“I can’t believe it.”
These were the words of an elderly American man, his hair gray with age, upon receiving a concert invitation from the South Korean singer IU. With his hand on his chest, Zev’s face lit up with joy.
Zev, a 76-year-old man who runs ‘Zev Does KDrama’ on YouTube, shares videos related to IU, capturing the singer’s attention. IU reached out to Zev personally to extend the concert invitation, a gesture that has since sparked widespread discussion among internet users both in Korea and internationally.
On Feb. 21, IU shared a clip of the elderly gentleman on her Instagram, accompanied by a heartfelt message: “Hi, Grandpa! Your videos made me happy. I want to make you happy for a long time. I really appreciate your smile. I’d like to invite you to my concert in America.”
The “grandpa” IU mentioned is the American YouTuber Zev Does KDrama, who dubs himself “Grandpa Uaena,” a nod to the name of IU’s official fan club. His YouTube channel mainly features his reactions to IU’s music videos.
In an introductory video, Zev shared that he retired from a 30-year career as a software engineer. After retiring, his fascination with Korean dramas sparked an interest in Korean culture. He said, “I found the expression in Korean dramas and their point of view on life really refreshing. Beyond that, I became completely enamored with discovering Korean culture.”
He added, “I watch Korean dramas for four to six hours daily. It’s my new job, and I even got my wife to become a fan of Korean dramas within a year.”
Zev’s YouTube debut was a video titled “Why I Love IU,” where he expressed his admiration for IU. He humorously inquired, “How can I join IU’s fan club from the United States?” and attempted Korean phrases like, “Hi, I’m a big fan of IU. I’m IU’s grandpa.”
Upon hearing of IU’s invitation, Zev could not contain his excitement. In a subsequent video, he exclaimed, “My heart is beating so fast,” “I can’t believe it,” and “Oh my God,” his happiness is evident as he beams and puffs up his chest with pride. Responding to a friend’s light-hearted warning about not having a heart attack before the concert, Zev replied, “I’m actually healthy.”
He concluded, “I found out this morning that IU is inviting me to her concert in America! I can’t calm down.” In the video description, he praised IU, saying, “IU is such a sweet person. As great as her talent is, so is her heart. Thank you so much, IU. This means so much to me.”
