Byeon Woo Seok, IU's 'The Crown Prince' Debut Hits 7.8%

The new drama '21st Century Grand Prince's Wife,' starring singer and actress IU and Byun Woo-seok, has made a smooth debut, recording 7.8% nationwide viewership ratings in its first episode. The metropolitan area viewership rating was 8.2%. In particular, the scene where Sung Hee-joo (IU) is rejected for an audience request but reapplies with a reason reached a peak of 9.3% per minute in the metropolitan area, garnering high interest from viewers.

The drama '21st Century Grand Prince's Wife' is set in the 21st century constitutional monarchy of South Korea and depicts the romance between Sung Hee-joo (IU), a chaebol heiress who has everything but is frustrated by her commoner status, and Grand Prince Ian (Byun Woo-seok), a royal who is sad because he can have nothing. The first episode depicted the process of Sung Hee-joo, who dreams of rising in social status, proposing to Grand Prince Ian. Sung Hee-joo is a character with outstanding abilities but faces the limitations of her commoner status, while Grand Prince Ian lives a suppressed life as the second son of the royal family.

Sung Hee-joo encounters Grand Prince Ian at the King's birthday banquet while searching for a marriage partner on behalf of her father, and plans to rise in social status through marriage with him. When Grand Prince Ian repeatedly refuses an audience, Sung Hee-joo uses her previous address of him as 'junior' as an excuse to request again, and finally meets Grand Prince Ian, presenting him with a marriage proposal saying, "Marry me." Grand Prince Ian's unexpected reaction amplified the curiosity about the future development of the story.

The drama captivated viewers with its unique setting and mise-en-scène, combining tradition and modernity. Visual elements such as costumes and spatial direction also enhanced the work's atmosphere. The second episode of '21st Century Grand Prince's Wife' will be broadcast today (the 11th) at 9:40 PM.

The 7.8% viewership rating for the first broadcast is an achievement that ranks first among Friday programs in the same time slot, and considering that recent popular dramas have viewership ratings hovering around 4-5%, it is interpreted as an explosive reaction. In particular, IU showcased dense acting skills by delicately portraying the complex inner turmoil of Sung Hee-joo, who faces the inherent deficiency of being born out of wedlock despite her wealth and abilities. Sung Hee-joo's assertive demeanor, confidently proposing to Grand Prince Ian without being intimidated by prejudice and discrimination, combined with IU's characteristic firm gaze, added credibility to the character.