After the two management companies confirmed that IU and Lee Jong Suk had broken up, the love story once considered the most beautiful and secretive in Kbiz also officially closed. Looking back at the couple's journey, the two had known each other for more than a decade before falling in love and nearly 4 years of public dating.
First meeting at "Inkigayo" (2012)
IU and Lee Jong Suk met in 2012 when they were both MCs of SBS's music program Inkigayo. At that time, both were rising young stars. Although they once revealed differences in personalities when working together, they still maintained a friendship and colleague relationship for many years afterwards.
From friend to lover
After nearly 10 years of knowing each other, the friendship gradually developed into love. At the end of 2022, Korean media released images of IU and Lee Jong Suk celebrating Christmas together in Japan, sparking dating rumors. Immediately after that, the two management companies confirmed their relationship.
In a letter to fans, Lee Jong Suk called IU "the person who has been with me for a very long time" and said that his feelings are "the result of a prolonged one-sided relationship". On IU's side, the female singer shared that the two gradually developed feelings during the process of always encouraging and supporting each other as long-time friends.
Love secretly but always silently support each other
Unlike many other famous couples, IU and Lee Jong Suk almost do not post photos together or share their private lives on social networks.
Instead, they chose to silently accompany each other. Lee Jong Suk has come to cheer on IU's concerts many times, and IU also mentioned her boyfriend in some interviews when promoting the movie. This discreetness has caused the couple to continuously be rumored to be breaking up for the past 4 years, although the two have never spoken out to confirm.
Closing because of a busy schedule
On July 10, representatives of IU and Lee Jong Suk confirmed that the two had broken up and decided to return to a good senior-junior relationship.
According to close sources, the main reason is that the schedule is too tight, causing them to have less and less time for each other. Currently, Lee Jong Suk is focusing on new film projects, while IU is busy with a new album, TV series and concert plans.
Although the love affair ended, IU and Lee Jong Suk are still considered by many viewers as one of the mature couples of the Korean entertainment industry when they broke up with respect and without being involved in scandals.
