On September 22, IU held her solo concert “2024 IU HEREH WORLD TOUR CONCERT ENCORE: THE WINNING” at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, Seoul. The concert, which took place over two days, from the 21st to the 22nd, attracted a total of 100,000 attendees.
Regarding the controversy over the installation of ground seats on the Sangam turf prior to the concert, IU’s agency, EDAM Entertainment explained, “In order to protect the turf, we strictly adhered to the guidelines provided in advance for ground seat usage. We have been continuously coordinating and actively communicating with various relevant personnel to maintain the best condition of the venue.”
Earlier, the Seoul city government announced that starting next year, cultural events such as concerts would only be partially allowed at the stadium, with the condition that ground seat sales be excluded to protect the turf.
In response, IU’s fan community, IU Gallery expressed their frustration, “The city of Seoul, which supervises the Seoul Facilities Corporation, should take full responsibility for the turf issue and apologize to the citizens of Seoul. It is misleading the public by making it seem as though the exclusion of ground seats from next year’s events is due to the impact of IU’s concert. Instead of distorting the truth through the ‘ground seat exclusion’ announcement, they should thoroughly investigate the cause of the ‘turf management’ problem through an audit of the Seoul Facilities Corporation and take measures to prevent its recurrence.”
Meanwhile, the concert also showcased IU’s deep affection for her fans. IU provided every one of the 100,000 attendees with complimentary cushions and binoculars to ensure their comfort during the performance.
After wrapping up the opening stage, IU addressed the audience, “The cushions you’re sitting on are all yours, so don’t forget to take them home when you leave. And there’s an additional gift today – the binoculars. These were an important part of the concept for this album, and I prepared them so that those of you sitting far away can see me a little better. I hope you find both of them useful.”
This is not the first time IU has impressed her audience with her thoughtfulness. During her concert at KSPO Dome (Olympic Gymnastics Arena) last March, she set up a special “Holssi Zone” (a tented waiting area equipped with heating and seating) for fans who had to wait in the cold. Additionally, she gifted soft cushions, in different colors for each day, to all attendees who had to sit through the four-hour performance.