IU Gets Targeted In Absurd Conspiracy Theory Involving The Deaths Of Sulli, Goo Hara, And Kim Sae Ron

Singer-actress IU is facing yet another wave of targeted attacks with multiple posts speculating on her supposedly being a common thread among Sulli, Goo Hara, and Kim Sae Ron— three young artists whose lives were tragically cut short.

IU | @dlwlrma/Instagram

In the last few days, a conspiracy theory has been making the rounds on X (formerly Twitter), targeting IU as someone involved in the death of those three artists. Most of the posts referred to similar media reports where it was mentioned that Sulli’s brother had talked about IU referring her to a psychiatric clinic and that this was the same clinic where Kim Sae Ron, Goo Hara, and even SHINee’s Jonghyun received treatments. Claims suggest that the clinic in question is the Kim Jong Il Psychiatric Clinic.

Sulli’s Brother Reveals Goo Hara, Sulli, And Kim Sae Ron All Went To The Same Psychiatrist, As Initially Introduced By IU

There are further claims that this particular clinic engages in shady practices on patients. This claim is based primarily on a comment under a YouTube video featuring Dr. Kim Jong Il, in which a user urged the public not to consult him, citing their own personal experience as his patient. The comment accused Dr. Kim of prescribing around 10-15 pills a day to OP (original poster) and making disturbing remarks, such as claiming that a stalker situation could only end when one of the two parties dies. Dr. Kim also allegedly recounted disturbing stories to his patients, telling them about how a former patient of his secretly traveled abroad to escape their family and commit suicide. Notably, the OP was already suffering from depression and suicidal ideation when Dr. Kim allegedly made these remarks.

설리, 김새론, 구하라, 종현이 상담받은 정신과 김정일 의사라고 함 pic.twitter.com/hfWqI2PcMy

— WATCHER (@WatcherKR) May 24, 2026

Another material used in these posts to insinuate that IU had anything to do with the passing of Sulli and Goo Hara was a news report heading that claimed IU had called the year 2019 “the year I achieved everything,” adding that “the timing was just right.”  This quote has raised questions about how she could say something like this after losing two of her close friends, Sulli and Goo Hara, in 2019. These questions then turned into baseless accusations.

좌O유, "2019년 모든걸 이룬 해"

2019년 절친 설리,구하라 사망.

절친이 떠난지 고작 1~2개월밖에 안됐는데 저렇게
말할 수 있음? pic.twitter.com/ADqIW1DXNU

— 천안문광장 짜장퇴치암호 (@Koreahjhm) May 23, 2026

IU: “2019 was a year in which I achieved everything.”

In 2019, her close friends Sulli and Goo Hara passed away.

It had been barely one or two months since her close friends left—how could she possibly say something like that?

— The post above

Maybe she's into some thingy like sacrificing lives for successful career in return? You know koreans believe in that kind of things they had cults there https://t.co/yLLplqP6SS

— CHU (@gloriouscatt) May 23, 2026

So in the pop industry, sacrificing close ones to stay famous is a thing, just saying https://t.co/nN7NbzA4DD

— 🦋Adagio | Wheein come back! (@MuntikaJ) May 23, 2026

All things combined, the gist of the conspiracy theory appears to be that IU is directly involved in all those tragic deaths. Needless to say, the claims are based on flimsy foundational sources.

These kinds of conspiracy theories can feel really scary because of how convincing they sound, and it makes you wonder if there might be some truth to them. Like who is her benefactor that her career has still stayed intact despite controversies that could easily end a career? 👀 https://t.co/xm9UKlySC2

— ً (@scrolljudgepost) May 24, 2026

Highly believe it was all sacrificial ritual. Coincidentally all her close friends did suicide and she kept rising in popularity despite of controversies?! Really https://t.co/Umbj7BoQ6b

— 🦋Adagio | Wheein come back! (@MuntikaJ) May 23, 2026

However, some netizens have tried speaking sense into this absurdity, pointing out how far-fetched the claims were.

Sometimes people want to forget things because they were traumatic and emotionally painful. It depends on how you look at it or maybe you just already hate that person. https://t.co/pu0zHjKdYc

— ที่สุดของแจ้🧋 เรียกป้าก็ได้ (@bubupearr) May 23, 2026

인터뷰는 보통
기사가 나가기 한참 전에 한다.

인터뷰를 먼저 하고
사망 사건이 발생한 후에
기사가 나갔을 것 같은데

에휴,, https://t.co/pKpCiYxlLz

— 상이 (@Makoto_5G) May 24, 2026

Interviews are typically conducted

long before the article is published.

It seems likely that the interview took place first,

and the article was released

only after the death occurred.

Sigh…

— The post above

These posts have also sparked a deeper concern about a coordinated witch hunt against IU at the cost of disrespecting multiple deceased artists just to harness the current negative public sentiment for her last project, Perfect Crown. She has previously been accused of pedophilia in the same manner.

IU’s Alleged Pedophilia Controversy Shakes Up The Internet Again

IU