K-pop star IU recently surprised her fans with the release of her new single People Pt. 2 in collaboration with BTS’ Suga. While the track has already raked up more than 5 million views on YouTube alone in less than 24 hours, IU aka Lee Ji-eun’s love life seems to be attracting more attention.
For those who are new to IU’s fandom, the starlet is dating the South Korean actor-slash-heartthrob Lee Jong Suk. The couple made their relationship public back in December 2022, and there has been no looking back since.
IU and Lee Jong Suk’s relationship reveal was dramatic, to say the least!
IU and her rumored connection with Lee Jong Suk was already making the rounds on social media, thanks to a solid report by Dispatch. The article claimed the couple had been friends for over 10 years and had been dating since a few months.
Reportedly, the two spent the 2022 Christmas together in Japan, and sources claimed their families knew all about their romance. The couple was snapped at the airport by paparazzi, and this started the inevitable chain of events that finally led to the big reveal.
No sooner than the report hit the web, the stars’ agencies came forward with official statements. HighZium Studio, Lee Jong Suk’s representatives, stated:
Actor Lee Jong Suk and IU recently progressed from being close acquaintances into being a couple, and they are maintaining a serious relationship.
Shortly after, IU’s agents at EDAM Entertainment released a similar statement that said:
IU and Lee Jong Suk recently progressed from being close acquaintances into a good relationship. We ask for the warm reception of fans.
The aforementioned statements were in response to an exclusive scoop by Soompi. It’s clear that the two stars and their agencies thought it was the right time to let the cat out of the bag. Or was it all a planned, calculated move?
Nevertheless, the news was received with tremendous excitement by fans who had been endlessly shipping the couple. Twitter went berserk and showered love and wishes for IU and Lee Jong Suk, and there has been no looking back ever since.
Heartwarming New Year letters from IU and Lee Jong Suk themselves!
A day after the official confirmation of their relationship, IU and Lee Jong Suk themselves posted letters for their fans. Among other things she said about her beau, IU wrote:
He is a reliable and cute person who has supported me for a long time, always told me I’m amazing, and sent me sincere encouragement.
In his letter, Lee Jong Suk mentioned:
Even when I was working hard living my own way, she was a strange existence who always took up a corner of my heart.
Further describing his bond with IU in a heart-melting manner, Lee Jong remarked:
Now she makes me want to be a better person.
Much later in February 2023, in a deeply personal interview with Korean publication Esquire, Lee Jong Suk talked about IU. He said her existence, music, and lyrics gave him strength and comfort. However, the actor offered no hint as to their wedding plans, which their fans have been eagerly waiting for.
More recently, IU was nominated in the ‘Best New Actress’ category at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards for her performance in the movie Broker. On the other hand, Lee Jong Suk failed to secure a nomination.