IU Stars in MBC's New Drama '21st Century Grand Duchess': A Tale of Ambition and Royal Romance

IU is set to captivate audiences in MBC's upcoming Friday-Saturday drama '21st Century Grand Duchess,' where she plays a character aiming for a social climb through marriage with a royal, portrayed by Byeon Woo-seok.

The drama, premiering on April 10th, has released a teaser featuring IU as Seong Hee-joo, a woman who has everything except noble status.

Seong Hee-joo's Bold Marriage Plan with Royalty

The teaser reveals Seong Hee-joo's audacious plan to marry into royalty, a move that stirs the nation. Despite her beauty, intelligence, and capabilities, Hee-joo's status as a commoner and an illegitimate child has always been a topic of gossip. In her quest for a suitable partner, she sets her sights on marrying Grand Prince Lee Ahn, played by Byeon Woo-seok.

However, Hee-joo's provocative idea of marrying Lee Ahn to elevate her status faces opposition from those around her. Her chief secretary, Do Hye-jung (Lee Yeon), and her close school senior, Prime Minister Min Jeong-woo (Noh Sang-hyun), express concerns, but Hee-joo remains determined, questioning, "Why not?"

Cabinet Approval: A Major Hurdle

For the marriage to proceed, cabinet approval is crucial, prompting Hee-joo to seek help from her school senior and Prime Minister, Min Jeong-woo. Despite her plea, "Please approve my marriage," Min Jeong-woo's stern expression suggests a challenging path ahead.

Will the Cold Grand Prince Warm Up?

Meanwhile, Hee-joo, determined to "climb the social ladder," closely observes Lee Ahn, trying to align with him. Despite her charming persistence, the initially cold Lee Ahn begins to show signs of softening, leaving viewers curious if Hee-joo will defy expectations and marry him.

Set in a 21st-century constitutional monarchy in Korea, '21st Century Grand Duchess' is a romance about breaking social barriers, featuring a wealthy woman frustrated by her commoner status and a royal prince who has nothing. The drama premieres on April 10th at 9:40 PM.

Reporter: Jung Se-yoon, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr