IU and Byun Woo-seok’s “First Lady of the 21st Century” Episode 2 Scores 9.5% Viewership, Reigniting the “Goong” Craze After 20 Years

A constitutional monarchy story awakened after 20 years… “First Lady of the 21st Century” sparks a 9.5% ratings surge

After 20 years, the world of a constitutional monarchy theme from the drama 'Goong', which swept South Korea in 2006, returns in a fresh, upgraded form. The new MBC drama 'The First Lady of the 21st Century', which premiered on the 10th, has been climbing steadily—reaching more than 9.5% viewership in just two episodes (Nielsen Korea nationwide). While it keeps the classic romance setup between an ordinary woman and royalty, it also spotlights a bold, proactive 'modern female lead' that reflects the social realities of 2026, drawing intense attention from viewers.

“Please marry me”… IU refuses to be a Cinderella head-on

In the past 'Goong', Shin Chae-kyung entered the palace passively, following the plans of adults. But in 'The First Lady of the 21st Century', 'Seong Hee-ju' (played by IU) takes matters into her own hands. As the son of a conglomerate’s second generation and CEO of a thriving beauty brand, he sets his sights on the royal second son, 'Prince Lee Ahn' (played by Byun Woo-seok), in order to break past the limits of his station—and makes his move with a direct proposal. Instead of waiting for a prince on a white horse, 'the heroine’s narrative' that grabs the crown herself delivers a new wave of catharsis for living-room audiences.

Perfect visual chemistry between IU and Byun Woo-seok… a film-like mise-en-scène

The connection between 'IU' and 'Byun Woo-seok', which sparked attention right from the casting stage, has already overcome initial mixed reactions and is building true synergy. 'Byun Woo-seok' threw himself into the drama with an earnest attitude, saying, “I put everything I had into it, and I’ll accept the outcome humbly.” In particular, the visual direction that seamlessly fuses tradition and cutting-edge tech—such as the traditional falling-flower (낙화) game and the Gwanghwamun laser show—pulls together an 'overwhelming mise-en-scène', delivering an immersion level that feels like watching a movie.

The strength of an “entirely original script” shining amid a flood of webtoons

It’s also notable that, in today’s drama market where webtoons and web novels dominate, this drama made a bold bet on an 'entirely original script'. After winning the '2022 MBC Drama Screenplay Competition', the story unfolds episode by episode with twists that are hard to predict—without getting dragged into any spoiler controversy. While 'IU' expressed confidence, saying, “Every character is charming, and we didn’t miss the comedic beats either,” director Park Jun-hwa’s nuanced direction adds to it—pointing to the birth of a well-made romance historical drama that goes beyond 'Goong'.

#IU #IU #ByunWooSeok #ByunWooSeok #The First Lady of the 21st Century #MBC drama #entirely original script #constitutional monarchy theme