South Korean stars IU and Lee Jong-suk have ended their four-year relationship, leaving fans heartbroken. The couple, who once captured widespread attention as one of the entertainment industry’s most loved pairs, have decided to follow separate paths while remaining supportive friends.
According to a report by Dispatch, the two stars recently ended their relationship due to their busy schedules. The report quoted people close to the couple as saying that their meetings became less frequent because of their demanding careers, leading them to make the decision to part ways.
Both IU and Lee Jong-suk entered the entertainment industry at a young age, making their debuts at 15. Born Lee Ji-eun, IU first rose to fame as a singer before becoming one of South Korea’s biggest music stars. She later established herself as a successful actress with projects including Hotel Del Luna, Broker and the recently released When Life Gives You Tangerines, which received widespread attention and earned multiple Baeksang Arts Awards nominations.
Lee Jong-suk also built a successful acting career with popular dramas such as Pinocchio and Romance is a Bonus Book. He is set to appear in the upcoming 2025 drama Seochodong and recently joined Ace Factory, beginning a new chapter in his career.
The pair first met while working together as hosts of the SBS music programme Inkigayo. Their relationship began as a professional one, but they gradually developed a close friendship. Even after leaving the show as MCs in December 2012, they remained in contact.
During a previous appearance on the Korean variety programme Hwasin, Lee Jong-suk recalled their early days together and spoke about their occasional disagreements over costumes while filming Inkigayo. He said those moments helped strengthen their friendship.
“We talked about everything we have been holding back. Now, she’s one of my few close friends,” he said.
Although their friendship continued for years, Lee Jong-suk later revealed that his feelings for IU had grown over time. In a heartfelt letter to fans shared on January 1, 2023, he said his feelings for her were never just “a fleeting love”.
“At the time, I was moving on with my life. However, there was always a part of my heart that belonged to her. It was strange, indeed. I think you would all understand it if I put it this way; she was like Kang Dan-I to me,” he wrote, referring to the character from Romance is a Bonus Book.
The couple’s relationship became public after Dispatch named them as its 2023 New Year couple on 31 December 2022. The report stated that they had been dating for four months at the time.
Soon after, both stars’ agencies confirmed their relationship. IU’s agency EDAM Entertainment said, “Lee Jong-Suk and IU have recently progressed from close colleagues into a relationship.”
Lee Jong-suk’s agency High Zium Studio also confirmed the news and asked fans to support the couple.
Following the announcement, both IU and Lee Jong-suk shared personal letters with their fans. Lee Jong-suk introduced IU as his girlfriend and wrote that the singer of Eight made him “want to become a better man”.
IU also addressed the relationship in a letter to her fans, known as UAENA. She wrote that she was in a relationship and admitted she had been careful about sharing the news because she worried fans would be surprised.
IU described Lee Jong-suk as “a reliable and cute person who gives me sincere encouragement”.
Throughout their relationship, the two stars continued to support each other publicly. In a 2023 interview while promoting her Korean film Dream, IU revealed that she often sought acting advice from Lee Jong-suk.
“Because we are in the same profession, we naturally talk about acting. Before filming, if there is a scene that I really don’t understand, I make an SOS call to my boyfriend,” she said.
While their romantic journey has come to an end, IU and Lee Jong-suk’s years-long bond remains a memorable chapter for their fans.
