21st Century K-Drama: Key Viewing Points

MBC's Friday-Saturday drama 'The Princess of the 21st Century' has reached its midpoint and revealed key points to watch in the latter half. The drama centers around the contract marriage between Sung Hee-joo (played by IU) and Grand Prince Ian (played by Byun Woo-seok), with the complex relationships of surrounding characters and the stories surrounding the royal family and Castle Group set to unfold intriguingly.

With the contract marriage between Sung Hee-joo and Grand Prince Ian officially recognized, their romance is deepening. When Grand Prince Ian accepted Sung Hee-joo's proposal to elevate her social status, the two became a team working towards the same goal. Sharing similar past traumas of not being recognized by their fathers, they comforted and supported each other, gradually growing closer. Notably, the epilogue revealed that Grand Prince Ian had been interested in Sung Hee-joo since his school days, sparking curiosity about their deep connection. How their married life, which began as a contract marriage, will progress, and how Sung Hee-joo will bridge the gap between the terms of the contract and her deepening feelings for Grand Prince Ian are the key points to watch in the latter half.

The dangerous moves of those opposing Sung Hee-joo and Grand Prince Ian's marriage also add to the tension. Prime Minister Min Jung-woo (played by Noh Sang-hyun), a close friend of Sung Hee-joo and Grand Prince Ian, showed displeasure towards their marriage. After Sung Hee-joo's car accident, he asked Grand Prince Ian to distance himself from her for her safety, while making a significant remark to Sung Hee-joo, implying she should marry him if her goal was to gain status, revealing his complex inner thoughts. Dowager Queen Yoon-rang (played by Gong Seung-yeon) also views Sung Hee-joo as Grand Prince Ian's weakness and is looking for an opportunity to use her as a favorable pawn. Although Min Jung-woo promised to be on Sung Hee-joo's side, Dowager Queen Yoon-rang intends to use her, increasing curiosity about the alliance of those opposing the marriage. As both the Prime Minister and the Dowager Queen are in positions to halt the marriage for their own reasons, their choices are expected to be a significant variable in the latter half of the story.

Another axis around Sung Hee-joo and Grand Prince Ian is the changing relationship between 'the aides,' Choi Hyun (played by Yoo Soo-bin) and Do Hye-jung (played by Lee Yeon). Choi Hyun, who enjoys flower arranging, showed interest upon hearing that Do Hye-jung's parents run a flower shop, and began calling her a "flower-spoon" (a term for someone born into wealth). Do Hye-jung also felt a strange emotion towards Choi Hyun's curious remarks, forming a new dynamic between them. As Sung Hee-joo and Do Hye-jung are instructed by Grand Prince Ian to stay together at the private residence, Choi Hyun and Do Hye-jung will spend more time together, and their feelings are expected to mature. Thus, the relationship between 'the aides,' who will showcase a different kind of romantic chemistry from the Sung Hee-joo and Grand Prince Ian couple, is highly anticipated.

'The Princess of the 21st Century' plans to intriguingly unfold the stories of four characters forming competitive and cooperative relationships, along with various tales surrounding the royal family and Castle Group, centered on the deepening romance between Sung Hee-joo and Grand Prince Ian. Meanwhile, a 'Grand Prince's Wife Day' has been prepared for viewers to catch up through reruns of episodes 1 to 6, and episode 7 will air 10 minutes earlier than usual at 9:40 PM.