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260720 IU on Berriz 🍒
Hello, Uaena, our 8LIEN! Have you all been well?
It’s been such a long time since I last greeted you like this 🥹
I’ve been spending my days getting energy from reading the messages Uaena have been writing to me on Dear U through Berriz.
I did talk about this and that through a voice message in the June Behind the Scenes, but I’ve been having fun preparing the album, getting ready for the concert, filming commercials, and working out hard too!! ㅎㅎ Before I knew it, about two months had already flown by since my birthday.
Recently, I also did a jacket photoshoot with a unique tone (which I really, really love!), and this is an album where I’ve been working with new staff members more than usual. So, while discovering new sides of myself, I’ve been focusing on finishing up the album.
There are already several tracks that have gone through mixing, so I’ve been listening to the new album’s music all day long, having a happy little battle with myself like, “Is this song better?” or “Ah, today, this one is my favorite.” Anyway… I really think an album that I truly love has come out of this!
I’ll stop my little life update here.
Originally, I just wanted to come visit Berriz and talk about how I’ve been doing lately after such a long time, but there was something that had been weighing on my mind recently. I think that’s why I kept putting it off, one day at a time.
But I feel like now is the time to talk about it, so I’ve gathered the courage to write this post.
I didn’t want to make Uaena worry, so I’m sorry in advance that I have to share news like this.
I’ve been writing and deleting this post over and over, wondering where I should start, but I think it’s probably best to just get straight to the point.
The Goyang Stadium concert that was scheduled for this September will ultimately be difficult to proceed with.
Actually, recently, my long-standing patulous Eustachian tube symptoms have been getting worse. I’ve been doing my best to manage them and take care of myself, but the weather also seems to be having some effect… And I’ve also been wondering if, considering how I’ve been feeling over the past few years, I may have pushed myself a little too hard because I was too eager to keep working.
My ear symptoms have always been unpredictable, getting better and worse as they please, but recently, the symptoms have been continuing day and night for several days at a time. I’ve repeatedly found it difficult to get into the right condition to sing.
Thankfully, I was able to find my own way of managing things in the recording studio, and fortunately, I was able to make the album without putting myself under too much strain.
After living with this condition for several years, it doesn’t cause any major difficulties in my everyday life. However, singing is something that is directly connected to the condition of my ears. And unlike recording in a studio, holding concerts where I have to move around a lot and sweat heavily seems to be too much for me for the time being. That is also the opinion of the medical professionals I’ve consulted.
First of all, it weighs very heavily on my heart, and I’m so sorry that it looks like I won’t be able to keep my promise to hold a concert during the time I have together with our 8th Uaena.
I know very well that Uaena have been eagerly waiting for September.
I, too, really, really, really… want to perform. I want to sing with Uaena, scream together, and run around with you all. But even I can feel that, in my current condition, holding a concert in September would be too much for me.
Actually, starting with the Goyang concert this year, I had been planning a nationwide tour for the first time in a long while. I was supposed to greet our 8LIEN passionately in Goyang and then begin the nationwide tour together with our 9th Uaena.
I’m truly sorry that, because of the condition of my ears, it feels like I’ve ruined the second half of 2026 that could have been a happy time for all of us…
As I mentioned earlier, the new album I’ve been working on, the album that will become my sixth full-length album, was also planned with concerts and the tour as the main focus of its promotion. Since the album and the tour are inseparable, unfortunately, I think the album’s release will also have to be pushed back a little.
To come back after such a long time only to bring you disappointing news like this… I’m sure our Uaena must be really upset, and I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry that the words “I’m sorry” can’t possibly express how sorry I feel…
But I promise I’ll do everything I can to make sure you don’t have to wait too long. I’ll do my absolute best to bring you the new album and the concerts as soon as possible!
I’ll get treatment, take every measure I can, and focus all my efforts on getting back into better condition during the second half of the year. I’ll do everything I can, I’ll work like crazy so that at the very least, we can definitely be together at the beginning of 2027.
First of all, I was worried that Uaena would become even more concerned if you heard this news from articles before hearing it from me, so I wanted to honestly tell you what I can say right now, even if my thoughts are a little all over the place.
EDAM Entertainment will be making an official announcement later.
Once again, I’m so incredibly sorry to our Uaena who have been looking forward to the concert and the album…
But I also want to ask you not to worry too much.
The condition I have isn’t something that causes me pain or prevents me from living my everyday life. It’s simply that, because my profession is being a singer, I’ve made the decision that, in my current condition, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to give the audience a concert where I can make them happy while performing in my best possible condition.
So you don’t need to worry, thinking, “Is IU very sick?”
It’s been such a long time since my last full-length comeback, and both the company and I had prepared so many things. So I’m really sad that everything has to be postponed like this… and I’m endlessly sorry to everyone.
Still, if I try to end this post on as positive a note as possible…
The album is really good.. 🥹 It’s truly so diverse! New genres, new people I’ve worked with, new stories, and all kinds of activities and performances on a scale befitting a full-length album… None of these things are disappearing. Everything is only being postponed by a few months.
And since we have more time because of the postponement, I’ll use it to refine and improve whatever can be improved. I promise I’ll come back with even better results and activities that Uaena will be satisfied with.
So I hope you won’t be too sad.
I’m going to ask you to wait just a little longer. Please wait just a little bit. I’ll get better quickly and show you myself happily singing again. Just a little. Please… I’m sorry, Uaena.
Let’s leave the heavy topics for today. Just like I mentioned in my voice message, I’ll come visit you more often throughout July and talk about all sorts of things. Next time I come, I’ll come with a brighter mood!
I’m truly, truly sorry once again for making Uaena feel so unsettled with this news today… I’m really, really sorry for making you worry… I promise this will be the last time…!!
I’m truly sorry, and I love you so much.
I know I’m not really in a position to say this, but still, I hope you have a nice evening, eat something delicious, and sleep well tonight.
I really, really miss you.
