'21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife' Wraps Amid Historical Distortion Controversy…IU’s Tearful Apology and the Production Team’s VOD Corrections

The drama '21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife' wrapped up amid controversies over the main actors’ acting, errors in historical verification, and allegations of distortion, with IU—who played the role of Seong Hee-ju, the female lead—bowing her head in acknowledgment.

Controversy over titles that undermine independence and errors in historical verification MBC’s drama '21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife' has faced criticism since its first broadcast over the lead actors’ acting and the show’s worldbuilding setup. In particular, the historical distortion controversy that surfaced ahead of the finale sparked significant backlash. In the enthronement scene of the king (Byeon Woo-seok) at the center of the issue, the courtiers chanted 'Cheonse'—a term used for a vassal-state ruler—instead of 'Manse,' which is typically used for an independent monarchy. They also wore a 'Gu-ryu-myeonryu-gwan,' one step lower than the '12-myeon-ryu-gwan' worn by an emperor. Additionally, in a scene where Lady Yoon I-rang (Kong Seung-yeon) confronts Seong Hee-ju (IU), the drama used a Chinese-style tea-serving etiquette rather than Korea’s traditional formal manners, drawing fierce criticism from viewers.

IU’s heartfelt confession and an apology to fans As criticism of the work continued, IU, the lead actress who attended a special group viewing event held on the day of the finale, the 16th, carefully shared her feelings in front of fans. IU said, "Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot. It’s all something that I should have done better. It was truly my fault for letting even a little disappointment slip through, or for showing an insufficient side." She continued, "I believe that everything you’re saying has its own reason, and that I should accept it. If there are parts I’m lacking, please correct me and pull me up. After hearing those words, I will do my best to become a better person," showing a humble attitude toward the criticism.

Official apology from the production team and a full revision of VOD As the controversy grew more intense, the '21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife' production team posted an official apology to the public on its official website right after the finale and moved immediately to address the issue. The team said, "We failed to carefully examine how Joseon’s etiquette changed throughout history," acknowledging that the drama lacked enough research and effort at the point where the fictional world and real historical context intersect. The production team also promised specific follow-up steps, stating, "In the re-runs and VOD—and on OTT service platforms—that we will offer going forward, we will update the audio and subtitles for the relevant parts as quickly as possible," saying it would take viewers’ feedback seriously.