MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama ’21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife’ is still facing a massive storm even after its finale. Despite achieving #1 in viewership and buzz, the show ended on a bitter note with acting controversies, historical distortion claims, and public apologies from the lead actors. Now, there are even calls to “scrap” the work, and writer Yoo Ji-won is being heavily criticized for remaining silent.
According to Nielsen Korea, the final episode of ’21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife’ aired on the 16th and recorded a national rating of 13.8%, marking its own highest viewership. With a powerhouse pairing of IU and Byeon Woo-seok and a massive 30 billion won production budget, it was considered one of the most anticipated works of the year.
However, the public reception was far from the ratings. From the start, the acting of IU and Byeon Woo-seok and the lack of persuasion in the plot and settings were pointed out. As the show progressed, historical accuracy issues surfaced, making the situation even more serious. The coronation scene of Grand Prince Ian (played by Byeon Woo-seok) was at the center of the controversy. The use of the Guryu-myeonryugwan crown and the expression ‘Cheonse’ were criticized as being inconsistent with the symbols of a sovereign monarch. Some viewers expressed concerns that Korean history could be distorted, linking the issue to the Northeast Project controversy.
Criticism grew further as tea ceremony scenes were suspected of borrowing Chinese cultural elements. The production team eventually apologized via the official website, stating, “We are sorry for causing concern regarding the world-building and historical research,” and edited some of the controversial scenes.
The fallout has already reached the actors. IU teared up during a finale viewing event with fans. She later issued a separate statement saying, “I am sorry for not showing a responsible side as a lead actor,” and “I reflect on not thinking more deeply about the historical context and meaning.”
Byeon Woo-seok also apologized, stating, “I lacked consideration for how the work could be perceived,” and “I learned that as an actor, I must responsibly look at the message and context of the work.” Meanwhile, Lee Jae-won, who played Seong Tae-ju, canceled his scheduled finale interview, with his agency explaining that they are “taking the current situation surrounding the work very seriously.”
The reason this controversy is being taken so seriously is that it is seen as more than just a simple drama mistake. Since K-content is released globally via OTT platforms, there is growing concern that incorrect historical perceptions could be spread. History lecturer Choi Tae-sung also spoke out on SNS, saying, “Another history distortion controversy. Are we goldfishes at this point?” He questioned why hundreds of millions are spent on actor salaries while historical research is neglected, emphasizing that a formal historical verification system for period pieces is now necessary.
The biggest point of contention is that while the actors have publicly apologized, writer Yoo Ji-won has not released any statement. Many are criticizing the writer for remaining silent while the lead actors take the responsibility and even shed tears.
In the end, ’21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife’ left behind a high viewership number but an even bigger question. It has become a lesson on how much responsibility for history and research is required in an era where K-content goes global. With calls to “scrap the work” growing, there has been no further response from the production team or the writer. All eyes are now on when and how writer Yoo Ji-won will break the silence.
