IU and Byeon Woo Seok, lead actors of the hit K-drama “Perfect Crown,” have separately issued public apologies following backlash over the historical and cultural depictions in a recent episode of the series.
The controversy stemmed from the show’s 11th episode, which aired on May 15, that drew criticism from viewers for portraying South Korea’s fictional constitutional monarchy in a way some interpreted as diminishing the nation, where it reportedly appeared as if it were a vassal state of China.
The episode centered on the coronation of Grand Prince Ian (played by Byeon Woo Seok), the second son of the royal family, as the new king.
Viewers raised concerns over ceremonial details shown during the coronation scene. Critics pointed out that the word “cheonse”, a term used by vassal states which means “a thousand years”, was chanted during the scenes, rather than “manse,” or “ten thousand years,” which is regarded as a symbol for an independent nation.
Additional scrutiny focused on Grand Prince Ian’s ceremonial headpiece, with viewers alleging he wore a guryumyeonryugwan, a crown historically associated with Chinese subjects, instead of the shipimyeonryugwan, the twelve-tasseled crown linked to sovereign rulers.
The incident has sparked conversations online about historical sensitivity and accuracy in fictional dramas that draw inspiration from Korean history and cultural identity.
In response, the drama’s production team issued an official apology on May 16, acknowledging the concerns.
“We take the criticism that we have undermined our nation’s sovereign status very seriously,” the production team said in a statement, as quoted in Soompi’s report.
On May 18, the drama’s lead stars IU and Byeon Woo Seok also addressed the controversy through personal statements shared on Instagram.
IU, who portrayed Seong Hui Ju in the drama, expressed regret over what she described as a lack of responsibility in approaching the project’s historical context.
“Over the past few days, I have carefully read each and every comment that many viewers left,” IU began her statement, as translated by Soompi.
“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.”
The actress acknowledged criticism regarding the drama’s historical verification and admitted she had not sufficiently considered the implications of the production’s cultural and historical elements before filming.
“I sincerely reflect and apologize—without excuse—for having gone into my acting without thinking more deeply about them,” the actress-singer stated.
“Because this was a drama in which it was important to convey imagination grounded in our own history and the traditional beauty of Korea, I should have read the script more carefully and studied more as an actor, but I did not, and I am ashamed of myself for that.”
“I did not have a proper sense of the issues in advance. I apologize,” IU said, adding that she would approach future projects with a “more cautious and thorough attitude”.
Byeon Woo Seok also issued an apology in a handwritten letter, saying he had spent the weekend reflecting on the concerns raised by viewers.
“With a heavy heart, I am writing this to those who have felt discomfort and concern because of the drama,” the actor acknowled viewers’ reactions.
“In the process of filming and acting in this drama, I did not think enough about what the historical context and meaning contained in it were and how that might be received by the viewers.”
He further expressed how the incident led him to make a personal reflection on himself and taking more careful approach to his future works with “greater responsibility”.
“Through the words of the viewers, I have been led to reflect and look back on myself, and as an actor I have once again deeply taken to heart that I need to approach my work with greater responsibility,” his statement read. “I sincerely apologize.”
“Perfect Crown” concluded its run with a record-breaking finale on May 16, achieving its highest ratings yet and ending the series on a high note. According to Soompi, data from Nielsen Korea showed that the final episode recorded an average nationwide viewership rating of 13.8 percent, making it the most-watched program across all genres aired on a Saturday slate.
