IU's Agency: "Not Absent from 'Taxpayer's Day' Event... Award to Be Delivered Separately"

Singer and actress IU / Photo by IU Instagram capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] Due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the National Tax Service's 'Taxpayer's Day' event will be scaled down. Accordingly, singer and actress IU, who was selected as a model taxpayer, will not attend the event in person.

On the 3rd, IU's side told various media outlets, "We recently received a notice from the event organizers asking not to attend the 'Taxpayer's Day' event due to COVID-19," adding, "So (she) will not go to the award ceremony. Currently, IU is resting healthily at home."

They also said, "The award will be delivered separately," and added, "The rumors about 'non-attendance' are not true."

IU was scheduled to receive the Presidential Citation as a model taxpayer along with actor Lee Seo-jin and others at the '54th Taxpayer's Day' held on the 4th.

However, due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19, the government decided to significantly scale down the event, holding a simplified ceremony at 2 p.m. at the Seoul Banking Hall with only about 10 government officials and some of the 23 awardees attending.

IU was also reportedly contacted by the organizers and asked not to attend the event, so she will not appear at the award ceremony.

Meanwhile, IU recently attended the Milan Fashion Week event held in Italy. In this regard, some have speculated that IU might be in self-quarantine and unable to attend the event.