South Korean superstar IU has reached a major milestone on YouTube. Her channel “Lee Ji Geum” (a play on her real name Lee Ji-eun) has crossed 10 million subscribers, earning her the prestigious Diamond Play Button.
On May 14, 2025, IU posted an unboxing video titled “The Diamond Button Has Finally Arrived #IU #I jigeum #10Million”. In the clip, she excitedly opened the award while saying, “How pretty will it be?” When she saw it, she gasped and said, “Wow!”
The Diamond Play Button is a heavy, shiny plaque with her channel name engraved on the back. IU joked, “They don’t take it back if the subscriber count drops, right?” She then promised to keep growing her channel.
“This diamond button is something we’ve made together,” she told fans. “I filmed myself when we hit 10 million subscribers, and I was over the moon. I’m glad I got to witness that moment.”
IU’s YouTube journey began in February 2017. Over 8 years and 2 months, her channel grew with music videos, behind-the-scenes clips, and personal vlogs. Fans love her content, especially “IU TV” and “IU’s Palette.”
When her channel reached 10 million subscribers on April 7, 2025, IU posted a live reaction. She held a tablet showing the subscriber count in real time. As the numbers climbed, she cheered with her manager, honking a car horn in celebration.
“Thank you for 10 million and 13 subscribers,” she said playfully, updating the count repeatedly. Her manager joked that the video would never end if she kept counting.
Many friends and colleagues congratulated her. IU admitted, “It still doesn’t feel real.” Her most memorable upload? The April Fool’s Day prank where she pretended to drive (she doesn’t have a license). The video fooled even industry insiders.
Now, IU has set her sights on the next YouTube milestone—the Ruby Play Button, given to channels with 50 million subscribers. “I thought the Diamond Button was the last one,” she said. “But now I know there’s a Ruby Button. I should aim for that!”
Apart from YouTube, IU continues her successful music and acting career. She recently starred in Netflix’s “When Life Gives You Tangerines” and will release a remake album, “A Flower Bookmark 3,” on May 27, 2025.
Also Read: IU Announces Comeback With “Flower Bookmark 3” Album Featuring Cha Eun Woo; Teaser Drops
Fans worldwide celebrated her achievement, flooding the comments with love. One fan wrote, “No one deserves this more than IU!” Another added, “Her humble reaction is why we love her.”
