Actor Lee Jong-suk and singer-actor IU have broken up after four years of public dating, and online users are reexamining the two's past SNS activity. However, some caution that "interpretations that fit the past to the outcome should be avoided."
On the 10th, Lee Jong-suk's agency Ace Factory told OSEN, "It is true that Lee Jong-suk and IU have broken up. They decided to remain good colleagues," announcing their official position. Regarding the reason for the breakup, they said, "Because it concerns the actor's private life, we cannot provide other answers."
Immediately after the breakup news was reported, online communities and SNS were filled with reactions such as "I more or less expected it" and "It seemed there were signs already." In particular, some netizens reexamined the fact that the two did not follow each other on SNS during their public relationship and did not publicly mention each other, saying, "I thought it was a rumor this time too, but it turned out to be true after all." Others said, "It seemed they naturally grew apart because of busy schedules," and "There had been almost no public interaction from before."
But there were many opinions drawing a line against such interpretations. Some netizens said, "There are many couples who do not follow each other back on SNS," "Not mentioning each other publicly was simply their way of dating," and "Interpreting the past as evidence after breaking up can be outcome-driven," showing a cautious view.
In fact, even after acknowledging their relationship, the two maintained their relationship in a way that revealed as little of their private lives as possible.
Lee Jong-suk and IU's relationship became known to the public at the end of 2022 when Lee Jong-suk, after winning the grand prize at the 2022 MBC Drama Awards, said his feelings were for "someone I liked and respected for a very long time." Subsequent reports revealed that the other party was IU, and both sides officially acknowledged the relationship, saying, "They developed recently from a close colleague relationship into a romantic one and are having a serious relationship." The story of longtime entertainment industry colleagues developing into lovers received many congratulations at the time.
That was the first and last time Lee Jong-suk mentioned IU; afterward the two quietly maintained their relationship without other public displays of affection, and after four years they went their separate ways. Since both have been tight-lipped about the breakup rumors, people say premature speculation or interpretation should be avoided.
Meanwhile, IU recently appeared in the MBC drama "Perfect Crown," and Lee Jong-suk is set to have the Disney+ release of "The Remarried Empress" announced.
[Photo] "SNS"
[OSEN]