“My flight got canceled, so for the first time in my life, I ended up being driven through the night on the highway for 10 hours straight...”
K-pop singer-songwriter IU (31, Lee Ji-eun) began the North American leg of her ‘2024 IU HEREH WORLD TOUR CONCERT’ this month, with her third U.S. performance at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, DC, on the 22nd. The arena, home to the NBA’s Washington Wizards and a popular venue for major international artists, hosted the sold-out concert, which had drawn considerable attention from American media and locals since tickets went on sale. Fans were especially moved by IU’s dedication, demonstrated by her 10-hour car journey to the venue after her flight was canceled.
During the concert, IU shared a story about her journey. Since July. 19, U.S. airports have been dealing with numerous flight cancellations due to issues with Microsoft’s cloud service. IU, who was supposed to fly from Atlanta to Washington for her performance that day, was affected by these cancellations. She explained in English how she ended up taking a car for 10 hours to reach the concert venue. IU said, “It was really tough, but hearing your cheers during the opening made it all worth it.” The audience responded with thunderous applause.
IU also expressed her joy, stating, “I am the happiest person in the world today.” She continued, “My name is IU, and I am so glad to meet you for the first time, Washington,” marking the start of the main performance. She then performed a series of her hit songs, beginning with “Holssi,” a track she wrote and released in February this year, followed by “Celebrity,” “eight,” “Meaning of You,” “Through the Night,” and “YOU & I.” A particularly memorable moment occurred when the audience sang along to “Meaning of You” towards the end of the concert. This duet, originally performed with Kim Chang-wan, who is 40 years her senior, has been cherished by fans since its release in 2014.
This tour marks IU’s first U.S. tour in her 16-year career since debuting at 15 in 2008. Primarily known as a singer-songwriter and actress in Korean dramas and films, this tour serves as a ‘test bed’ to see if she can succeed as a ‘global artist’ on the American stage. Performing 25 songs over three hours, the singer appeared deeply moved throughout the event. Her parents, niece, and other family members were also present. After singing “Shopper,” IU said, “Honestly, I didn’t expect such a reaction,” and added, “I’m embarrassed to say, but this was one of the best ‘Shopper’ performances ever,” giving a deep bow in thanks. When she mentioned her niece, saying, “Auntie is doing this well,” and “Thank you for letting me keep my dignity in front of my niece,” the audience burst into laughter.
Although the concert has ended, American netizens on X (formerly Twitter) are still buzzing about IU’s 10-hour car ride to reach the venue. Comments include, “Driving from Atlanta to DC must have been tough,” “She has such a kind heart,” “She was a princess that night,” and “It was a beautiful night.”
