A “poisonous mushroom” of historical distortion grew behind the shield of a “fantasy” constitutional monarchy, ultimately suffocating the 30 billion won blockbuster.
The MBC drama ’21st Century Grand Prince’s Consort’, starring IU and Byeon Woo-seok, wrapped up on the 16th. Throughout its run, small controversies snowballed into a massive distortion disaster, leaving behind a bitter legacy: a drama that left an equally record-breaking stain despite its record-breaking popularity.
The distortion controversy exploded during the coronation scene in episode 11. The catalyst was the use of the term “Cheon-se” (千歲), a greeting reserved for vassal states, during the coronation of Grand Prince Ian (played by Byeon Woo-seok). This was viewed as undermining the independent history and status Korea has maintained since the proclamation of the Korean Empire in 1897, turning the controversy into public outrage.
As public anger grew, MBC and the production team issued an official apology and announced emergency measures, including VOD edits and a “full revision” of the upcoming script book. The production team admitted their mistake, stating, “’21st Century Grand Prince’s Consort’ is a romance and an alternative history drama. We needed careful and deep consideration regarding the intersection of the fictional world and real historical context, but we lacked the effort to refine and examine it more closely.”
The finale of ’21st Century Grand Prince’s Consort’ recorded a series high of 13.8% (Nielsen Korea) in nationwide average viewership on the 16th. Regarding this success, opinions are split: some interpret it as the public accepting even the controversy as part of the “fantasy,” while others criticize it as a mere illusion created by the overwhelming fame of actors IU and Byeon Woo-seok and curiosity about the ending.
