Are you a fan of IU and are…simping her?
Well, you MIGHT have a chance with her.
IU Breaks Up With Lee Jong Suk
On 10 July, IU’s agency EDAM Entertainment and Lee Jong Suk’s agency ACE FACTORY both confirmed that the couple has broken up, adding that they’ve decided to remain good colleagues.
The confirmation came after Dispatch reported earlier the same day that the pair had recently parted ways, with busy schedules reducing their opportunities to meet cited as the reason.
Lee Jong Suk’s side also declined to elaborate further, asking for understanding as the matter concerns the actor’s private life.
About Their Relationship
Their story goes way back, much further than most fans realise.
The two first met in 2012 while serving as co-MCs for SBS’s Inkigayo, spending many years as close friends and supportive colleagues before realising their mutual feelings in 2022.
The relationship went public in dramatic fashion: after winning the Grand Prize at the 2022 MBC Drama Awards for Big Mouth, Lee Jong Suk gave a speech about someone who guided him in a positive direction, and it was soon revealed he was referring to IU, with both agencies confirming the relationship shortly after.
Their four years together weren’t without noise, though. The couple faced repeated breakup rumours, first in 2024 (dismissed after Lee Jong Suk attended IU’s concert), then in February 2025 when Chinese online communities speculated over a ring IU wore, and again after IU’s birthday photos on social media showed friends but no sign of Lee Jong Suk.
Each time, the rumours fizzled out…until now, when it turned out to be real.
What’s Next For Them
Despite the breakup, IU’s plate is very full.
She recently starred in MBC’s drama 21st Century Grand Duchess, which concluded in May, and is scheduled to hold a concert at Goyang Stadium’s main field in September.
She’s also currently preparing a new album. Her recent projects also include When Life Gives You Tangerines, which was one of the biggest K-drama hits of recent years.
As for Lee Jong Suk, he’s set to return in the Disney+ original series The Remarried Empress, gearing up for its global release.
So while the romance is over, both are heading into busy second halves of 2026: as colleagues, apparently.