Lee Dong-wook and Bae Suzy's love story: Backlash, breakup and why the actor won't publicly date again

Why leave all the romance and shipping to K-dramas when K-celebs have real-life stories just as interesting— and often far more private? In the world of Korean entertainment, relationships are usually kept tightly under wraps. When couples go public, it’s through official agency statements. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you'll get a handwritten note. Otherwise, it's all silence and firm requests for privacy.

That’s why many fans may have missed the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it relationship between Lee Dong-wook and Bae Suzy —, his only confirmed romance since debuting in 1999. The actor, who’s famously brushed off the idea of marriage, once had a real-life K-drama moment The story is rather straightforward: The Start-Up starlet had long called Dong-wook her ‘ideal type,’  and fans were thrilled when the two started dating in 2018 after meeting at a private gathering. Their agencies confirmed the budding relationship in March of that year, saying they were “getting to know each other with good feelings.” The internet immediately buzzed with excitement over the unexpected pairing  a real-life K-drama in the making.

But just as fast as the fairytale began, it ended. By May 2018, only two months in, the couple called it quits, reportedly due to conflicting schedules. Adding fuel to the breakup chatter was the public scrutiny over their 13-year age gap — Dong-wook was 37, Suzy just 24 — which sparked criticism and online backlash.

Since Dong-wook has laughed off any chance of a relationship. “I don’t think I can date anymore. I’m so lazy. To date, you have to become friends with someone. I don’t remember how to do that anymore, it’s been so long,” he has notably said.