IU Shows Celebrity Friendship Loyalty After Blue Dragon Series Awards Win
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| IU / Courtesy of Instagram |
Korean actress and singer IU has become the center of attention for her recent actions, that is, she put the need to prove her friendship above her personal well-being. She even became a highlight at several concerts immediately after her history-making Best Actress win at the 4th Blue Dragon Film Awards on July 18. She marked an image that the industry called exemplary celebrity friendship culture as she attended the shows of Do Kyung-soo and TWICE, regardless of her own win of the first major acting award in Netflix's "When Life Gives You Tangerines" on the same evening.
Congratulations to IU for winning ‘Best Actress Award’ at the Blue Dragon Series Awards 2025! 🏆
— daph 💌 (@babiejieun) July 18, 2025
Beyond well-deserved!! 😭👏 pic.twitter.com/RifpvitfZM
The heart-rending speech IU had given at the awards was a rare moment of fragility in the artist's otherwise usually self-composed demeanor, who has been involved in the entertainment business for 17 years. Instead of having a quiet celebration or relaxing, she decided to attend the events and support her friends in the Korean entertainment industry. On July 19, she even went to TWICE's concert at Incheon Inspire Arena, and the next day, she supported Do Kyung-soo's performance in Korea University's Hwajeong Gymnasium on July 20. As a solid proof, the fans made the videos from the audience and they clearly showed her with beaming eyes waving her lightstick and singing along, which was the sign of her true excitement, while also sitting next to her old friend actress Yoo In-na.
The video that encapsulates the slavishness of the relationships among the showbiz personnel of Korea mirrors one of the central values of the country's entertainment sector dealing with the reality that personal relationships often come before individual accomplishment. The Hallyu (Korean Wave) phenomenon has completely changed the world's perception of South Korean entertainers and at the same time led to one very unfortunate result the one whereby the stars came under that much intensified moral scrutiny. Renowned industry specialists have been witnessed to become ever more of an influential part of determining the career prospects of Korean stars who have chosen to be an open book regarding their personal lives. In this specific instance, IU's move is especially well received by followers of the star who have always been attracted to her no-filter personality and natural friendships rather than the artificial nature of the entertainment industry
The Blue Dragon Series Awards, which has now entered its fourth year, is directed towards the Korean streaming series excellence, and represents the increase in the role of digital platforms in the Korean entertainment industry. The victory of IU in "When Life Gives You Tangerines" in the Best Actress category is not only her first but also the series has snatched the Grand Prize and other laurels. The fact that she decided to be of immediate assistance to her colleagues rather than to only gain from the media glare speaks of a collaborative spirit which has been the driving force of Korean entertainment on a global scale. Clearly, even with the Korean entertainment industry still in its phase of global expansion, it is undeniable that such instances of genuine friendship and professional solidarity are very strong triggers of artistic success that go beyond commercial undertakings.