IU, Byeon Woo Seok: Broken Engagement to Marriage Proposal Tease

In the 5th episode of MBC's Friday-Saturday drama 'Prince of the 21st Century', Prince Ian (played by Byun Woo-seok) overcame past trauma and external pressure to convey his true feelings to Sung Hee-joo (played by IU), thus restoring their relationship.

Previously, Prince Ian had risked his life to rescue Sung Hee-joo by blocking her malfunctioning car with his own, sustaining a fractured shoulder in the process. Afterward, he unilaterally announced the annulment of their engagement, saying "Let's call off the marriage." This was a complex result of his past trauma from the car accident that killed his mother, his misunderstanding that Sung Hee-joo saw their marriage as a means to elevate her social status, and Prime Minister Min Jung-woo's (played by Noh Sang-hyun) proposal to protect the royal family.

However, Sung Hee-joo directly criticized his passive attitude, stating, "I asked for status, not a comfortable cradle," in response to Prince Ian's decision, and admonished him, "Don't bend, retreat, or yield."

Following Sung Hee-joo's candid words, Prince Ian belatedly realized his true feelings, apologized, and began to mend their relationship. The two reunited at the royal event 'Naejinyeon'. Sung Hee-joo broke tradition by appearing in a white suit, and Prince Ian matched her by wearing the same color and appearing arm-in-arm, showing a bold move.

In the preview revealed at the end of the episode, Prince Ian was shown kneeling before Sung Hee-joo and offering her a ring, formally proposing, raising anticipation for the next episode. Meanwhile, a deep conspiracy behind Sung Hee-joo's car accident was foreshadowed, adding to the suspense.