'21st Century Grand Duchess' Dominates Global OTT Rankings and Ratings with IU and Byun Woo-seok's Stellar Performance

The rise of '21st Century Grand Duchess' continues, fueled by the performances of IU and Byun Woo-seok.

MBC's Friday-Saturday drama '21st Century Grand Duchess' has swept the top spots in buzz metrics, global OTT rankings, and viewership ratings. According to Good Data Corporation's FUNdex, the drama ranked first in news, VON, and video categories for four consecutive weeks in the TV-OTT drama buzz rankings for the fifth week of April 2026. IU (as Seong Hee-joo) and Byun Woo-seok (as Lee An-daegun) also maintained their positions as the top two most talked-about TV-OTT drama actors for five consecutive weeks as of May 5, 2025.

The eighth episode, aired on May 2, recorded a viewership rating of 11.6% in the Seoul metropolitan area, 11.2% nationwide, and 5% among the 20-54 age group, setting a new personal best in the metropolitan area and ranking first in its time slot across all categories. Notably, the 20-54 age group rating was the highest among all Saturday programs, capturing the preferences of viewers across generations, according to Nielsen Korea.

The drama is also making a significant impact globally. According to FlixPatrol, '21st Century Grand Duchess' entered the Disney+ TOP 10 TV shows immediately after its premiere, ranking fourth globally and first among non-English shows, consistently maintaining its position in the top ranks. It has claimed the number one spot in 16 countries and regions, including South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Brazil, and has appeared in the TOP 10 in 47 countries and regions across North America, Europe, and Asia, including the UK, USA, and Canada, as of May 4, 2026.

'21st Century Grand Duchess' captivates audiences with the fast-paced story of Seong Hee-joo and Lee An-daegun, which begins with a contract marriage. In episodes 7 and 8, despite consecutive adversities, the characters showed deepening emotions and genuine concern for each other's well-being, promising to enhance viewer engagement with their heartfelt sincerity and affection.

'21st Century Grand Duchess' will air its next episode on May 8 at 9:50 PM.

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