IU has sparked mixed reactions online after choosing a song by her former boyfriend Jang Kiha as the background music for a recent social media update.
The singer and actress used Living the Nothing Special Life, a 2009 song by Jang Kiha and the Faces, in a post showing moments from her daily life.
The song choice quickly became a topic of discussion because IU and Jang Kiha were previously in a public relationship. The two confirmed they were dating in 2015 and announced their breakup in 2017.
Jang Kiha is currently publicly dating actress Yoon Ga Yi. Reports say the pair became close after working together on Coupang Play’s SNL Korea Season 4 in 2023.
IU had also been publicly dating actor Lee Jong Suk since 2022. According to the report, their relationship ended last month.
Some online users described IU’s decision as surprisingly relaxed, writing, “To think she would choose a Jang Kiha song as the background music,” and “Is she really this cool about it?”
However, others questioned why she selected that particular track when many other songs were available.
One netizen commented, “It feels unnecessary, and she probably knew people would react to it.” Another wrote, “There are so many songs to choose from, so why insist on this one?”
Some users also wondered how Jang Kiha’s current girlfriend might feel about the attention. One person said, “If I were his current girlfriend, I might find it uncomfortable.”
Other netizens pushed back against the criticism and argued that people were attaching too much meaning to a simple music choice.
They commented, “A song is just a song,” and “It was a relationship from nearly ten years ago, so it may not bother anyone involved.”
A few users also pointed out that there is no evidence that IU selected the song to send a message about her former relationship.
IU has not explained why she chose Living the Nothing Special Life. While the song has created online discussion, any deeper meaning behind the selection remains unconfirmed.
