Singer-actress IU and actor Lee Jong Suk have officially ended their four-year public relationship, with both parties confirming the split on July 10.
As the news spread, online discussions quickly moved beyond the breakup itself, with many fans revisiting the couple’s social media activity and past behavior, saying they now see signs that the relationship had changed over time.
According to SportsChosun, representatives for both stars confirmed the news in a short 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 famous celebrity relationships after four years of public dating.
IU and Lee Jong Suk first met in 2012 while serving as MCs for SBS’ “Inkigayo”. They remained close friends for years before becoming a couple in 2022.
Reports claim that their increasingly busy schedules eventually gave them less chance to spend time together, leading them to naturally drift apart and decide to end their romance.
Soon after the confirmation, old online posts discussing the couple’s relationship resurfaced and gained new attention.
One post, written before the breakup became official, noted that IU and Lee Jong Suk never followed each other on social media during their relationship.
He also noted that they rarely mentioned each other publicly or shared congratulatory messages, leading the writer to cautiously wonder if a breakup could occur.
IU, Lee Jong Suk Split triggers reactions
After the announcement, many online users returned to that post, with comments that the breakup felt like “the ending everyone was expecting,” AllKPop reported.
Others believed the couple had simply drifted apart due to their demanding careers. Some also noted that the two rarely spoke about each other in public despite having been dating for several years.
At the same time, many fans reminded others not to judge a relationship based on social media alone.
Several commenters said that each couple chooses how to show their relationship, while others pointed out that it’s 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 significant moments during their relationship.
Fans recalled that IU sang at Lee Jong Suk’s younger brother’s wedding, while the actor regularly attended her concerts. Those memories led many to believe that the couple would eventually marry.
Lee Jong Suk is gearing up for the release of Disney+’s “The Remarried Empress” and 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.
