South Korean sweethearts IU and Lee Jong-Suk, whose dating rumours stirred quite the tabloid frenzy, have made their romance public. And, it is a perfect time indeed to take a stroll down memory lane and track IU and Lee’s relationship history — from when they first met to their beautiful love declaration in 2022 and beyond.
IU and Lee’s union is emblematic of a true fairytale romance. She is a K-pop sensation. He is a television heartthrob. And together they make for one of the most-loved celebrity couples in Korea.
Starting early in the industry, both IU and Lee debuted as 15-year-olds. While IU aka Lee Ji-eun, successfully created her legacy as a Korean singer, Lee Jong-Suk continues to create magic on-screen as one of the most popular Korean actors.
One of the best-selling solo artists in a group-dominated K-pop industry, IU became the first female Korean artist to hold a solo concert, The Golden Hour, at Seoul Olympic Stadium, in 2022. Over the years, the singer has been part of multiple successful studio albums, including Modern Times (2013), Palette (2017) and Lilac (2021). The award-winning artist made her acting debut in 2011, and since then, she has landed leading roles in multiple Korean movies and TV shows. These include popular titles like Hotel Del Luna (2019), Broker (2022) and Dream (2023). The K-pop star is currently riding high on the success of her single “Love Wins All‘ featuring BTS member V. Additionally, her upcoming project, Thank You for Your Hard Work co-starring Park Bo-gum, is all set to arrive on Netflix in 2025.
Lee, meanwhile, known for hits like Pinocchio (2014) and Romance is a Bonus Book (2019), has found a new agency for his upcoming projects. According to Soompi, Lee, who has signed an exclusive contract with Korean management agency Ace Factory, is currently enjoying his temporary hiatus.
Here’s a close look at IU and Lee Jong-Suk’s love story
The music show where it all started
Although the two were announced as Dispatch‘s 2023 New Year’s Couple, IU and Lee met over a decade back in August 2012. It was SBS’ weekly music show, Inkigayo, that featured both Korean stars as MCs, and they hosted the show together from August to September of that year.
In his 1 January 2023 fan cafe letter, Lee mentioned that he first met IU when was in his mid-20s. But what he felt for the K-pop singer even then, was more than just “a fleeting love.”
‘Romance is a bonus book’ for Lee
While the shift from co-stars to friends didn’t take much time for IU and Lee, romance came in like a ‘bonus book’ exactly like the K-drama that Lee stars in.
In the fan cafe letter, Lee further shared that even though it all started as a friendship, a part of his heart always belonged to IU. “At the time, I was moving on with my life. However, there was always a part of my heart that belonged to her. It was strange, indeed. I think you would all understand it if I put it this way; She was like Kang Dan-I to me.”
Initially, IU and Lee Jong-Suk kept their interactions strictly professional while MCing for the SBS music show. However, the duo became the closest of friends after the end of their hosting stint in December 2012.
In an episode of the Korean variety show Hawsin, Lee mentioned that during the music show, the duo even had a few disagreements because of their costumes. However, once they completed their six-month term as Inkigayo MCs, he kept in touch with her and even cleared out the misunderstandings. “We talked about everything we have been holding back. Now, she’s one of my few close friends,” he said.
Also, during the course of their friendship, the duo made sure to show their adoration and support for each other.
In 2017, fans captured Lee in IU’s Palette concert. Reportedly, the Decibel star headed straight to the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul after arriving from Japan that day, to support his friend.
In 2021, he posted a screenshot of IU’s songs “My Sea” and “Epilogue” on his Instagram story, to promote her fifth studio album titled Lilac.
In 2022, when Elle Korea roped in Lee as their cover star for the February issue, the latter shared in one of their interviews that he listens to “Winter Sleep” by IU on repeat because he loves the lyrics of the song. Following this, Lee once again attended another of IU’s concerts — The Golden Hour at the Seoul Olympic Stadium in September 2022.
In October 2022, IU took UAENA (IU’s fans) by surprise when she attended the wedding of Lee’s brother and gave a heartwarming performance on “Meaning Of You.”
Lee dedicated his acceptance speech to IU
IU and Lee’s relationship rumours became more prominent after his acceptance speech at the 2022 MBC Drama Awards. During the ceremony, Lee expressed his respect and gratitude for someone who he has “liked for a long time,” after winning the Daesang Award for his role as Park Chang-Ho in Big Mouth on 30 December.
“After completing my military service, I had a lot of worries, fears and troubles plaguing me. But at that time there was someone who helped me find a good direction as a human being and to think positive thoughts. There’s something I really wanted to tell that person using this opportunity. I want to tell that person that I’m thankful to them for always being so admirable, that I’ve liked them a lot for a very long time and that I respect and admire them greatly,” he said.
Sharing his thoughts of becoming a better version of himself, Lee further added, “Seeing that person, I very often thought to myself, ‘I should have lived a little more diligently before now,’ or ‘I should have become a better person. I spent a lot of time reflecting on my past. I’m going to work harder in the future to become a better person.”
Consequently, fans and media flooded social media with speculations that Lee’s special someone in his acceptance speech was none other than his girlfriend IU.
Their much-talked-about Christmas date
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Amid dating rumours, the Big Mouth actor was seen enjoying a warm Christmas date with the Gucci ambassador in Nagoya, Japan, on 31 December 2022, as per the South Korean media outlet Dispatch.
The duo reportedly spent a quiet Christmas holiday for two nights and three days at the city’s most luxurious hotel and resort, the Aman Nemu.
While Lee left for Osaka on the 20th for a fan meeting, IU boarded a plane to Nagoya on the 24th of that month.
Dispatch further claims that the trip was extremely personal for the duo. So much so that Lee arranged and booked the trip all by himself, without involving his manager.
It’s official: IU and Lee Jong-Suk are together
After announcing IU and Lee as their 2023 New Year couple on 31 December 2022, Dispatch went ahead and reported that IU and Lee have been in a relationship for four months.
Following this, the star couple’s agencies released official statements confirming the dating news. IU‘s agency EDAM Entertainment shared, “Lee Jong-Suk and IU have recently progressed from close colleagues into a relationship.”
Consequently, Lee’s agency High Zium Studio congratulated the new couple and urged their fans to “cheer them on so that they can continue their beautiful relationship.”
Eventually, both IU and Lee shared their side of the love story by posting personal letters on their official fan cafes.
Lee introduced IU as his lover on his letter and said that the “Eight” singer makes “me want to become a better man.”
Penning a heartfelt note to her fans (UAENA) about the year’s end and the sudden news revolving around her relationship with Lee, IU wrote in her fan cafe letter, “Those of you who saw the article today will know, but I am in a relationship. I was very careful because I think UAENA would have been very surprised when you always worry about me and are curious about how I am, but… yes… this is what happened!”
IU also showered her love upon Lee for being a devoted partner and said that “He is a reliable and cute person who gives me sincere encouragement.”
Their love grows deeper
Following the confirmation of their relationship, the celebrity couple has made sure to acknowledge and appreciate each other and their bond on multiple public platforms.
During an interview about her 2023 Korean movie Dream, IU mentioned that she loves taking acting advice from Lee Jong-Suk. She said, “Because we are in the same profession, we naturally talk about acting. Before filming, if there is a scene that I really don’t understand, I make an SOS call to my boyfriend.”
On 16 April 2023, Lee supported his girlfriend by displaying various ‘IU merchandise’. In one of his Instagram stories, the actor was seen wearing one of the baseball caps that was sold at IU’s 2022 The Golden Hour concert. Lee also uses the ‘bunny pop socket’ phone accessory, another popular piece from IU’s merchandise collection.
Well, we all love supportive partners. And IU and Lee Jong-Suk are definitely setting the standards high.
Fan reactions over the years
Social media platforms like X and Instagram have been filled with fans sharing their excitement regarding all the stages of the couple’s relationship.
“i would like to take this moment to tell that person. thank you for being so amazing. also, i’ve liked and respected you for a long…long time”
jongsuk was actually referring to IU during his speech last night I’M CRYINGGGG CONGRATS TO LEE LEE COUPLE!pic.twitter.com/abX9MbeMBL
— ☆ ia (uni) (@trainslaa) December 31, 2022
IT’S BEEN A YEAR SINCE IU AND LEE JONGSUK CONFIRMED DATING!
A thread of their love crumbs since 2021: pic.twitter.com/Y8E4iNSWPt
— (@dlwlsuk) December 30, 2023
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(Hero and Featured image: Courtesy IU/Lee Jong-Suk/Instagram)
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
