Singer-actress IU and actor Lee Jong Suk have officially ended their four-year public relationship, with both sides confirming the breakup on July 10.
As news spread, online discussions quickly shifted beyond the split itself, with many fans revisiting the couple’s social media activity and past behavior, saying they now see signs that the relationship had been changing over time.
According to SportsChosun, representatives for both stars confirmed the news in a brief statement, saying, “The two recently ended their romantic relationship and have decided to remain on good terms as senior and junior colleagues.”
The announcement ends one of South Korea’s most well-known celebrity relationships after four years of public dating.
IU and Lee Jong Suk first met in 2012 while serving as MCs for SBS’s “Inkigayo.” They stayed close friends for years before becoming a couple in 2022.
Reports said their increasingly busy schedules eventually gave them fewer chances to spend time together, leading them to naturally grow apart and decide to end their romance.
Soon after the confirmation, old online posts discussing the couple’s relationship resurfaced and gained fresh attention.
One post, written before the breakup became official, pointed out that IU and Lee Jong Suk never followed each other on social media throughout their relationship.
It also noted that they rarely mentioned one another publicly or shared congratulatory messages, leading the writer to cautiously wonder if a breakup could happen.
IU, Lee Jong Suk Split Sparks Reactions
Following the announcement, many online users returned to that post, with comments saying the breakup felt like “the ending everyone expected,” AllKPop reported.
Others believed the pair had simply drifted apart because of their demanding careers. Some also noted that the two rarely spoke about each other in public despite dating for several years.
At the same time, many fans reminded others not to judge a relationship based only on social media.
Several commenters said every couple chooses how they show their relationship, while others pointed out that it is easy to connect past events only after a breakup has already been confirmed.
The news surprised many longtime supporters because IU and Lee Jong Suk had shared meaningful moments during their relationship.
Fans recalled that IU sang at Lee Jong Suk’s younger sibling’s wedding, while the actor regularly attended her concerts. Those memories led many to believe the couple would eventually get married.
Lee Jong Suk is preparing for the release of Disney+’s “The Remarried Empress” and has also confirmed his role in the upcoming drama “Lee Seob’s Love”.
Meanwhile, IU recently completed filming MBC’s “Perfect Crown” and is now preparing a new album along with a concert scheduled for September.