IU and Byeon Woo-seok Shine in Highly Anticipated Drama '21st Century Grand Princess'

The highly anticipated drama '21st Century Grand Princess', starring IU and Byeon Woo-seok, is finally unveiled. The actors caught attention by appearing in the same costumes they wore in the poster. IU dazzled in a dress, while Byeon Woo-seok donned a grand prince outfit, heightening expectations for the series. Drawing comparisons to the 2006 hit 'Goong', all eyes are on whether MBC can create another iconic show.

On the 6th, the production presentation for MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama '21st Century Grand Princess' (written by Yoo Ji-won, directed by Park Joon-hwa) was held at the Chosun Palace Seoul Gangnam. The event was attended by IU, Byeon Woo-seok, Noh Sang-hyun, Gong Seung-yeon, Yoo Soo-bin, Lee Yeon, and director Park Joon-hwa. Unlike previous events held at the Golden Mouse Hall in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, MBC hosted this presentation at a hotel, marking a rare occasion.

Set against the backdrop of a 21st-century constitutional monarchy, '21st Century Grand Princess' tells the story of a woman who has everything except noble status and a prince who has nothing despite his royal lineage, as they navigate their destinies in a romance that challenges social hierarchies.

IU plays the role of Sung Hee-joo, a wealthy woman who lacks only noble status. On her decision to join the project, IU stated, "The character of Hee-joo was very appealing. I didn't need to think long about it. I immediately decided to participate in this project." She added, "Filming has already wrapped up. The director is currently working hard on post-production. We are now focused on promoting the series and are committed to giving it our all until the end."

Regarding her chemistry with Byeon Woo-seok, IU shared, "He came out as such a wonderful character, as if to make up for past mistakes. He played the role of someone who had an affair with my best friend in 'Moon Lovers'. After 10 years, we finally had the chance to work together properly in a drama. It felt like we had been preparing for this for a decade, and there was hardly any awkwardness. Although we hadn't interacted much over the years, it was comfortable. Working together in the 10th year made me want to collaborate again in another decade, as it would be great to show our growth."

She continued, "When I first read the script up to episode 4, I couldn't stop reading. My role was great, but all the characters, including Grand Prince Ian, were captivating. The story naturally blends various characters from different worlds, with comedic elements intact. A line from Hee-joo that struck me was, 'This is how you protect. By attacking while being attacked.' It perfectly encapsulates Hee-joo's character. Instead of desperately trying to protect, she has a charming personality that says, 'You attacked me? Then I'll attack back to protect myself.'"

In her closing remarks, IU said, "As you can see from our costumes, the character traits are well-reflected in the attire. Thanks to Woo-seok's idea, we dressed exactly as we appear in the poster. The blend of tradition and modernity suits each character, and various elements are incorporated beyond just the costumes."

Byeon Woo-seok takes on the role of Grand Prince Ian, the second son of the royal family who can have nothing but his status. He shared, "When reading a script, I value how well I can visualize the scenes, and this project was very vivid. I could empathize with Grand Prince Ian's story. I chose this project because I wanted to portray the character earnestly."

Returning to the screen after two years since the hit 'Run On', Byeon Woo-seok expressed, "I'm very grateful for the attention and love. I hope for even more love rather than feeling burdened. I plan to continue improving and doing my best as much as the interest and love I receive. Receiving attention is good. While there's some pressure, it's a mindset I believe an actor should have when performing. It's a feeling slightly different from burden."

He added, "I put a lot of thought into styling Grand Prince Ian. The setting of a constitutional monarchy allowed for a clear direction. I thought mixing traditional hanbok with modern attire would be good, and I worked closely with stylists to create it. I hoped to subtly convey the royal dignity. We also had extensive discussions with the staff about hair and makeup to complete the character of Ian."

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

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr