As Perfect Crown heads toward its highly anticipated finale, fans are not only emotional about the ending of the K-drama but are also closely paying attention to comments made by its lead star IU about love and relationships. The actress and singer recently shared personal thoughts during a behind-the-scenes video from the series, and many viewers quickly connected her words to her long-running public relationship with Lee Jong-suk.
The final episode of Perfect Crown is scheduled to air on May 16, bringing an end to the 12-episode romantic royal drama that became one of the most talked-about Korean series globally this year. Starring IU alongside Byeon Woo-seok, the series blended romance, palace politics, social status conflicts, and emotional tension inside a modern constitutional monarchy setting. Over the weeks, the drama steadily built a strong international fanbase, especially because of its mix of fairy-tale romance and darker political intrigue.
Amid the growing anticipation around the finale, IU’s official YouTube channel released a behind-the-scenes video titled Tears over this week’s final episode. ‘Perfect Crown’ Behind-the-Scenes. The footage showed IU filming emotionally intense scenes as her character Seong Hui-Ju while also casually talking with the production team between takes.
One particular moment from the video quickly started circulating online after IU shared her personal philosophy about love. During a conversation on set, she reportedly said that when someone constantly wants to be understood, it may actually mean they are not fully loving yet. According to IU, love should not completely depend on whether another person fully understands you or not.
When producers later asked whether those thoughts belonged to her character or reflected her own real-life beliefs, IU clarified that it was actually her personal philosophy. She also explained that her character Seong Hui-Ju likely does not think that way yet because she has never truly experienced genuine love within the story itself.
Naturally, fans immediately connected those comments to IU’s relationship with Lee Jong-Suk, especially because the couple has remained one of South Korea’s most admired celebrity pairings since publicly confirming their romance back in December 2022. Even though they mostly keep their relationship private and low-key, their bond has continued steadily for more than three years now, something relatively rare in the high-pressure Korean entertainment industry.
IU and Lee Jong-Suk’s relationship always attracted attention partly because the foundation of it stretches back much further than their official dating announcement. The two first met in 2012 while working together as co-hosts on SBS’s Inkigayo. Over the years, their friendship reportedly stayed close before eventually growing into a romantic relationship much later.
When the couple officially confirmed they were dating in 2022, Lee Jong-Suk openly described IU as someone he had admired for a very long time. He even referred to his feelings as developing from a long-term “crush” that slowly deepened over the years. Fans especially appreciated how mature and calm their relationship appeared compared to the usual intense celebrity dating culture online.
Lee Jong-Suk has also been spotted quietly supporting IU’s career publicly several times. He attended her concerts, including the hugely popular The Golden Hour performances, and has frequently been mentioned by fans for showing consistent support toward her music and acting projects.
Meanwhile, Perfect Crown itself became a major success because of the chemistry between IU and Byeon Woo-Seok alongside its visually rich royal setting. Directed by Park Joon-hwa, the series follows powerful heiress Seong Hui-Ju and Grand Prince Yi An entering a strategic contract marriage that slowly evolves into real emotional connection amid political struggles and succession battles.
One reason the show connected so strongly with audiences is because it balanced romantic fantasy with emotional vulnerability. While the palace politics and royal tension added scale to the drama, much of the emotional pull came from Hui-Ju’s loneliness and gradual understanding of what genuine affection and trust actually mean. That probably explains why IU’s comments about love resonated so deeply with viewers before the finale.
Honestly, IU has always been one of those celebrities whose personal thoughts tend to carry emotional weight with fans. Whether through music, interviews, or dramas, she often speaks in a calm and reflective way that feels genuine rather than overly polished. Her recent comments about love only strengthened that image further, especially as audiences continue watching her own real-life relationship with Lee Jong-Suk remain quietly strong away from constant media spectacle.
Now with Perfect Crown reaching its conclusion, fans are preparing emotionally for both the ending of the drama and the final chapter of Seong Hui-Ju’s complicated journey toward love, power, and self-understanding.
