South Korean singer and actress IU (Lee Ji-eun) is facing another round of online criticism after she used a song by her former boyfriend Jang Ki Ha as background music for her recent social media post. The move comes just weeks after she confirmed her breakup with actor Lee Jong Suk.
The 32-year-old artist shared multiple photos on August 6 with the caption “Living earnestly” on her social media account. She set the background music to “Living the Carefree Life” (별일 없이 산다), a track by Jang Ki Ha’s band Ki Ha & The Faces.
The choice quickly drew attention because Jang Ki Ha is currently in a public relationship with actor Yoon Ga Yi. This led to heated debates online about whether IU’s song selection was appropriate.
False Reports About Song Deletion Made Things Worse
On August 7, several media outlets reported that IU had deleted the song from her social media post. Some speculated she removed it out of consideration for Jang Ki Ha’s current girlfriend.
But these reports were not accurate. As of the time of publication, IU’s social media still had the song “Living the Carefree Life” by Ki Ha & The Faces set as background music.
The false reports caused additional problems for IU. Some netizens left malicious comments based on the incorrect claim that she had deleted the music. The misinformation spread quickly, leading to unexpected backlash against the singer.
A Look Back at IU’s Relationship History
IU and Jang Ki Ha first met in 2013 through a radio program hosted by Jang. They publicly acknowledged their relationship in 2015. The couple, who had an 11-year age gap, dated for about two years before announcing their breakup in 2017.
Though nine years have passed since their split, the song choice brought their past relationship back into focus. IU’s recent breakup with actor Lee Jong Suk in July 2026 added another layer to the situation.
IU and Lee Jong Suk had been in a public relationship for about four years after knowing each other as senior colleagues for a decade. They first met as MC and guest on SBS’s Inkigayo in 2012. Lee often showed support by attending IU’s solo concerts.
The timing of events also caught people’s attention. Jang Ki Ha publicly confirmed his relationship with 18-year-younger actor Yoon Ga Yi in late June, saying they had been dating for over two years. Just 13 days later, IU announced her breakup with Lee Jong Suk.
Mixed Reactions From Korean Netizens
The online community had strongly divided opinions about IU’s song choice.
Some netizens defended IU, arguing that people were reading too much into the situation:
“They broke up 10 years ago—this is unnecessary drama”
“The excessive criticism of IU is too harsh”
“Stop assigning meaning where there is none”
“It’s not even her most recent ex, it’s the ex before that. So what…? Maybe they parted on good terms”
Others felt the choice showed poor judgment:
“I’m fuming when I put myself in that position”
“If I were Yoon Gai, I’d be offended”
“Yoon Gai might feel uncomfortable”
“Why is she acting like that…?”
Some comments on Korean forum theqoo pointed out that IU has faced similar controversies before. One user wrote: “IU keeps ending up in controversies related to her ex-boyfriends. The pajama photo was like that, and now this too”.
Others took a more balanced view: “I figure that since both the person who dated him and the person making the news are IU herself, she must have included it because she’s fine with it”.
Related: IU and Byeon Woo Seok Apologize After ‘Perfect Crown’ Draws Fire for Historical Errors
Health Issues Add to IU’s Difficult Year
2026 has been a challenging year for IU. She has been dealing with eustachian tube dysfunction, a condition affecting the ear. The symptoms worsened, forcing her to postpone her September concert at Goyang Stadium and delay the release of her sixth regular album.
Her agency announced that IU needs to focus on treatment and rest. The singer has temporarily paused some of her演艺 activities.
IU made her first public appearance 10 days after halting activities due to health issues, attending the Blue Dragon Series Awards 2026 on July 31 as a presenter.
Legal Battles Against Malicious Rumors
Adding to her troubles, IU has been fighting online harassment through legal channels. In July 2026, her team filed a request with a U.S. federal court in the Northern District of California to identify an anonymous social media user.
The anonymous account reportedly posted 52 false statements about IU between March and October 2025. These included claims that she is Chinese, that she works for Chinese capital, accusations of plagiarism, and allegations of exploiting deceased peers for “death marketing”.
IU’s agency stated they would use the information obtained to file a defamation lawsuit in South Korea.
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What This Means for IU Going Forward
The song controversy adds to what many are calling a difficult year for the singer. From her breakup with Lee Jong Suk to health issues forcing her to cancel major plans, and now facing backlash over a social media post, IU has been in the spotlight for multiple reasons.
The false reports about her deleting the song show how quickly misinformation can spread and cause harm. Even though IU did not remove the music, some people reacted negatively based on incorrect information.
IU has not directly addressed the controversy. She continues to share updates with her fans, recently posting 46 photos across multiple social media updates.
The debate over whether celebrities should consider their ex-partners’ current relationships when making public choices is likely to continue. Some argue that after nearly a decade, a song choice should not matter. Others believe public figures have a responsibility to be mindful of how their actions might affect others.
For now, IU remains focused on her recovery and upcoming projects once her health improves.
Also Read: Lee Min-jung and Kim Ji-seok’s Marriage Turns Sour in New Drama ‘OK, Let’s Get Divorced’ Teaser
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Source: Naver
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