Singer and actor IU and actor Lee Jong-suk's "couple look" suspicion is causing controversy online. Recently, on an online community, photos of the two wearing a zip-up hoodie from the luxury brand Balenciaga, priced at around 3 million won, were posted side by side. Although they were in different locations, they were wearing the same design and color of clothing, leading some netizens to interpret it as a "couple look."

IU's photo was revealed on January 5 through actor Lee Yeon's SNS. In the photo, IU was enjoying daily life in a comfortable outfit matching a bucket hat and zip-up hoodie. Then, on January 8, Lee Jong-suk's recent status was shared through actor Ryu Hye-young's YouTube channel. In the video, the zip-up hoodie worn by Lee Jong-suk appeared similar to IU's, further spreading the couple look suspicion.

Fans and netizens showed various reactions such as "They are still dating well," "Showing it off like this, what a romantic," and "Definitely a couple look." On the other hand, some expressed discomfort, saying that highlighting couple items between actors in a public relationship before their next project could harm immersion in the work.

IU addressed the issue directly through an app used to communicate with fans. When a fan attached a photo related to the couple look suspicion and expressed disappointment, IU left a brief reply on the post saying, "They are different clothes..." Afterwards, the fan's comment was deleted, and netizens who saw this responded with comments like "That was a crossing-the-line question," "It must have been a big burden for IU to explain personally," and "Celebrities' private lives should be respected."

IU and Lee Jong-suk officially confirmed their relationship in December 2022. At that time, Lee Jong-suk attracted attention by delivering an acceptance speech filled with affection toward a specific person after winning the grand prize at the 2022 MBC Drama Awards. Their relationship became known afterward. Even after going public, they have minimized exposure of their private lives and continued their relationship quietly.

IU is scheduled to return to the small screen with the MBC drama "21st Century Grand Lady," set to air in April, while Lee Jong-suk is preparing for the release of the Disney+ original series "Remarriage & Desires." They are receiving attention for both their work and private lives and are maintaining their relationship through communication with fans.

The couple look suspicion involving IU and Lee Jong-suk is an example of how private lives and fans' interest intersect in the entertainment industry, and interest in their relationship and activities is expected to continue.