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Why did Lee Seung-gi and Yoona split? Ex-couple are still 'friends' as 'Mouse' actor dates Lee Da-in

The exes continue to remain friendly and supportive of each other following their split, which happened just one year into becoming an official couple

Lee Seung-gi's fans were left heartbroken but also somewhat thrilled after Korean media outlets confirmed that he and South Korean actress Lee Da-in are officially together. The latter's agency reported that the couple has been getting to know each other for the last six months after love bloomed from their love for golf. But while most fans believe "he's a keeper" and are beyond elated for the happy union, some are still struggling to get over the last breakup the 'Mouse' actor went through with Girls Generation's Yoona. 

It's no secret that fans adored the two of them together and were left disappointed when news of the former couple's split surfaced online in 2015. The two had met way back in 2007, and even after their split had become official, fans continued to speculate they were still together.

With such hardcore fan shipping, there was heavy speculation about the reason behind their split. Many felt that the two broke up because Seung-gi was nearing 30 and had to enlist for the South Korean army per their national mandate. But a 2017 video posted from the YouTube channel Top Korean News claims that Yoona's agency SM Entertainment cited a whole other reason for their split.

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'Better friends than lovers'

In the slideshow video of the exes, the channel writes that "According to Yoona's agency SM Entertainment, they decided that they would make better friends than lovers." The outlet also lists the exes continue to remain friendly and supportive of each other following their split, which happened just one year after they announced that they were an official couple on social media. "Both are still meeting as friends. They support each other as colleagues and actors," reported local media outlets based on their agencies' claims in 2017. 

The channel also said that the two began their romance in 2014, and after several on-and-off stints, finally ended their relationship in June of 2017. According to the outlet, Seung-gi's military enlistment was the reason behind their split. Soon after he turned 29, Seung-gi began his 21 months of mandatory military service as an active-duty soldier on February 1, 2016. This reportedly had an impact on his relationship, according to online speculation. 

Military responsible for breakups?

Twitter has been buzzing forever about their breakup, even though it has been three years now. Fans still lament the split of the singing power couple with many slamming South Korea's mandatory military enlistment as the reason behind most Korean celebrities breaking up in their 20s.

"It's not weird for couple to break up when the guy is enlisted in the army, lee seunggi also broke up with yoona when he's in military lmao," wrote one user.

Another crushed fan had speculated "So Lee Minho and Suzy broke up. We'll........ I guess don't enter the army while in a relationship, it breaks everyone. Just like Lee Seunggi and Yoona's issue before." Others cried "They tried (sic) 3 years .....but why do they always breakup when they go for military service .....yoona and lee seung gi the same thing."

There has been no official comment from either of them agreeing with such speculation, however. Seung-gi was discharged from active military duty on October 3, 2020. Fans, although crushed that his relationship with Yoona was cut short, are happy that he has finally found love once again.