March 29, 2025 • 10 mins
Few remember that Jong Suk once admitted IU "annoyed" him during their hosting days, or that both shared identical views on skipping dating to go straight to marriage. The clues were hiding in plain sight—from his concert appearances to her surprise performance at his brother's wedding that raised eyebrows months before their relationship went public. As details continue to emerge about their private Japan getaway and the meaningful support they've given each other through career challenges, one thing becomes clear—this relationship was years in the making. Despite occasional breakup rumors, their bond has only strengthened since that New Year's Day revelation. This is the complete timeline of Korea's most beloved couple and how they found their way to each other despite the spotlight and pressures of fame.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I use role in When Life Gives You Tangerines has
earned global praise, leading to a lot of interest in
her personal life, especially her relationship with actor Lee Jongsuk.
But how did their romance begin and how did they
navigate the challenges that came with being in the spotlight together.
Before we get to their first meeting, let's first talk
about I use views on relationships and marriage. In December
(00:22):
twenty eleven, Iu appeared on Happy Together three and mentioned
that while she might have more opportunities to date as
she gets older, she felt like she would eventually get
tired of it meeting people, dating, breaking up, and repeating
the cycle. She even said she would prefer to get
married as soon as she became an adult. Remember this
for later. It'll be another hint showing that she and
Jongsuk are truly meant for each other, long before Dispatch
(00:45):
named them the twenty twenty three New Year's Couple. I
You and Lee first crossed paths in twenty twelve, as
they hosted SBS music show in ki Gaioh together from
August to September. However, even though their relationship may seem
like a fairy tale now, it didn't begin that way back.
In twenty twelve and twenty thirteen, stories circulated that their
dynamic wasn't great, with people speculating that they hardly acknowledged
(01:07):
each other once the cameras were off. While the rumors
turned out to be fake, there was a bit of
truth to it, something that Jongsuk confirmed himself. During a
June twenty thirteen episode of SBS Incarnation, Jongsuk was directly
questioned about rumors of tension with Iu. He shared that
while they didn't talk about personal things, they still had
to communicate. He also confessed that Iu sometimes annoyed him
(01:31):
to explain. Jongsuk said that Inky Geya was aimed at
a younger audience, so everything from their outfits to their
expressions had to be simple and playful. He revealed that
Iu often came up with ideas for themed costumes, suggesting
looks like Peter Pan and Tinkerbell or Leon and Matilda
from Leon the Professional. While he knew she was just
trying to make the show more fun, he admitted he
found it a bit frustrating since he wasn't comfortable dressing up.
(01:53):
Of all the costumes, the Peter Pan outfit was the
one he found the most embarrassing. He explained, because she
was such a lovable national sister that everyone liked her,
but I was annoyed with her. Over time, they worked
through their differences, and Yongsuk admitted that leaving the show
was bittersweet because he had grown fond of Iu after
they talked things out. He also shared that they stayed
(02:14):
in touch occasionally and that he considered her a close friend.
After the costume choices, Jongsuk reached out to Iu, asking
why she'd put him in them despite knowing he didn't
like dressing up. I You responded by saying she just
wanted the best performance and playfully scolded him for discussing
it with the writer instead of her. I You also
addressed their apparent feud just a month later, stating that
(02:37):
she didn't even know that Jongsuk had felt that way.
She said, Jongsuk Opah never said anything to me when
we were working together, so I had no idea he
felt this way. After I watched that episode, I realized
that he really must have not liked the costumes. Iu
also assured the viewers that she had apologized to him
in person afterward, though Jongsuk once admitted she annoyed him.
(02:57):
His fan cafe letter shared after their were life relationship
was revealed, told a different story. He confessed he had
a huge crush on Iu at the time and felt
disappointed that nothing came of it. According to him, there
was something big there and at times I was bummed
that it didn't go anywhere. For a long time, we
remained friends. Now let's get to Jongsuk's views on dating
and relationships. In February twenty fourteen, Jongsuk appeared on SBS
(03:22):
Han Bam, where one of the hosts mentioned that they
thought he was the kind of person who would make
his relationship public. Jongsuk agreed and added, I actually want
to just kind of skip being in a relationship and
head straight to marriage. Sounds familiar. Jongsuk also said that
if he were to get into a relationship with someone
he truly loved, he would want to make the relationship
public before the paparazzi took their pictures and released them
(03:44):
to the public. He mentioned discussing it with close reporters
who told him it was a bad idea and that
getting caught would be a better option. Aside from Jongsuk
occasionally calling Iu, one of his closest friends. They didn't
have much public interaction. That changed in December twenty six seventeen,
when Jongsuk attended i U's Palette concert in Soul, right
after returning from a schedule in Japan. Then in December
(04:07):
twenty twenty one, Johnsuck posted a screenshot of IU's songs
Mycen epilogue from her album Lilac, which had come out
that year, on his Instagram story, adding a crying emoji
to the lyrics. Just two months later, in February twenty
twenty two, Jongsuck was featured as the cover star for
EL Korea. In the interview with the magazine, he spoke
about i U's song Winter Sleep, revealing that he had
(04:29):
been listening to it non stop and found the lyrics meaningful.
He also spoke of wanting to get married, saying that
he wanted to live a happy life with his future wife.
Jongsuk said, I've always fantasized about having my own family.
I believe there are lots of things to learn for
me to maintain a happy married life, like I could
learn cooking, for instance. Johnsuk also shared that his thoughts
(04:50):
on his future wife had evolved While he once had
a vague idea of the type of person he wanted
to marry, he now knew exactly what he was looking for,
someone smart, strong, willed, and most importantly cute. Seems like
he really hit the mark. In September of the same year,
he attended an Iu concert, once again being seen in
the crowd of her Golden Hour concert at the Sole
(05:11):
Olympic Stadium. That same month, Johngsuk also hosted his fan
meeting Ree Jongsuk at the Blue Square Master Card Hall
and Seoul, where he performed iu song Meaning of You
for his fans. We love a man who's supportive of
his girlfriend. Speaking of IU's Meaning of You, it seems
like that's a song that's really special to the couple.
In October twenty twenty two, it was found out that
(05:32):
Iu had performed the song at the wedding of Jongsuk's
younger brother. After quickly greeting Jongsook, she got on stage
wearing a brown button down shirt and a black skirt
and saying meaning of You. This is when people started
suspecting that there was something between the two. While it's
normal for celebrities to sing at weddings, as a favor
to someone. For some, it was strange that she was
(05:55):
invited to the wedding of Jongsok's brother. One commenter wrote, Wow,
It's one thing to sing for a friend, but singing
for a friend's family is going a level further. However,
some people felt the situation was completely normal and thought
fans were overthinking it. Given that Jongsuk and Iu had
been friends for ten years at this point, it seemed
reasonable that they would be close enough to attend each
(06:16):
other's family weddings, Plus with Akmu also performing, many believed
Jongsuk simply wanted to do something nice for his brother
and invited his idle friends to be a part of
the wedding. Those who thought I You and Jongsuk were
dating after seeing her at the wedding had no idea
that December would reveal their biggest clue yet about their romance.
On December thirtieth, Johnsuck received the Grand Prize at the
(06:36):
twenty twenty two MBC Drama Awards for his role in
the K drama Big Mouth. During his award acceptance, he
expressed thanks to those who supported his return to the industry,
explaining how this role was his first venture into this
genre and how it made him anxious. After thanking the
team and his loved ones, he shared his gratitude with
someone truly special. Although he didn't name anyone specifically, He
(06:59):
shared that there were many worries and struggles he faced
after finishing his military service and that this person eased
his fears. He went on to say, at that time,
there was someone who helped me to 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. In the end, he thanked the person for
being so admirable, shared that he had liked them for
(07:21):
a long time, and expressed his deep respect and admiration
for them. The fact that Jongsuk didn't mention anyone didn't
stop the media and fans from speculating who he was
talking about. Just the way he addressed the anonymous person
made everyone believe that he was talking to his girlfriend
or at least confessing his feelings to someone. While his
(07:41):
speech left people puzzled and surprised, they were happy for him,
believing that the person he spoke about was truly great.
Comments on online forums said things like, even if it's girlfriend.
She seems to be a real good person, seeing how
he has so many good things to say to her.
And whoever this person is, that person is lucky. Assumptions
would be proven correct just a day later, when the
(08:03):
media outlet Dispatch reported that the two were in a relationship.
According to them, Jongsuk flew to Osaka on December twentieth,
and four days later, Iu and her brother arrived in Nagoya.
They stayed at the luxury Amanimu Resort, which Jongsuk personally booked,
including a private escort for them. After his fan meeting,
Jongsuk flew to Tokyo before returning to Seoul. Dispatch claims
(08:23):
he dedicated a week to arranging a quiet, private holiday
for them away from the public eye. It was also
reported that the two had been dating for about four months,
and their families were already aware of their relationship, seeing
as Iu sang at Juangsuk's brother's wedding and Jongsuk personally
invited IU's brother to Nagoya. Following the news, both agencies
(08:44):
confirmed the relationship, and then Jongsuk and Iu posted heartfelt
messages to their fans. In his letter, Jongsuk expressed that
he knew the announcement surprised many people. He described Iu
as someone who listens to his worries and is someone
he can rely on, even though she's younger than him.
He also mentioned that she feels like an older sister
at times, someone strong and mature, yet still someone he
(09:08):
wants to protect. On the other hand, Iu shared her
own thoughts, explaining that she and Jongsuk had been colleagues
for a long time and their bond had deepened over
the years, with both offering each other's support. She referred
to him as someone reliable and charming, always lifting her
up with his genuine encouragement. She also credited but growing
confidence and passion for her work to the support of Jongsuk,
(09:29):
who has always been there for her in a meaningful way.
Ever since the announcement, the two have publicly supported and
talked about each other. Jungsuk especially has shared how much
Iu means to him and how much he adores her,
saying her presence gives him strength and that her music
has comforted him. He values their long friendship and describes
her as the funniest person, adding that her support has
(09:52):
helped him through challenges, especially after turning thirty. Despite the
occasional breakup rumors, they've always been proven false, with Jungsu
attending I Use concerts or offering public support. Though they
haven't discussed marriage, everyone's still waiting for that moment when
they see the two standing at the altar.
I use role in When Life Gives You Tangerines has
earned global praise, leading to a lot of interest in
her personal life, especially her relationship with actor Lee Jongsuk.
But how did their romance begin and how did they
navigate the challenges that came with being in the spotlight together.
Before we get to their first meeting, let's first talk
about I use views on relationships and marriage. In December
(00:22):
twenty eleven, Iu appeared on Happy Together three and mentioned
that while she might have more opportunities to date as
she gets older, she felt like she would eventually get
tired of it meeting people, dating, breaking up, and repeating
the cycle. She even said she would prefer to get
married as soon as she became an adult. Remember this
for later. It'll be another hint showing that she and
Jongsuk are truly meant for each other, long before Dispatch
(00:45):
named them the twenty twenty three New Year's Couple. I
You and Lee first crossed paths in twenty twelve, as
they hosted SBS music show in ki Gaioh together from
August to September. However, even though their relationship may seem
like a fairy tale now, it didn't begin that way back.
In twenty twelve and twenty thirteen, stories circulated that their
dynamic wasn't great, with people speculating that they hardly acknowledged
(01:07):
each other once the cameras were off. While the rumors
turned out to be fake, there was a bit of
truth to it, something that Jongsuk confirmed himself. During a
June twenty thirteen episode of SBS Incarnation, Jongsuk was directly
questioned about rumors of tension with Iu. He shared that
while they didn't talk about personal things, they still had
to communicate. He also confessed that Iu sometimes annoyed him
(01:31):
to explain. Jongsuk said that Inky Geya was aimed at
a younger audience, so everything from their outfits to their
expressions had to be simple and playful. He revealed that
Iu often came up with ideas for themed costumes, suggesting
looks like Peter Pan and Tinkerbell or Leon and Matilda
from Leon the Professional. While he knew she was just
trying to make the show more fun, he admitted he
found it a bit frustrating since he wasn't comfortable dressing up.
(01:53):
Of all the costumes, the Peter Pan outfit was the
one he found the most embarrassing. He explained, because she
was such a lovable national sister that everyone liked her,
but I was annoyed with her. Over time, they worked
through their differences, and Yongsuk admitted that leaving the show
was bittersweet because he had grown fond of Iu after
they talked things out. He also shared that they stayed
(02:14):
in touch occasionally and that he considered her a close friend.
After the costume choices, Jongsuk reached out to Iu, asking
why she'd put him in them despite knowing he didn't
like dressing up. I You responded by saying she just
wanted the best performance and playfully scolded him for discussing
it with the writer instead of her. I You also
addressed their apparent feud just a month later, stating that
(02:37):
she didn't even know that Jongsuk had felt that way.
She said, Jongsuk Opah never said anything to me when
we were working together, so I had no idea he
felt this way. After I watched that episode, I realized
that he really must have not liked the costumes. Iu
also assured the viewers that she had apologized to him
in person afterward, though Jongsuk once admitted she annoyed him.
(02:57):
His fan cafe letter shared after their were life relationship
was revealed, told a different story. He confessed he had
a huge crush on Iu at the time and felt
disappointed that nothing came of it. According to him, there
was something big there and at times I was bummed
that it didn't go anywhere. For a long time, we
remained friends. Now let's get to Jongsuk's views on dating
and relationships. In February twenty fourteen, Jongsuk appeared on SBS
(03:22):
Han Bam, where one of the hosts mentioned that they
thought he was the kind of person who would make
his relationship public. Jongsuk agreed and added, I actually want
to just kind of skip being in a relationship and
head straight to marriage. Sounds familiar. Jongsuk also said that
if he were to get into a relationship with someone
he truly loved, he would want to make the relationship
public before the paparazzi took their pictures and released them
(03:44):
to the public. He mentioned discussing it with close reporters
who told him it was a bad idea and that
getting caught would be a better option. Aside from Jongsuk
occasionally calling Iu, one of his closest friends. They didn't
have much public interaction. That changed in December twenty six seventeen,
when Jongsuk attended i U's Palette concert in Soul, right
after returning from a schedule in Japan. Then in December
(04:07):
twenty twenty one, Johnsuck posted a screenshot of IU's songs
Mycen epilogue from her album Lilac, which had come out
that year, on his Instagram story, adding a crying emoji
to the lyrics. Just two months later, in February twenty
twenty two, Jongsuck was featured as the cover star for
EL Korea. In the interview with the magazine, he spoke
about i U's song Winter Sleep, revealing that he had
(04:29):
been listening to it non stop and found the lyrics meaningful.
He also spoke of wanting to get married, saying that
he wanted to live a happy life with his future wife.
Jongsuk said, I've always fantasized about having my own family.
I believe there are lots of things to learn for
me to maintain a happy married life, like I could
learn cooking, for instance. Johnsuk also shared that his thoughts
(04:50):
on his future wife had evolved While he once had
a vague idea of the type of person he wanted
to marry, he now knew exactly what he was looking for,
someone smart, strong, willed, and most importantly cute. Seems like
he really hit the mark. In September of the same year,
he attended an Iu concert, once again being seen in
the crowd of her Golden Hour concert at the Sole
(05:11):
Olympic Stadium. That same month, Johngsuk also hosted his fan
meeting Ree Jongsuk at the Blue Square Master Card Hall
and Seoul, where he performed iu song Meaning of You
for his fans. We love a man who's supportive of
his girlfriend. Speaking of IU's Meaning of You, it seems
like that's a song that's really special to the couple.
In October twenty twenty two, it was found out that
(05:32):
Iu had performed the song at the wedding of Jongsuk's
younger brother. After quickly greeting Jongsook, she got on stage
wearing a brown button down shirt and a black skirt
and saying meaning of You. This is when people started
suspecting that there was something between the two. While it's
normal for celebrities to sing at weddings, as a favor
to someone. For some, it was strange that she was
(05:55):
invited to the wedding of Jongsok's brother. One commenter wrote, Wow,
It's one thing to sing for a friend, but singing
for a friend's family is going a level further. However,
some people felt the situation was completely normal and thought
fans were overthinking it. Given that Jongsuk and Iu had
been friends for ten years at this point, it seemed
reasonable that they would be close enough to attend each
(06:16):
other's family weddings, Plus with Akmu also performing, many believed
Jongsuk simply wanted to do something nice for his brother
and invited his idle friends to be a part of
the wedding. Those who thought I You and Jongsuk were
dating after seeing her at the wedding had no idea
that December would reveal their biggest clue yet about their romance.
On December thirtieth, Johnsuck received the Grand Prize at the
(06:36):
twenty twenty two MBC Drama Awards for his role in
the K drama Big Mouth. During his award acceptance, he
expressed thanks to those who supported his return to the industry,
explaining how this role was his first venture into this
genre and how it made him anxious. After thanking the
team and his loved ones, he shared his gratitude with
someone truly special. Although he didn't name anyone specifically, He
(06:59):
shared that there were many worries and struggles he faced
after finishing his military service and that this person eased
his fears. He went on to say, at that time,
there was someone who helped me to 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. In the end, he thanked the person for
being so admirable, shared that he had liked them for
(07:21):
a long time, and expressed his deep respect and admiration
for them. The fact that Jongsuk didn't mention anyone didn't
stop the media and fans from speculating who he was
talking about. Just the way he addressed the anonymous person
made everyone believe that he was talking to his girlfriend
or at least confessing his feelings to someone. While his
(07:41):
speech left people puzzled and surprised, they were happy for him,
believing that the person he spoke about was truly great.
Comments on online forums said things like, even if it's girlfriend.
She seems to be a real good person, seeing how
he has so many good things to say to her.
And whoever this person is, that person is lucky. Assumptions
would be proven correct just a day later, when the
(08:03):
media outlet Dispatch reported that the two were in a relationship.
According to them, Jongsuk flew to Osaka on December twentieth,
and four days later, Iu and her brother arrived in Nagoya.
They stayed at the luxury Amanimu Resort, which Jongsuk personally booked,
including a private escort for them. After his fan meeting,
Jongsuk flew to Tokyo before returning to Seoul. Dispatch claims
(08:23):
he dedicated a week to arranging a quiet, private holiday
for them away from the public eye. It was also
reported that the two had been dating for about four months,
and their families were already aware of their relationship, seeing
as Iu sang at Juangsuk's brother's wedding and Jongsuk personally
invited IU's brother to Nagoya. Following the news, both agencies
(08:44):
confirmed the relationship, and then Jongsuk and Iu posted heartfelt
messages to their fans. In his letter, Jongsuk expressed that
he knew the announcement surprised many people. He described Iu
as someone who listens to his worries and is someone
he can rely on, even though she's younger than him.
He also mentioned that she feels like an older sister
at times, someone strong and mature, yet still someone he
(09:08):
wants to protect. On the other hand, Iu shared her
own thoughts, explaining that she and Jongsuk had been colleagues
for a long time and their bond had deepened over
the years, with both offering each other's support. She referred
to him as someone reliable and charming, always lifting her
up with his genuine encouragement. She also credited but growing
confidence and passion for her work to the support of Jongsuk,
(09:29):
who has always been there for her in a meaningful way.
Ever since the announcement, the two have publicly supported and
talked about each other. Jungsuk especially has shared how much
Iu means to him and how much he adores her,
saying her presence gives him strength and that her music
has comforted him. He values their long friendship and describes
her as the funniest person, adding that her support has
(09:52):
helped him through challenges, especially after turning thirty. Despite the
occasional breakup rumors, they've always been proven false, with Jungsu
attending I Use concerts or offering public support. Though they
haven't discussed marriage, everyone's still waiting for that moment when
they see the two standing at the altar.
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