South Korean stars IU and Lee Jong Suk have ended their relationship after nearly four years of publicly dating, their respective agencies confirmed on Friday, July 10.
IU’s agency, EDAM Entertainment, and Lee’s agency, Ace Factory, acknowledged the breakup following reports that the two had recently decided to part ways.
“The two have broken up and have decided to remain good colleagues,” the agencies said, according to South Korean media.
Ace Factory declined to provide further details about the reason for the separation, citing the actor’s privacy. A report by entertainment outlet Dispatch said their increasingly busy schedules had reduced the time they could spend together, eventually leading them to end the relationship.
IU, whose real name is Lee Ji Eun, and Lee first met in 2012 when they served as co-hosts of the SBS music program “Inkigayo.” They remained friends and industry colleagues for about a decade before their relationship developed into a romance in 2022.
Their relationship became public on December 31, 2022, after Dispatch reported that they had spent the Christmas holiday together in Nagoya, Japan. Their agencies subsequently confirmed that the longtime friends had become a couple and were in a serious relationship.
Shortly before the relationship was confirmed, Lee drew attention during his acceptance speech at the 2022 MBC Drama Awards, where he thanked an unnamed person whom he said he had deeply respected and liked for a long time.
The actor later addressed fans in a letter, describing IU as someone who had helped him become a better person. IU also wrote to her supporters, saying Lee was a dependable and supportive longtime colleague with whom she had developed a romantic relationship.
Throughout their time together, the pair largely kept their romance private, rarely appearing publicly as a couple or discussing their relationship in interviews.
Their low-profile approach occasionally fueled breakup speculation. In May 2025, however, representatives dismissed such rumors and said the couple remained together.
The July 10 confirmation formally ends one of South Korea’s most closely followed celebrity relationships.
Despite the breakup, both stars are expected to continue their respective careers in music and acting. Their agencies emphasized that IU and Lee would remain on good terms as colleagues.