IU and Byeon Woo-seok Apologize for '21st Century Grand Princess' Controversy

Lead actors IU and Byeon Woo-seok have officially apologized following public criticism regarding historical distortion and research errors in the MBC drama "21st Century Grand Princess." While the stars expressed regret for their lack of historical verification, writer Yoo Ji-won has not issued a statement.

Key Facts

• "21st Century Grand Princess" is embroiled in controversy involving historical inaccuracy and poor research.
• On May 18, IU apologized for failing to study the script and historical context deeply enough.
• Actor Byeon Woo-seok, who plays Grand Prince Lee An, posted a handwritten apology on Instagram citing a lack of consideration for the work's historical significance.
• Both actors pledged to take more responsibility for the messages and contexts of future projects.
• Writer Yoo Ji-won remains silent and has not taken a position on the controversy.

Key Terms

• Historical Distortion: The misrepresentation of historical facts within a creative work.
• Grand Prince: A Joseon Dynasty title for a King's son, portrayed in the drama by Lee An (Byeon Woo-seok).

Key Quote

"I meticulously read every single comment left by viewers over the past few days. I am deeply sorry as I feel I have failed to show a responsible image as a lead actress and caused great disappointment." — IU

Next

• Future episodes and production standards will face heightened scrutiny regarding historical accuracy.
• Public attention remains focused on whether writer Yoo Ji-won will address the research errors and distortion claims.