Actor Lee Jong-suk and singer-actress IU have broken up after four years of publicly dating.

According to Dispatch on July 10, representatives for Lee Jong-suk and IU said, “The two recently broke up.They have decided to remain good colleagues." An associate close to the couple also shared, "Due to their busy schedules, they naturally grew apart and decided to end their relationship."

​Lee Jong-suk and IU confirmed their relationship in 2022, receiving overwhelming support as one of the entertainment industry's flagship public couples. Notably, just before making the relationship public, Lee Jong-suk fueled dating rumors during his Grand Prize (Daesang) acceptance speech for the drama Big Mouth at the MBC Drama Awards. At the time, he stated, "I want to tell that person that I have liked them a lot for a very long time, and that I deeply respect them."

​Afterward, the couple received an outpouring of congratulations when they personally shared their love story, revealing that they first met as co-MCs on SBS's Inkigayo and spent years as colleagues before romantically becoming involved in 2022.

​At the time, IU penned a message to her fans, writing, "I am developing good feelings while relying on someone who has been a longtime colleague of mine. He is a reliable and cute person who has thankfully supported me for a long time, always telling me 'You're so cool, you're so cool,' and sending me heartfelt encouragement."

​She continued to express her affection, adding, "I think you may have noticed that I have been feeling emotionally comfortable and enjoying a good period in my life lately. One of the reasons I 5 recently felt an even greater sense of pride and passion for my work may be because I have a good friend close by who has praised me for such a long time. I will continue seeing him quietly and happily so that our fans do not have to worry."

​Lee Jong-suk also drew attention by sharing his sincere feelings for IU: “As a friend, she has talked through questions about the direction of my life and the concerns that come with it, sometimes bickering with me along the way, and she has also been someone I can rely on. Although she is younger than me, at times she feels like an older sister or even an adult, yet she is also a wonderful friend I want to protect. Now, she makes me want to become a better person.”

​His heartfelt message drew significant attention at the time.

However, after four years of dating publicly, the two have now ended their romantic relationship and decided to remain supportive of one another as senior and junior colleagues.