Actors IU, Byeon Woo-seok publicly apologize for historical inaccuracies in 'Perfect Crown'

The two lead actors of “Perfect Crown” publicly apologized on Monday over allegations that the K-drama contained historical inaccuracies, including a faulty portrayal of royal traditions.

Byeon Woo-seok, who played I-an, a fictional prince, uploaded a handwritten letter to his Instagram.

“With a heavy heart, I am writing to those who felt uncomfortable and concerned because of the [series],” he wrote, explaining that he had stayed quiet about the controversy until now as he was worried that his words would hurt others. 

“During the process of filming and acting, I did not think deeply enough about the historical context and its significance to the show or about how viewers could receive [such mistakes]. Through [their] feedback, I spent time self-reflecting and realized that I — as an actor — must take greater responsibility not only for my performance but also for the message and context behind my projects.”

“I sincerely apologize. I would also like to extend my gratitude to those who supported the work and offered advice along the way. I will strive to partake in future projects with greater caution and care. I am truly sorry,” he continued.

The controversy involves a scene depicting a royal coronation, during which court officials chant, “ Cheonse,” which literally translates to “1,000 years” and refers to their wish for the prince to have a long reign. “Cheonse” was traditionally used for kings or rulers of lower rank, such as monarchs of states. Although rulers of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) initially paid tribute to China, they ceased to do so after becoming a sovereign state in 1895, following China's defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War.

Critics argued that the use of “cheonse” in a drama depicting Korea as an independent state was inappropriate.

Singer-actor IU, who starred as Seong Hee-ju, also posted an apology on Instagram that same day after indirectly addressing the controversy during a screening event for the drama on Saturday. 

“As [one of the] lead actors, I am deeply sorry and have a heavy heart for failing to be responsible and for causing great disappointment,” she wrote. 

“I carefully went through every message that viewers left over the past few days. There is no excuse for the fact that I failed to think more deeply about the various historical inaccuracies before acting [in the project]. I have sincerely reflected on and apologize for that.”

“As the drama unfolds with imaginative world-building rooted in our own history [...] I should have studied the script with far greater caution as an actor. I am ashamed that I failed to do so,” she added before apologizing again for “not properly recognizing the seriousness of the issue” earlier.

“I will always remember the critiques and opinions that you shared and will approach future projects with greater care and thoughtfulness,” IU wrote.

She also extended her gratitude to viewers who “continued to watch the drama and shared their honest feedback.”

MBC's 12-episode series “Perfect Crown” ended on Saturday.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY KIM EUN-BIN [[email protected]]