On April 3, 2025, OSEN reported that the talented singer and actress IU is set to be the distinguished guest at Yoo Byung-jae’s upcoming No Laughing Birthday Party, which will be broadcast on his YouTube channel. Yoo Byung-jae made this exciting announcement through an engaging post on his Instagram account.
An official poster has been unveiled, inviting fans to partake in this unique event scheduled for April 20, 2025. Since its inception in 2019, Yoo Byung-jae’s party series on his channel, @KoreanCryingGuy, has gained popularity for featuring guests dressed in eccentric makeup and costumes, creating a vibrant and entertaining atmosphere.
This event is famous for its challenging “no laughing” policy. Participants who crack a smile receive a yellow card and are officially eliminated upon laughing a second time, when they receive a red card. Notable past guests include members of the popular K-pop group NewJeans, such as Hani and Hae-rin, as well as actors Byun Woo-seok and Cha Eun-woo.
IU’s appearance will be particularly intriguing as she tests her composure at the No Laughing Birthday Party ahead of her own birthday on May 16.
Exploring IU’s Career and Her Recent Drama, When Life Gives You Tangerines
More commonly known by her stage name, IU—born Lee Ji-eun—is a multifaceted artist renowned for her contributions as a singer, songwriter, and actress. She made her debut at the young age of 15 with the EP Lost and Found, released by LEON Entertainment in 2008.
Over the years, IU has built an impressive discography, comprising five studio albums and nine EPs, with five of those albums reaching the summit of the Gaon Album Chart. Notably, she was the first solo female K-pop artist to perform at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena during her 2019 Love, Poem concert tour, and she broke new ground again in 2022 by holding a solo concert, The Golden Hour, at Seoul Olympic Stadium.
In addition to her musical achievements, IU is also recognized for her remarkable acting career. Her acting journey began in 2011 with a supporting role in the series Dream High, and she has since starred in acclaimed productions like My Mister and When Life Gives You Tangerines.
Her performance in My Mister earned her a nomination for Best Actress in Television at the prestigious 55th Baeksang Arts Awards. Meanwhile, her latest series, When Life Gives You Tangerines, premiered on March 7, 2025.
Set in the picturesque Jeju Island during 1951, the drama follows the intertwining lives of spirited Ae-sun and reliable Gwan-sik, showcasing their enduring journey filled with trials and joys that illustrate the timeless nature of love.
IU and Park Bo-gum star in the title roles of Ae-sun and Gwan-sik, continuing their collaborative relationship with director Kim Won-seok after their previous work on My Mister.
The series’ original Korean title, Pokssak sogatsuda (폭싹 속았수다), translates to “Thank You for Your Hardwork”in Jeju dialect. The English title, When Life Gives You Tangerines, cleverly plays on the well-known proverb and nods to Jeju Island’s renowned tangerines.
It has received widespread acclaim both domestically and internationally, earning praise for the performances of IU and Park Bo-gum. After concluding on March 28, 2025, the drama has reached No. 3 in Netflix’s Top 10 Global Shows, highlighting its popularity at the time of writing.
Looking ahead, IU is set to star in the forthcoming drama 21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife, where she will be alongside Byun Woo-seok, with the show expected to debut next year.