IU Surprises Fans with the Sudden Release of “Bye, Summer”

IU surprises fans with her new single “Bye, Summer.”
The song quickly tops Melon and Bugs charts.
A heartfelt farewell that becomes the soundtrack of late summer 2025.

IU once again proves herself as the “Queen of Digital” in the most unexpected way. On Wednesday, her agency EDAM Entertainment announced the release of her latest digital single, “Bye, Summer.” The song arrived as a sweet surprise for fans, serving as a gentle farewell to the long summer season. Not only that, the release immediately became a hot topic on social media and quickly shot up the major Korean charts.

A Surprise Release, Fan Meet, and the Story Behind the Song

“Bye, Summer” isn’t entirely new to some fans. IU first performed the song with an acoustic guitar during her world tour “Hereh” at Seoul World Cup Stadium in September 2024. At that time, she described it as a gift for the audience after spending a long summer together. IU personally wrote and composed the song throughout her tour from March to September 2024, making it deeply personal.

“During this tour, it felt like summer was endlessly long. But I want to say that this summer spent with all of you was truly the best,” IU shared on stage.

Alongside the digital release, an official lyric video was uploaded to her YouTube channel. As if that weren’t enough, IU also prepared a fan meet titled “Bye, Summer” at KSPO Dome, Seoul, this coming weekend. The event is expected to be filled with emotions, considering how the song was born from her journey with fans. In addition, she opened a pop-up store called “Found at Eight” in Seoul, running until September 21, featuring media exhibitions, photo booths, and exclusive merchandise inspired by the singer and her fandom club.

Chart Achievements and Fan Reactions

Despite arriving without lengthy teasers, “Bye, Summer” quickly conquered the charts. The song debuted at #9 on the Melon Top 100, then shot to #1 on both the Melon HOT100 and Bugs Realtime Chart within hours. Music monitoring accounts highlighted that IU has now spent 21 days at the top of the Melon Daily Artist Chart in 2025 so far—yet another impressive milestone to her long list of achievements.

Unsurprisingly, social media timelines were flooded with excitement from fans and the general public alike. Many admitted they were caught off guard by this sweet surprise, with some even mistaking the poster for a fan meeting promotion at first.

“IU has surprised released ‘Bye, Summer.’ Out now on all streaming platforms.”

“IU really gave us the sweetest surprise… Bye, Summer is already on repeat!”

“I thought it was for a fan meet poster at first 😭😭😭”

“We were waiting for it! Thanks unnie! 💜💜”

“Let me grab my headphones chile.”

Meanwhile, others highlighted how natural it feels for IU to deliver such meaningful music despite her busy schedule as an actress. She is currently also filming for the upcoming MBC drama “21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife,” which is set to air next year.

Although titled “Bye, Summer,” the song carries both sweet and emotional undertones. It’s not only a farewell to the season but also to the cherished, passionate moments she shared with fans during her world tour. This surprise feels even more special as it comes amidst IU’s busy lineup of major projects, from acting to fan meetings.

“Bye, Summer” is more than just a single—it’s a piece of IU’s story with her fans. No wonder that within hours, the song has already become the must-have soundtrack of late summer 2025.

Sources: The Korea Herald, Korea JoongAng Daily, Daum, IU Official Account