IU and Lee Jong-suk confirm break-up after four years together

Singer-actress IU and actor Lee Jong-suk have ended their four-year relationship, their respective talent agencies confirmed on Friday, 10 July 2026.

An official at Edam Entertainment, which represents IU, told reporters that the two had broken up. Ace Factory, Lee Jong-suk's agency, separately confirmed the split, adding that the pair had decided to remain good colleagues.

IU, whose full name is Lee Ji-eun, and Lee Jong-suk first met in 2012 while co-hosting a K-pop music programme. Their friendship developed over nearly a decade before they confirmed a romantic relationship in late 2022.

According to local reports citing a person familiar with the matter, the couple's increasingly demanding schedules left them with less time together, which ultimately contributed to the decision to end the relationship.

Shortly before the relationship was made public in 2022, Lee had appeared to allude to IU during his acceptance speech for the MBC Drama Award, which he won for his leading role in the thriller series "Big Mouth." "Thank you for always being there as the wonderful person you are. I want to tell you that I've liked you deeply for a very long time," he said at the time.

IU debuted as a singer in 2008 and has since become one of South Korea's most prominent solo female artists, known for hits including "Good Day" (2010), "You & I," "Palette" (2017) and "eight" (2020), the latter featuring Suga of the K-pop group BTS.

She has also built a substantial acting career, with roles in dramas such as "My Mister" (2018), "When Life Gives You Tangerines" (2025) and, most recently, "Perfect Crown," which has just concluded its run. IU is now said to be focusing on an upcoming album and is scheduled to hold a concert in September at Goyang Stadium.

Lee, who began his career as a model in 2005, made his acting debut in the 2010 television series "Prosecutor Princess." He went on to appear in a string of popular dramas and films, including "Secret Garden," "I Hear Your Voice" (2013), "Pinocchio," "Doctor Stranger" (2014) and "The Face Reader" (2013). He is next set to appear in the upcoming Disney+ series "The Remarried Empress."

Neither agency provided further details on the timing or circumstances of the break-up beyond confirming the couple's decision to part ways amicably.