21st Century Empress Dowager: Abdication, Title Controversy

MBC drama '100 Days My Prince' is embroiled in controversy over its constitutional monarchy setting.

In the 10th episode aired on the 9th, a scene showed Lee Yul (played by Byun Woo-seok) revealing his plan to inherit the throne from Sung Yi-kyung (played by IU). Lee Yul confessed that his brother Lee Hwan (played by Sung Joon) had decided to abdicate the throne to him during his lifetime and had even prepared the royal robes.

Following this, internal royal conflicts surrounding the royal decree and abdication, as well as succession struggles, ensued within the drama. Immediately after the broadcast, online discussions and debates erupted regarding the drama's setting.

Viewers reacted by saying, "Isn't the constitutional monarchy setting effectively collapsing?" regarding the plot where the succession structure moved solely based on internal royal decisions, with little mention of parliamentary or legal procedures in the succession process. Netizens left comments such as, "It's a constitutional monarchy, so why is the power struggle decided only within the royal family?", "There's no talk of parliament or the constitution, it's practically an absolute monarchy," "What's so almighty about a royal decree?", and "Even for a drama watched with the brain turned off, this is too much."

Generally, in constitutional monarchies, royal succession, abdication, and regency are decided within the framework of the constitution and royal laws, and go through parliamentary approval or state institutional procedures. In modern constitutional monarchies like the UK and Japan, the order of royal succession and royal authority are stipulated by law.