IU is pushing back her Goyang Stadium concert and new album to focus on her health.
On the 20th, IU's agency, EDAM Entertainment, released an official statement to explain the decision, stating, "After careful consideration, both the company and IU concluded that her current ear condition makes it difficult for her to perform," and added:
"Putting her health first, we have decided to reschedule her Goyang Stadium concert, future performances, and the release of her sixth full-length album."
IU also personally reached out to fans on the fan communication platform, Berriz, opening up about her condition:
"Recently, my chronic ear condition, Patulous Eustachian Tube, has gotten worse."
For context, Patulous Eustachian Tube (PET) is a medical condition that happens when the small tube connecting the middle ear to the back of the nose stays open when it should be closed. Usually, this tube only opens briefly when swallowing or yawning to balance ear pressure. When it stays open, sounds like your own voice or breathing echo loudly inside your head, causing an uncomfortable full or stuffed feeling in the ear.
While PET isn't life-threatening and doesn't usually disrupt everyday life, it makes it really tough for a singer to control their pitch and breathing on stage. It is believed that this condition is triggered by severe fatigue and stress, leading some to speculate that the intense online harassment IU faced earlier this year affected her health.
IU candidly opened up about her frustration, saying, "Looking back, I think I've pushed myself too hard over the past few years without paying enough attention to my physical condition because I was so focused on work." She added:
"Recently, the symptoms have continued day and night for several days at a time, and I keep finding it difficult to regain my normal condition when I sing."
IU explained, "For my sixth full-length album, not only has the recording been finished, but the jacket photos and most of the post-production work have also been completed. However, because the promotional schedule was centered around the concert and tour, I had no choice but to postpone the release."
She expressed how heartbroken she feels about the sudden pause, adding, "I was able to complete the studio recordings safely, but medical experts advised that it would be too much for me to perform concerts for the time being, especially since they involve extensive movement and heavy sweating." She continued:
"I'm heartbroken and sorry that I can't keep my promise to my fans. I feel like I've ruined all of our plans for the second half of the year."
She promised fans she will focus on treatment and recovering her condition during the second half of the year, stating, "I'll do my best to make sure the wait isn't too long and return as soon as possible with both a new album and concerts... I promise to be back with my fans no later than the beginning of 2027."
Meanwhile, IU has continued taking legal action against malicious commenters. On the 15th, she filed a legal request to Meta in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to track a Threads account identified as @7h****. According to her side, this anonymous user has posted 52 defamatory and false statements between March and October of last year. Previously, her agency also filed both civil and criminal lawsuits against 96 individuals accused of posting malicious comments last year.
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