"Love Poem" (Korean: 사랑시; RR: Salang si) is a song by South Korean singer-songwriter IU, released by Kakao M as the lead single from her seventh Korean-language EP Love Poem on November 1, 2019.[1] It debuted at number 11 on the Gaon Digital Chart before topping the chart the following week, becoming IU's 21st number-one single in South Korea, and extending her record for the most number ones on the chart.
Background and composition
IU wrote the ballad to support loved ones who are going through hard times,[2] saying: "It is difficult to see the person you love is becoming isolated. It is painful not doing anything for that situation and just watching over it."[1]
"Love Poem" was written by IU and Lee Jong-hoon. Tamar Herman of Billboard described it as "a poignant, inspiring ballad full of warmth and comfort".[3]
Critical reception
Writing for The Straits Times, Jan Lee commented that the song "feels particularly poignant given that IU lost one of her close friends, K-pop star Sulli, to a suspected suicide last month".[2]
^주간 인기상 [Melon Music Weekly Award]. Melon.com (in Korean). Archived from the original(Click on tab labelled '11' at top of page to view winners) on June 21, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2019.