(Seoul, July 10) IU and Lee Jong-suk have ended their four-year romance, with both management companies confirming the breakup in statements released simultaneously on July 10.The news drew immediate and widespread attention from fans across Asia, with the couple’s names trending on multiple social media platforms within hours of the announcement.
The IU and Lee Jong-suk relationship had followed an unusually long arc before it began.The two met in 2012 as co-hosts of SBS Inkigayo and remained close friends for a decade, only officially entering a romantic relationship in late 2022 when their agencies confirmed the news following a photograph published by Dispatch. Upon going public, Lee Jong-suk made a widely shared statement admitting that his feelings for IU had developed as early as his twenties, and that he had quietly carried those feelings for ten years before they became a couple — a revelation that cemented the pair’s status as one of the most beloved couples in Korean popular culture.
Their agencies’ statements characterised the split as a calm and considered decision, driven by the practical reality that their professional obligations had left increasingly little time for them to spend together.No third parties were involved and no conflict preceded the decision. Both sides expressed continued goodwill toward one another and confirmed the pair would remain on friendly terms.
IU is focused on her upcoming September concert and new musical output, while Lee Jong-suk is preparing for new acting projects, including a Disney+ series. Fans, while saddened by the news, have largely responded with messages of support for both artists’ futures.