21st Century's Great Army Wife: 12 Episodes Cast

MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama '21st Century Grand Prince's Wife' will premiere on April 10th at 9:40 PM. This series, named one of 'The Most Anticipated Korean Dramas of 2026' by TIME magazine, depicts a special encounter between a chaebol and royalty. IU plays Seong Hee-ju, the CEO of Castle Beauty, and Byeon Woo-seok takes on the role of the royal Grand Prince Lee An.

The drama '21st Century Grand Prince's Wife' is a 100% original script with no source webtoon or novel. Written by Yoo Ji-won, who was recognized for her writing skills after winning the MBC Scriptwriting Contest in 2022, viewers can anticipate an unpredictable plot and a fresh ending, as there are no spoilers available beforehand.

The story is set against the backdrop of a fictional setting of a constitutional monarchy in 21st-century South Korea. The protagonists are Seong Hee-ju (played by IU), the second daughter of Castle Group, the top conglomerate in South Korea, but a commoner due to her status as an illegitimate child, and Grand Prince Lee An, Lee Wan (played by Byeon Woo-seok), who inherited the bloodline of the most noble royal family but cannot own anything. The drama portrays the romance of the two as they enter into a dangerous contract marriage to achieve their respective desperate goals and forge their destinies against power.

With the contract marriage between Seong Hee-ju and Grand Prince Lee An at its core, a fierce structure is formed where the royal family, political circles, and chaebol powers clash for their own interests. The three great powers of the authority of bloodline, the strength of capital, and the language of laws and systems collide, adding tension to each episode.

In addition to IU and Byeon Woo-seok, talented actors such as Noh Sang-hyun, Gong Seung-yeon, Yoo Soo-bin, and Lee Yeon have joined the cast to enrich the narrative. The drama is produced and will be aired in a total of 12 episodes.