Bae Woo-seok Discusses His Role in '21st Century Grand Princess'

Actor Bae Woo-seok highlights the charm of '21st Century Grand Princess.' The recently released teaser for the show has already garnered significant attention, though some have critiqued his acting skills.

Set to premiere on April 10th, MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama '21st Century Grand Princess' is set in a constitutional monarchy in 21st-century South Korea. It tells the story of a wealthy woman frustrated by her commoner status and a prince who, despite his royal lineage, finds himself unable to possess anything, leading to a romance that defies social status.

Following his success in the drama 'Run Away with Seon-jae,' Bae Woo-seok's next project is highly anticipated. He expressed his excitement for the upcoming premiere, stating, "I'm thrilled and eager to introduce a new character after a long time. I'm grateful for the interest and hope to showcase an even better performance."

Bae Woo-seok chose '21st Century Grand Princess' for its unique narrative and the setting of a constitutional monarchy. Reflecting on his first impression of the character Ian Daegun, he said, "When I read the script, I could vividly imagine myself as Ian Daegun, and I felt an emotional connection. I immediately wanted to take on this project."

The character of Ian Daegun, who captivated Bae Woo-seok, is the second son of the royal family, living a life of concealment due to his position. Bae describes Ian Daegun with the keywords "solitude, dignity, beloved by the people," explaining, "In public, he maintains his composure and dignity as a royal. Although he seems to have everything, he finds no comfort within the royal family. Yet, he remains the most beloved royal by the people."

To portray this, Bae Woo-seok shared, "I thought about the coexistence of love and jealousy from the public. He is kind to some but cold to others. As a character who cannot show vulnerability, I focused on the subtle emotions in his relationships."

Finally, Bae Woo-seok described '21st Century Grand Princess' as "a fascinating work where viewers can watch the choices each character makes within the unique setting of a 21st-century constitutional monarchy and the outcomes of those choices." He added, "The evolving relationships between characters will be an intriguing point to watch. The visual elements, including art, sets, and costumes, offer plenty to see, so I hope for much interest and love for '21st Century Grand Princess.'"

'21st Century Grand Princess' premieres on April 10th at 9:40 PM.

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