On August 6, IU uploaded several photos to her personal social media account with the caption: “Working hard and living life.” She paired the post with “Living Without Anything Special”, a song by Kiha & The Faces, the band fronted by Chang Ki-ha. The music selection immediately caught fans’ attention because of IU’s past relationship with the singer.
Chang Ki-ha is currently in a public relationship with actress Yoon Ga-i. The couple recently confirmed their romance after first meeting through SNL Korea Season 4 in 2023.
Following IU’s post, opinions online were divided. Some commenters praised IU for appearing mature and unbothered by the past, describing the song choice as a casual appreciation of good music. Others, however, argued that selecting her former boyfriend’s song while he is publicly dating someone else could be viewed as inconsiderate toward Yoon Ga-i.
As the discussion gained traction, IU removed the song from the post without making any public statement. Many observers interpreted the quiet edit as an effort to prevent further speculation and avoid prolonging the controversy.
IU and Chang Ki-ha were one of South Korea’s most talked-about celebrity couples. The two first met in 2013 on SBS PowerFM’s Chang Ki-ha’s Amazing Radio and later developed a romantic relationship. After confirming their relationship publicly in 2015, they dated for approximately two years before announcing their breakup in 2017.
The renewed attention comes during a difficult period for IU. The singer recently ended her long-term relationship with actor Lee Jong-suk after four years of dating. Shortly afterward, IU also announced that worsening symptoms of patulous Eustachian tube dysfunction had forced her to cancel her scheduled September concert at Goyang Stadium and postpone the release of her sixth full-length album.
Despite the online discussion surrounding her recent social media post, IU has not commented publicly on the reason for removing the song.
Sources: Nate