattern the 33-year-old has maintained throughout her career. Just eleven days earlier on Children's Day, she donated another $33,000 to support young people across Korea.

Last year, IU contributed $133,000 toward wildfire recovery and improving working conditions for firefighters in southeastern Korea. She routinely gives during her birthday, debut anniversary, Children's Day, and year-end celebrations.

Sunny's Take

IU's generosity goes beyond writing checks. She personally writes handwritten letters and prepares gifts for child actors she works with on set, showing that kindness shows up in small gestures too.

Her consistent giving earned recognition in 2019 when Forbes Asia named her to its Heroes of Philanthropy list at just 26 years old, making her the youngest person honored. Since debuting at age 15, she has turned every career milestone into an opportunity to help others.

Her fans have embraced this spirit of giving, which is why she chooses to donate under a name that includes them.