IU. (Captured from social media)
IU. (Captured from social media)

A claimed sighting of singer and actor IU on a busy shopping street in Shanghai has spread widely online, drawing attention from fans and social media users alike.

On Friday, a video titled "I actually met IU on Nanjing East Road in Shanghai" circulated on social media and online communities, catching the eye of numerous internet users.

The footage shows IU walking down Nanjing East Road accompanied by a security guard and other staff members.

IU wore a casual, unassuming outfit and kept her face heavily covered, making her difficult to recognize. She was dressed in an oversized gray shirt, denim shorts and sneakers, topped off with a baseball cap, a white mask and a colorful scarf wrapped around her head. She carried a designer bag from luxury brand Hermes over her shoulder.

"I thought there was no way it could be IU, but it really was her," the person who posted the video wrote, describing the encounter. "Running into IU by chance on Nanjing East Road while traveling in Shanghai — this felt like something straight out of a movie."

"I never imagined something like this would happen in Shanghai," the poster added, expressing surprise.

IU reportedly waved to some fans who recognized her at the time and put her hands together in an apologetic gesture to explain that she could not sign autographs.

Meanwhile, IU released her new digital single "From This Star" on various music platforms at 6 p.m. Thursday. The single features a double title track — "From This Star" and "Dear My Crazy Soulmate" — with IU having personally written the lyrics for both songs.

IU's new release is drawing extra attention as her first music since news broke in July of her breakup with actor Lee Jong-suk.


jshan@heraldcorp.com