Kang Ha Neul and IU are not dating. Rumours that the two are romantically involved started after they were spotted together at a cafe on September 10 - a day before his mandatory military enlistment.
The 27-year-old rubbished the relationship reports. He clarified: "IU and I are just friends. We are both aware of the dating rumor, if there are photos where it's just the two of us, I would like to see them as well."
IU has been linked to a number of men after she split with Kiha Chang. The two ended their relationship after dating for four years.
Chang's agency confirmed that they are no longer in a relationship. The label stated: "The two recently broke up and have decided to remain in a good senior-junior relationship."
The two met for the first time in 2013, and started seeing each other shortly. Their relationship came out in 2015, and raised concern as the couple had an 11-year age gap.
IU had gushed about Chang when the Korean media outlet Dispatch published photos of the couple together. She said at that time: "You must be shocked but thank you all for asking if I am okay."
"I was thinking of a good way to tell my fans about my relationship, but Dispatch caught the ball before it bounced. I fell for him immediately after meeting him for the first time through a radio show. He is a boyfriend whom I have a lot to learn from and I am thankful for that. We are dating like any other couple, having good times, fighting, getting disappointed, and feeling thankful," she added.
Meanwhile, Ha Neul will be enlisting on 11 September in the Korean military, and will be away for 21 months. He will enter the Nonsan Army Training Center and will serve as a military police officer after completing his basic military training.
