IU Tops 2025 Gallup Korea Singer Rankings, Places Second in Actress Category
IU claimed the top spot among younger Korean voters in Gallup Korea's 2025 year-end survey while maintaining strong support across all demographics, reinforcing her position as the nation's most versatile entertainer.
The 32-year-old singer-songwriter secured first place with 20.1% among respondents aged 13-39 in the favorite singer category, according to the prestigious poll released on December 22. She also ranked sixth among voters over 40 with 7.7%, making her one of only two artists to place in both age brackets' top 10 alongside trot singer Lim Young Woong.
In the actress rankings, IU took second place with 11.3%, trailing only Park Bo Gum at 13.3%.
Chart Dominance Continues
IU's song "Bye, Summer" ranked ninth among under-40 voters with 2.9% in the favorite songs category. BLACKPINK's "JUMP" topped the list at 10.7%, followed by Rosé and Bruno Mars' "APT." at 10.2%.
The singer has maintained top rankings in Gallup Korea's annual surveys since 2011, previously claiming first place in 2014 and 2017.
2025 Music Releases
IU released her third remake album "A Flower Bookmark, Pt. 3" in May 2025, featuring reinterpretations of Korean classics including Boohwal's "Never Ending Story," Park Hye Kyung's "Red Shoes," and Seo Taiji's "October 4th." The title track's music video paid homage to the 1998 film "Christmas in August," starring actor Heo Nam Jun.
During her September 2024 world tour encore at Seoul World Cup Stadium, she debuted "Bye Summer"-a song created specifically for the concert with no plans for official release.
Netflix Drama Success
IU's Netflix series "When Life Gives You Tangerines" premiered March 7, 2025, co-starring Park Bo Gum. Playing dual roles as Oh Ae Soon and her daughter Yang Geum Myeong, IU earned critical acclaim for distinguishing the two characters through nuanced performance.
The romantic drama, set across decades in Jeju Island, won four awards at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards including Best Drama, with the series becoming one of Netflix's most-discussed Korean releases of 2025.
Survey Methodology
Gallup Korea conducted three survey rounds in July, September, and November 2025, polling 5,148 respondents aged 13 and older nationwide (excluding Jeju Island). Participants selected up to three favorite singers through open-ended responses.
Among over-40 voters, trot singers dominated with Lim Young Woong taking first at 29.1%, followed by Jang Yoon Jung (12.3%) and Lee Chan Won (12.0%).
IU's dual success in both music and acting categories demonstrates her sustained influence across Korean entertainment, maintaining relevance among both younger audiences and older demographics typically dominated by trot artists.
