Another couple representing the entertainment industry has broken up. Following actors Jung Kyungho·Choi Sooyoung, Lee Jong-suk·IU have broken up, making the summer of 2026 a brutal season for long-term couples.
IU and Lee Jong-suk have put an end to four years of dating. The two chose breakup, not "marriage." Because they had quietly continued their relationship, the news of their breakup came as a great surprise.
IU and Lee Jong-suk acknowledged their relationship in 2022. At the time, Lee Jong-suk, who won the grand prize at the 2022 MBC Drama Awards, hinted at a relationship by mentioning "that person" while giving his acceptance speech, and "that person" was later revealed to be IU.
When their agencies acknowledged the relationship, Lee Jong-suk described IU as "we were friends for a long time and only now has it become like this. Even while I live my life, she's always that strange friend occupying a corner of my heart," and added, "as a friend she and I have bickered over directions and life concerns, supported each other, she's like a younger sibling but sometimes like an older sister, sometimes mature, and a wonderful friend I want to protect."
IU also said, "I am in a relationship. It's very cautious, but yes... this is how it came to be!" and explained, "a person who was a longtime colleague, who we rely on each other and have grown good feelings for. Someone who has kindly supported me for a long time and always told me 'you're amazing, you're amazing.' A dependable and cute person who gave sincere encouragement."
IU and Lee Jong-suk's relationship continued quietly. The two, devoted to their main work, protected their private lives to the extent that they never showed affection in public. Still, Lee Jong-suk showed affection by attending IU's concerts to cheer her on.
But their end was a breakup. On the 10th, Lee Jong-suk's side said, "It is true they have broken up. They have decided to remain good colleagues." Regarding the reason for the breakup, they asked for understanding, saying, "As it is the actor's personal private life, we cannot provide any further answers."
With IU and Lee Jong-suk breaking up, the summer of 2026 has become a terribly cruel season for long-term couples in the entertainment industry. Earlier in June, actors Jung Kyungho and Choi Sooyoung broke up. Because their relationship had lasted as long as 14 years, the breakup was shocking.
Jung Kyungho and Choi Sooyoung, both alumni of Chung-Ang University's department of theater and film, met at church and started dating in 2012. After beginning a public relationship in January 2014, they received support as a representative long-term couple of the entertainment industry, and because they did not hide their affection for each other at public events, few fans suspected they would not marry. However, their end was a breakup, and they decided to remain good colleagues.
The 14-year couple Jung Kyungho·Choi Sooyoung and the four-year couple Lee Jong-suk·IU. Because they had continued to love each other for a long time and received much support, the news of their breakups is inevitably heartbreaking.
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