IU Jokes About Boyfriend Lee Jong Suk’s Reaction to ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’: “He’s Too Busy, Probably Hasn’t Watched It Yet”
Singer-actress IU is currently enjoying the massive success of her Netflix series When Life Gives You Tangerines, but when it comes to one particular viewer her boyfriend, actor Lee Jong Suk she thinks he might still be catching up.
On April 2, during an interview held at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Grand Ballroom, IU (Lee Ji-eun) was asked about Lee Jong Suk’s thoughts on her latest drama. She replied with a laugh, “He’s really busy, so I don’t think he’s had a chance to watch it yet. That’s what I assume anyway.”
With her signature wit, she added, “Today marks the end of my promo schedule for When Life Gives You Tangerines, so right now, I only know Yang Gwan-sik [Park Bo Gum’s character in the drama]. Maybe tomorrow I’ll be able to talk about my boyfriend again.” The humorous comment drew smiles from fans and reporters alike.
IU and Lee Jong Suk have been in a public relationship since December 2022. Most recently, the couple made headlines for donating a combined ₩300 million KRW to support wildfire recovery efforts in Ulsan, North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang.
IU’s performance in When Life Gives You Tangerines has garnered widespread acclaim. Playing both the young rebellious Ae-sun and her daughter Geum-myeong, IU takes on a dual role in the drama set in 1960s Jeju Island. The heartwarming story, crafted by writer Lim Sang Choon (When the Camellia Blooms) and director Kim Won Seok (My Mister, Signal), has become a major hit both in Korea and globally.
The 16-episode series was uniquely released in four weekly acts, earning the No.1 spot on Netflix’s global Top 10 (non-English series) chart during its third week. By the final act, the show had racked up 6 million view counts (calculated by total watch time divided by the runtime), ultimately placing 3rd on Netflix’s global Top 10 (non-English series) chart.
As IU continues to expand her acting career—she’s currently filming the upcoming MBC drama Wife of a 21st Century Prince alongside Byeon Woo Seok—fans are eager to see both her artistic and personal life flourish. Even if her boyfriend hasn’t caught up on her latest drama just yet, the world definitely has.
