IU recently made headlines after paying a heartfelt visit to an art exhibition inspired by the Netflix series When Life Gives You Tangerines.
Fans shared posts about IU’s surprise appearance at a Jeju exhibition on June 19th featuring artwork by elderly artists who had illustrated scenes from the show.
Despite her packed schedule, IU kept her promise to the Jeju halmangs (grandmothers), and her visit quickly went viral.
The exhibition organizers later posted, “Ae Soon has returned to Jeju,” alongside several photos of her visit.
Instagram에서 이 게시물 보기
“She told us she came to keep her promise,” they wrote. “Seonheul Art Studio is a creative space for the halmangs, who all became painters after a lifetime of farming. Their average age is 87.” They added with affection, “Ae Soon said she’d quietly browse the exhibit, but instead showed up like Santa—arms full of gifts.”
Wearing gloves as per exhibition rules, IU carefully chose a “companion art bag” and spent time admiring paintings of Gwan Sik, sunflowers, and more. She even prepared handwritten letters for the artists.
“IU opened her arms and embraced the halmangs in solidarity,” the organizers shared. “It was a beautiful act of loyalty—keeping her promise and deepening their bond.” They added poetically, “Ae Soon laid a silk scarf like a red carpet before the halmangs and tied a magical cape around their shoulders.”
Instagram에서 이 게시물 보기
One special detail especially touched hearts—IU’s gift to one of the halmangs was a luxury Hermès scarf.
Netizens were quick to praise her gesture: “She looked so sincere admiring their artwork”, “She’s so loyal, even with her busy schedule”, “Her gift choice was perfect” and “And how did she find a floral Hermès scarf that matched so well?”
>> From IU to G-Dragon: How Stars Handled South Korean Presidential Election
Source (1)
