On December 17, IU was hailed as "Artist of the Year" by Billboard Korea, the soloist icon behind the hits "Love Wins All" and "Holssi," released this year.
The track "Love Wins All," which featured BTS' V in the official music video, rose to No. 1 on South Korea's major music charts, such as MelOn's Top 100. The song also earned 339 Perfect All-Kills (PAK), as per iChart.
These feats were honored by Billboard, which launched its new Global No. 1 series, spotlighting top-charting artists from around the world. Dua Lipa was selected as the UK's No. 1 artist, with Cai Xukun the representative in China, among others.
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Beyond IU's domination of music charts, she also led a successful world tour, HEREH, boasting 31 sold-out performances globally in Asia, Europe, and North America. In addition, IU wrote history as the first-ever Korean soloist to perform at the Philippine Arena, the world's largest indoor venue in Manila.
In an interview released by Billboard, the star shared her thoughts on her popularity regardless of age and gender.
"I believe the support I've received reflects an appreciation for my consistent hard work," she said, adding to her reason for having a "more approachable and relatable" aura.
As they delve deeper into her next moves as Billboard Korea's top artist, IU hinted at her plans to work with international artists, a tact she refused to commit to in the past despite receiving countless offers.
"The idea of collaborating with artists who spoke different languages felt daunting. I turned down those opportunities then," she explained.
"But I don't feel the same way anymore. Now, I'm much more open to the idea of working with global artists."
Which global artist do you want IU to have a collab with?
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