"I had to take a car for the first time in my life. We drove 10 hours overnight on the highway."
IU, currently on her world tour, held her third U.S. concert on July 22 at the 'Capital One Arena' in Washington, D.C. This iconic venue, home to the NBA's Washington Wizards, regularly hosts performances by world-renowned stars.
Photo via Instagram (@dlwlrma)
The concert garnered significant attention from U.S. media and fans, with tickets selling out quickly. Fans were especially moved by IU's dedication—after her flight was cancelled, she embarked on a 10-hour car ride to make it to the concert on time.
The flight cancellation was a result of disruptions in Microsoft (MS) cloud services on July 19, which led to widespread flight cancellations across U.S. airports.
After her Atlanta concert, IU discovered her flight to Washington, D.C. was cancelled. Rather than disappoint her fans, she decided to drive approximately 1,000 km (622 miles) overnight.
During her D.C. concert, IU shared her ordeal in English, saying, "It was very difficult, but hearing your cheers during the opening made it all worthwhile." The audience responded with a loud cheer.
After the concert, fans took to social media, expressing their gratitude with comments like, "Thank you for your kindness" and "It was a beautiful night; tonight, she was a princess."
This concert is part of IU's first U.S. tour, marking a significant milestone in her 16-year career. Debuting at fifteen in 2008, IU is well-known as a singer-songwriter and actress, with most of her activities centered in Korea.
