IU Returns After a Year: "Unknown Planet" Sweeps Global Music Charts

Singer IU has topped major Korean music charts with "Unknown Planet," a pre-release track from her upcoming sixth studio album. The song also reached No. 1 on iTunes charts overseas within a day of its release.

IU released her new digital single "Unknown Planet" at 6 p.m. KST on Sept. 10. The title track debuted at No. 1 on both the 30-day and 100-day editions of Melon's HOT100, as well as Genie's TOP200 and Bugs' real-time chart. It also reached No. 2 on Melon's TOP100.

"Dear my crazy soulmate," the second title track, also landed near the top of major charts. The song ranked No. 2 on both editions of Melon's HOT100 and Bugs' real-time chart, while reaching No. 3 on Genie's TOP200.

The two songs also charted overseas. As of 7 a.m. KST on Sept. 11, "Unknown Planet" had topped the iTunes Top Songs charts in Singapore and Taiwan. It reached No. 2 in Hong Kong, the Philippines and Sri Lanka, entering charts in 16 countries and regions overall. "Dear my crazy soulmate" topped the same chart in Sri Lanka and charted in nine countries and regions.

The single marks IU's first new music in about a year following "Bye, Summer," released last September. It serves as a preview of her forthcoming sixth studio album and contains two title tracks, "Unknown Planet" and "Dear my crazy soulmate." IU wrote the lyrics for both songs.

The music video for "Dear my crazy soulmate" was released alongside the single. It stars actors Kim Young-ok and Na Moon-hee, along with IU, Shim Dal-gi and Lee Som.

The video follows Young-ok, who finds an unusual way to enter prison to meet a friend with whom she cannot spend a birthday, and Moon-hee, who works there as a correctional officer. The two reunite behind bars, playing pranks and celebrating a birthday together in a story about their long-standing friendship. The music video for "Unknown Planet" is scheduled for release at midnight KST on Sept. 16.

IU canceled a concert scheduled to take place in Goyang in September due to worsening symptoms of patulous eustachian tube disorder in July. The release of her sixth studio album was also postponed.