IU celebrates birthday with $145,000 donation and dinner with BTS’s V at luxury restaurant

IU / Xportsnews

K-pop star IU marked her 32nd birthday on May 16 with a generous donation and a widely discussed dinner outing that quickly made headlines across fan communities.

On May 15, a post in an online forum shared a photo of IU and BTS member V dining together at a high-end restaurant, sparking speculation that the two met to celebrate IU’s birthday. The photo, taken at the restaurant Mosu, showed two individuals resembling IU and V enjoying a meal together.

Fans believe the dinner was a personal reunion following their previous collaboration in the music video for IU’s 2024 single “Love wins all,” where the two artists captivated audiences with their chemistry.

A post in an online forum claims BTS member V was seen at the restaurant Mosu. Captured online

Mosu, the restaurant where they were reportedly seen, is operated by chef Ahn Sung-jae, who gained fame as a judge on the Netflix cooking competition “Culinary Class Wars.” Known for its elegant ambiance and refined cuisine, Mosu offers a 420,000 won (approximately $310) dinner course, adding further buzz to the celebrity sighting.

IU / Xportsnews

While the dinner drew fan nostalgia and excitement, IU’s birthday was also marked by a noteworthy act of generosity. On Friday, her agency EDAM Entertainment announced, “To celebrate her birthday, IU donated 50 million won to each of four different organizations, totaling 200 million won, under the name ‘IUAENA.’”

‘IUAENA’ is a combination of IU and her fan club UAENA, a name she consistently uses for birthday donations. Over the years, she has built a reputation as a “donation angel” for her philanthropic efforts timed with meaningful milestones.

Fans responded warmly to the dual headlines of generosity and camaraderie. “She’s admirable both for her wealth and her heart,” one user commented. Another added, “You can tell she truly gives consistently — wishing her the happiest birthday.”

As IU celebrates another year, anticipation is also building for her upcoming third remake album “A Flower Bookmark 3,” set to be released on May 27.

This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.