On July 10, IU‘s agency EDAM Entertainment confirmed the news, telling local media that “it is true they have broken up,” adding that the two “have decided to remain good colleagues.” Lee Jong Suk‘s agency, Ace Factory, released a similar statement on the same day, confirming the breakup and saying the former couple would continue supporting each other as colleagues.
IU and Lee Jong Suk first met in August 2012 while serving as MCs for the SBS music program Inkigayo. They remained friends and industry colleagues for years before their relationship developed into romance. In December 2022, the pair officially confirmed they were dating, quickly becoming one of Korea’s highest-profile public celebrity couples.
Their relationship drew particular attention after Lee Jong Suk won the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the 2022 MBC Drama Awards. During his acceptance speech, he made what many later recognized as an indirect confession to IU.
“After finishing my military service, I went through many worries, fears, and hardships. There was someone who helped me become a better person and think more positively,” he said at the time. “Thank you for always being such an amazing person. I’ve admired and liked you for a very long time.”
Although Lee did not identify the person during the speech, dating rumors spread rapidly. Shortly afterward, the couple officially acknowledged their relationship, turning the acceptance speech into one of the entertainment industry’s most memorable public declarations of love.
Throughout their relationship, IU and Lee Jong Suk were repeatedly the subject of breakup rumors, but they consistently dismissed speculation and continued their relationship.
In May 2025, online rumors resurfaced after witnesses claimed IU had been seen dining at an upscale Seoul restaurant with BTS’s V. The speculation intensified when IU shared birthday photos on social media without tagging Lee Jong Suk, prompting further online discussion.
However, it was later reported that the gathering included several friends, including V, and a source close to IU told entertainment media that the couple was still happily together, denying the breakup rumors.
Earlier that same year, another round of speculation emerged after photos of IU wearing a ring on her index finger circulated on China’s Weibo platform. Some overseas internet users interpreted the accessory as symbolizing that she was single, though the claim was quickly dismissed as baseless.
Similar rumors also surfaced in 2024, but they faded after it was revealed that Lee Jong Suk had attended one of IU’s concerts with actor Shin Jae-ha in March of that year, demonstrating that the couple was still together.
Despite weathering multiple rounds of breakup speculation over the years, IU and Lee Jong Suk have now decided to end their romantic relationship after four years of publicly dating and remain supportive colleagues moving forward.
Both stars are now expected to focus on their respective careers. Lee Jong Suk is preparing for the release of the Disney+ original series The Remarried Empress, while IU is working on her new album. She is also scheduled to hold a large-scale solo concert at Goyang Stadium this September, where she will reunite with fans.
Sources: Nate