A flurry of excitement has erupted online after photos and eyewitness accounts emerged of BTS's V and singer-actress IU dining together at a restaurant in Seoul. The sighting, which occurred on May 15, 2025, just ahead of IU's birthday on May 16, has fueled speculation and discussion among fans and netizens alike.
The image, reportedly captured by a passerby, depicts V dressed casually in black, seated across from a woman believed to be IU. While the woman's face is not clearly visible, details such as her pink shirt and hat are consistent with IU's recent public appearances, strengthening the belief that it was indeed her. The location of the dinner, Mosu restaurant, is a high-end establishment run by renowned chef Ahn Sung-jae, known as the "black-and-white chef" from Netflix's "Culinary Class Wars". A dinner course at Mosu reportedly costs 420,000 won per person.
The timing of the dinner, coinciding with IU's birthday, has led many to speculate that it was a private celebration. Some fans online have concluded that the two met to commemorate IU's 32nd birthday.
V and IU have a known professional relationship, which began when V starred in IU's "Love Wins All" music video in January 2024, where they portrayed an emotional couple. Following the music video release, IU made a guest appearance in a reaction video for V's solo track "Friends". V also attended IU's concert in September 2023 while serving in the military.
Despite the friendly interactions and on-screen chemistry, IU has been publicly dating actor Lee Jong-suk since 2022. This has led many to believe that V and IU share a platonic, sibling-like bond.
Regardless of the nature of their relationship, the recent sighting has generated considerable buzz among fans. Social media platforms have been flooded with comments and analyses of the photos, with some fans expressing excitement over their continued friendship and potential future collaborations. Some netizens even used advanced techniques to try and clarify the woman's face in the photo.
IU is currently preparing for the release of her first remake album in eight years, "A Flower Bookmark 3," set to drop on May 27. She is also scheduled to begin filming her next K-drama project, "Wife of a 21st Century Prince". V is nearing the completion of his military service, with his discharge scheduled for June 10.
