IU & Byun Woo Seok: Royal Fashion Trends

Singer and actress IU has released fun behind-the-scenes photos from the set of the MBC Friday-Saturday drama 'The Grand Prince of the 21st Century'. In the photos, IU playfully glares at an actor holding an egg carton and puffs out her cheeks as if scolding students holding flour, eliciting laughter. Unlike the scene where she is pelted with eggs due to a scandal with Prince Ian (Byeon Woo-seok), on the actual set, she created a friendly atmosphere by posing for a V-sign with the supporting actors playing high school students. IU perfectly pulled off various styles, including a checkered tweed jacket, a yellow-toned purple knit with a black skirt, and a mint-colored suit, making it resemble a fashion show. Fans reacted positively to IU's outfits and cute demeanor.

Actor Byeon Woo-seok will appear on MBC's 'How Do You Play?' and meet Jung Joon-ha, who is impersonating him. Byeon Woo-seok caught the eye with his artist fashion, wearing the same red beret as Jung Joon-ha, while Jung Joon-ha appeared flustered by the real Byeon Woo-seok's appearance. Byeon Woo-seok said, "I came because I heard a fake person was pretending to be me," and asked Jung Joon-ha about the impersonation and offered a handshake. Jung Joon-ha avoided eye contact and offered explanations, arousing curiosity. Byeon Woo-seok naturally blended into 'Comma, Club,' flustering Jung Joon-ha, and also revealed a past connection with his close friend Joo Woo-jae. Byeon Woo-seok is currently appearing in the new MBC Friday-Saturday drama 'The Grand Prince of the 21st Century' as Prince Ian alongside IU.

MBC drama 'The Grand Prince of the 21st Century' is gaining attention for its depiction of a modern woman against the backdrop of a constitutional monarchy, similar to the 2006 drama 'Goong'. The drama recorded a viewership rating of 9.5% in just two episodes, presenting a unique world where a royal family exists in 21st-century South Korea. Unlike Shin Chae-kyung from 'Goong', Sung Hee-joo (IU) in 'The Grand Prince of the 21st Century' is portrayed as a proactive woman, the second-generation chaebol and CEO of a beauty brand, who directly chooses Prince Ian (Byeon Woo-seok) of the royal family to elevate her status and actively pursues him. In particular, the scene at the end of the first episode where Sung Hee-joo boldly proposes to Prince Ian was praised by viewers as thrilling. However, as the drama was highly anticipated following the box office success of IU and Byeon Woo-seok's previous works, some expressed disappointment regarding the actors' portrayal of their characters and their chemistry. Byeon Woo-seok stated that he did his best and would humbly accept the results. The drama delights viewers with its overwhelming mise-en-scène and splendid fashion, utilizing visual elements such as flower falling ceremonies, laser shows, and drone shows to realize a royal family where tradition and modernity coexist. IU's 'chaebol look' and Byeon Woo-seok's hanbok and suit styling also maximized the characters' charm. Furthermore, it is significant as it is the most anticipated drama of the year, produced with an original script rather than based on a webtoon or web novel, and has the advantage of being free from controversies related to original works, having been discovered through the '2022 MBC Drama Screenplay Contest'. IU praised the attractive characters and comedic elements of the script and expressed anticipation for her chemistry with Byeon Woo-seok. Director Park Joon-hwa stated that they worked hard to make it a drama as good as 'Goong'.

The fashion of Sung Hee-joo, played by IU in the drama 'The Grand Prince of the 21st Century', is drawing attention. As the CEO of Castle Beauty, she made a glamorous appearance in a striking red pants, vest, and jacket set, and exuded a neat yet feminine atmosphere in a soft apricot-colored two-piece suit. In a two-shot with Byeon Woo-seok, she showcased a couple's running outfit in a refreshing lemon-colored tracksuit suitable for spring, and emphasized her CEO image with a clear sky blue suit set. IU's diverse fashion in the drama is considered another point of interest.

The drama 'The Grand Prince of the 21st Century', released on Disney+, is generating anticipation with the pairing of IU and Byeon Woo-seok. The two actors are working together again after about 10 years, and will portray Sung Hee-joo (IU), who faces a status barrier despite her beauty, talent, and wealth as she is of commoner origin, and Prince Ian (Byeon Woo-seok), who is discriminated against in the royal family, delivering delicate and passionate performances. The modern royal romance of the two characters, entangled in a contract marriage, promises new entertainment, and has already garnered enthusiastic responses from fans, with the pre-release 'Eye Contact Challenge' video recording high views.