Writer of 'Perfect Crown' Under Fire as IU and Byeon Woo Seok Apologize Over Historial Distortion Controversy

Amid controversy over historical distortion, MBC’s drama 'Perfect Crown' has led to a wave of apologies from not only the production team but also lead actors IU and Byeon Woo Seok.

Throughout its run, 'Perfect Crown' faced criticism over its acting performances, as well as issues related to its world-building and historical accuracy.

In particular, the 11th episode, which aired on the 15th, sparked renewed backlash during a coronation scene featuring Prince Ian (Byun Woo Seok), where courtiers were shown chanting “cheonse”, a term historically used for vassal states, instead of “manse”, a symbol associated with sovereign kingdoms. The scene intensified accusations of historical distortion.

As the controversy spread widely online, with some Chinese netizens even reportedly exploiting the issue in relation to Northeast Asian history disputes, the production team issued the first apology on the 17th. They stated, “This issue occurred because the production team failed to carefully examine how Joseon-era court etiquette evolved throughout history,” adding that there was insufficient effort in refining the world-building and conducting a thorough review.

On May 19, the lead actors also issued apologies. IU posted a message on her social media, saying she had carefully read viewers’ feedback over the past few days. “As the lead actor in this project, I am deeply sorry and heavy-hearted for having disappointed many people by failing to show a more responsible attitude,” she said, expressing heavy regret.

Byeon Woo Seok also uploaded a handwritten apology on social media the same day. He began by saying he felt “a heavy heart,” adding that during the filming and acting process, he did not sufficiently consider the historical context and meaning embedded in the work or how it might be perceived by viewers. He said he came to reflect through audience feedback and realized that, as an actor, he must take greater responsibility not only for performance but also for the broader message and context of a project.

Meanwhile, criticism has intensified toward writer Yoo Ji Won, who penned the script for 'Perfect Crown,' as she has not issued any public statement. With both the production team and actors offering apologies, some netizens are questioning whether the writer is avoiding responsibility for the controversial material. It has also been noted that Yoo is currently publishing a web novel titled '21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife in Royal Academy' on KakaoPage.

These netizens commented, "Is the writer Chinese?" "I understand if it was just a fantasy drama, it's just annoying how the writer wrote it as a historical fantasy drama," "Should the writer release an apology? Not the cast?" "Just need to cancel the show altogether," "The writer is the problem. Where is the writer's apology?" and "The writer needs to step up instead of hiding."

The production team has since removed or revised the problematic sections in the script book. They also stated plans to quickly correct the audio and subtitles in reruns, VOD, and OTT versions of the series.