After dominating 2025 with one of Netflix’s biggest global K-drama hits, South Korean singer and actor IU has found herself battling one controversy after another in 2026. When Life Gives You Tangerines ended last year as Netflix’s second most-watched Korean drama and the platform’s eighth most-watched release overall, recording 683.8 million hours viewed and 41.2 million views.
But this year, a high-profile breakup, a K-drama controversy and politically charged online attacks have kept the star in the headlines for very different reasons.
According to The Korea Times, IU’s agency, EDAM Entertainment, and Lee Jong-suk’s agency, Ace Factory, confirmed on Friday that the couple had ended their four-year relationship, bringing one of Korean entertainment’s most talked-about romances to a close.
The breakup has also renewed attention on the setbacks IU has faced this year. The biggest controversy surrounded MBC’s Perfect Crown, which ended in May. Despite strong ratings, the drama came under fire before its finale over alleged historical inaccuracies, including scenes showing officials chanting “cheonse” during a coronation ceremony and questions over co-star Byeon Woo-seok’s ceremonial headwear.
IU apologised, saying she was “deeply sorry” for disappointing viewers. Co-star Byeon Woo-seok, screenwriter Yoo Ji-won and director Park Joon-hwa also apologised.
Last month, IU also became the target of politically motivated online attacks after protests over South Korea’s 3 June local elections. Some social media users demanded she again provide food and drinks for demonstrators, referencing her widely praised support for fans attending rallies following the country’s 3 December 2024 martial law declaration.
Now, with her relationship with Lee Jong-suk officially over, the spotlight has once again shifted from IU’s achievements to the controversies surrounding her. After a landmark 2025, 2026 has become a year in which the headlines have focused less on her success and more on the challenges that continue to follow one of South Korea’s biggest stars.
