Lee Yeon, the lead actress in the film 'Gyeongju Trip,' addressed dating rumors with her close friend IU following their appearance together in the MBC drama 'The Great Queen Seondeok' which concluded in May. During an interview at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 19th, Lee Yeon explained, "That day I met with IU and actress Ryu Su-bin to have dinner. Since Su-bin hadn't arrived yet, IU and I had coffee at a café in Seochon and then moved to a restaurant, where we were photographed from behind." She added, "We were aware to some extent that someone was taking photos, but we didn't know who they were. It seems the photos were posted on overseas sites or X, causing the issue to trend overseas." Overseas fan sites jokingly suggested romantic rumors between the two, though their agencies denied these claims. Lee Yeon dismissed the matter with laughter, stating, "Dating as friends is correct, but we're not denying it." IU fans have been playfully pairing them due to their good chemistry. Currently, 'Gyeongju Trip' is ranked first in Korean film advance bookings.