The two main actors of the hit drama "Perfect Crown," IU and Byeon Woo Seok, officially issued personal apologies on Monday (May 18, 2026). This step was taken after the drama they starred in drew strong public criticism for allegedly demeaning South Korea's historical sovereignty.
The controversy began with the broadcast of episode 11 on Friday (May 15, 2026). The drama, set in an alternate universe where modern Korea is a constitutional monarchy, featured the coronation of Grand Prince Ian (played by Byeon Woo Seok) as the new king.
However, the audience found a number of fatal errors in the procession which made Korea appear like a colony or vassal of the Chinese Empire. The historical error that sparked public outrage involved the use of the exclamation, where the people and ministers in the scene shouted "Cheonse" (long live a thousand years), which was historically used by vassal states.
However, for independent states, the exclamation should have been "Manse" (long live ten thousand years). Then, Prince I-an is seen wearing the guryumyeonryugwan (nine-tassel crown) which is usually worn by Chinese ministers or subordinates, instead of the shipimyeonryugwan (twelve-tassel crown) which is the symbol of the emperor of an independent state.
Previously, the production team of "Perfect Crown" issued an official apology on Saturday (May 16, 2026). They stated that they were deeply saddened by criticism from viewers who felt the production had undermined the nation's sovereignty.
Two days later, it was the turn of the two main actors to speak out via their personal Instagram accounts to quell fans' disappointment. IU, who plays chaebol heiress Seong Hui Ju, expressed regret and shame for not being thorough in checking the script.
"As the lead actor, I feel I failed to demonstrate a responsible attitude, ultimately causing great disappointment. I sincerely reflect on this and apologize, without any excuse, for jumping into action without further consideration (of historical verification)," IU wrote.
Meanwhile, Byeon Woo Seok uploaded a photo of a handwritten letter reflecting on his negligence during the filming process. "During filming, I didn't think enough about how the historical context and meaning would be received by the audience.
Through the feedback from viewers, I realized that an actor must approach their work with greater responsibility, not only regarding their acting but also the message the production conveys," said Byeon Woo Seok. Both actors promised to use this incident as a valuable lesson to be more careful and mature in choosing and exploring drama projects in the future.
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