Lee Jae-won Shines in '21st Century Grand Prince's Wife' with Complex Emotions Towards IU

Actor Lee Jae-won delivers a compelling performance in MBC's Friday-Saturday drama '21st Century Grand Prince's Wife', navigating between suspicion and genuine feelings towards IU.

In the recent episode, Seong Tae-joo (played by Lee Jae-won) finds himself in turmoil after receiving a shocking proposal from his lifelong rival and half-sister, Seong Hee-joo (played by IU), to transfer all her shares of Castle Beauty to him. Despite gaining an upper hand in the succession battle, Tae-joo remains skeptical, humorously questioning, "Is this a trap to kill me?" instead of celebrating his victory.

However, Tae-joo's true character shines when his sister faces a crisis. Despite their fierce rivalry during the succession war, Tae-joo is the first to rush to the hospital when Hee-joo collapses during her wedding ceremony, showcasing a touching sibling bond that even they were unaware of.

Tae-joo's quirky charm adds to the drama's entertainment, especially during the meeting with Grand Prince Ian, Wan (played by Byun Woo-seok). Tae-joo, pleased by Wan's recognition of their baseball game connection, awkwardly attempts to compliment him, resulting in humorous descriptions like "as tall as a door and shoulders as wide as a table," which Lee Jae-won portrays with a delightful awkwardness.

Lee Jae-won skillfully depicts Tae-joo's transformation from a brother blinded by the succession battle to a reliable ally for his sister in times of crisis. As the share transfer marks a turning point in their relationship, moving beyond mere hostility, viewers are eager to see Lee Jae-won's continued 'tsundere' charm.

'21st Century Grand Prince's Wife' airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:40 PM.

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