IU Ends Her Emcee Duties On "Inkigayo"

This week singer-actress IU said goodbye to her emcee position on the musical program "Inkigayo." For 107 episodes, IU has introduced top musical acts, wearing a variety of cute costumes with her co-hosts.

"Today is my last day as emcee of 'Inkigayo," announced IU. She shared the news alongside her fellow emcees Kwanghee of ZE:A and actor Lee Hyun Woo, who appeared in the drama "To The Beautiful Your" and the film "Secretly, Greatly."

Lee Hyun Woo gave IU a gift to remember her time on the show: a photo book of all her appearances. After a two-year run, IU, who stars in "You're The Best Lee Soon Shin" is leaving the show to devote more time to her singing and acting career. She has been praised for exceeding expectations in that drama, playing the younger less successful daughter in a highly successful family.

While saying goodbye, she remembered her emcee role fondly.

"I remember when I had my first emcee introduction with Beast's Lee Ki Kwang," she said. Since her first show, she has shared her emcee duties with different celebrities.

She has enjoyed working with all her fellow celebrity emcees and remains friends with a few but if she had to narrow it down, a few stand out as being especially easy to work with.

"Out of all the colleagues that I was emcee with Kara members Nicole and Goo Hara were the ones I worked best with," she said.

Past "Inkigayo" emcees included actor Lee Jong Suk, singer Kim Heechul of Super Junior, actor-singer Jang Geun Suk, 2PM's Taecyeon and Wooyoung, f(x)'s Choi Sulli, CNBlue's Jung Yong Hwa, 2AM's Jo Kwon and actress Song Ji Hyo. SBS is still discussing which emcee will replace IU on future shows.

IU said that the only mistake she made while on the show was mispronouncing the show's name but there was one other mistake. When she hosted one show with Nicole and Goo Hara, she mistakenly announced the wrong winner.

"Se7en, congratulations," she said, when the winner that day was really F.T. Island. Fortunately, Nicole and Goo Hara quickly announced the name of the correct winner. That may be one reason IU remembers them so fondly.

Earlier this year netizens expressed some concerns that IU was working too hard between her emcee job and her role in the drama "You're The Best Lee Soon Shin," and that she was looking tired.

She has not announced any drama plans once "You're The Best Lee Soon Shin" ends but there is sure to be more acting in her future.