IU, Byeon Woo Seok apologise over Perfect Crown historical row

Actors IU and Byeon Woo Seok have apologised after their drama Perfect Crown drew criticism over its portrayal of Korea in a fictional constitutional monarchy setting. The two actors posted separate messages on their personal Instagram accounts on May 18, days after the production team issued its own apology.

Perfect Crown is set in an alternate universe where modern-day Korea is a constitutional monarchy. The drama follows the marriage between Seong Hui Ju, played by IU, a chaebol heiress who has everything but remains a commoner in status, and Grand Prince Ian, played by Byeon Woo Seok, a prince who has little despite being the king's son.

What is the controversy about?

The controversy centred on Episode 11, which aired on May 15 and showed the coronation of Grand Prince Ian, the second son of the royal family, as the new king. Viewers objected to depictions that they said made South Korea's constitutional monarchy appear to be a vassal state of China. During the ceremony, the subjects shouted 'Cheonse' or 'a thousand years', a term associated with vassal states, instead of 'Manse' or 'ten thousand years', which symbolises an independent nation.

It was also pointed out that Grand Prince Ian wore a guryumyeonryugwan, described as a crown worn by Chinese subjects, instead of the shipimyeonryugwan, a 12-tasselled crown worn by emperors of independent nations. As the criticism grew, the production team issued an official apology on May 16, saying, 'We take the criticism that we have undermined our nation's sovereign status very seriously.'

What did IU say?

In her post, IU said she had carefully read the comments left by viewers over the past few days. She wrote, 'As a lead actor of the drama, I feel I failed to show a responsible attitude and ended up causing great disappointment, and I am deeply sorry.' She added that her heart felt heavy and said she sincerely reflected on and apologised for the issues of historical verification raised by viewers, 'without excuse', for having gone into her acting without thinking more deeply about them.

IU also said that because the drama needed to convey imagination grounded in Korean history and traditional beauty, she should have read the script more carefully and studied more as an actor. She said she was ashamed that she had not done so and admitted that she 'did not have a proper sense of the issues in advance'. She thanked viewers who watched the drama until the end and spoke up, and said she would remember their criticism and opinions. She added that she would approach future projects with a more cautious and thorough attitude, before apologising once again.

What did Byeon Woo Seok say?

Byeon Woo Seok also shared a handwritten letter. He said he had been worried over the weekend that anything he said might cause further harm, and wrote that he was speaking 'with a heavy heart' to those who felt discomfort and concern because of the drama. He said that while filming and acting in the series, he had not thought enough about the historical context and meaning contained in it, or about how viewers might receive it. He added that viewers' words had led him to reflect on himself and had reminded him that, as an actor, he needed to approach his work with greater responsibility, taking into account not only the acting but also the message and context carried by a production.

He ended by apologising sincerely and thanking everyone who had cared for Perfect Crown and Grand Prince Ian and offered advice. He said he would take on future projects with a more cautious and thoughtful attitude. With the production team and both lead actors now having apologised, the controversy around 'Perfect Crown' remains focused on the historical and symbolic details shown in Episode 11's coronation scene.