IU has compared sunbae solo singers, Lee Hyori and Uhm Jung Hwa.
On the February 26th episode of “Jung Jae Hyung and Lee Hyori’s You and I“, IU appeared as the featured guest. As IU entered the studio, Lee Hyori revealed a signed CD that she received from IU during her debut days. In the CD, IU wrote “Lee Hyori sunbaenim, I am new singer IU. I am happy to have seen your performance. I will do my best from now on.”
Lee Hyori said, “At the time I was in the midst of my ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang‘ activities. As you all know, I wore really heavy makeup for that promotion, and so when I met younger hoobae singers, they all shook in fright.”
To IU, Lee asked, “What is my image like among hoobae girl groups?“, to which IU replied, “You are a really really senior singer.”
IU continued, “I met Uhm Jung Hwa sunbae a few times, and everytime I went to greet her, she received me with a warm smile“. When Lee Hyori jokingly protested her scary image in comparison to Uhm Jung Hwa, IU hurriedly added, “I think it is because Hyori sunbae’s songs are all really charismatic songs while Uhm Jung Hwa sunbae’s representative song is the light-hearted ‘Festival‘“.
Lee Hyori sighed and said, “I can’t even say anything because IU is too cute. I will try to be a more approachable sunbae from now on.”