(Seoul, July 10) Korean entertainment’s most celebrated couple, singer and actress IU and actor Lee Jong-suk, have officially confirmed their breakup after four years together.Both management agencies released simultaneous statements confirming the end of their relationship, and the news of IU and Lee Jong-suk’s split spread rapidly across social media platforms throughout Asia.
Both agencies used similar language in their statements, noting that the couple had decided to “continue their relationship as close senior and junior colleagues” in the industry.The breakup was described as entirely amicable, with no third parties involved and no acrimony between the two. The agencies confirmed that neither party would be removing past supportive social media posts, and that the two would continue to interact normally in professional settings.
The primary reason cited for the split was the difficulty of maintaining a relationship given their increasingly demanding and incompatible schedules.IU is currently preparing a new studio album and is set to headline a major solo concert at Goyang Stadium in September 2026, keeping her fully occupied across music and acting projects. Lee Jong-suk, meanwhile, is awaiting the Disney+ release of his drama series and has already committed to a new project, with filming schedules that require extended periods away from Seoul.
The couple’s relationship began with a chance meeting in 2012 when both appeared as co-hosts on SBS Inkigayo, after which they maintained a close friendship for a decade. They quietly confirmed their romantic relationship in October 2022, with their agencies going public in December of the same year after the couple were photographed together in Nagoya, Japan. In his own statement at the time, Lee Jong-suk revealed he had harboured feelings for IU for ten years before they finally became a couple — a confession that resonated deeply with fans across the globe.
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