IU And Byeon Woo Seok Issue Apology Statements Over “Perfect Crown” Historical Accuracy Controversy
Amid the historical distortion controversy surrounding MBC’s “Perfect Crown,” lead actors Byeon Woo Seok and IU have both issued apologies.
On the 18th of May, Byeon Woo Seok shared a handwritten letter on his social media, saying, “I lacked sufficient consideration about the historical context and meaning contained in the work, and how it could be received by viewers.”
He continued, “This made me deeply realize once again that, as an actor, I need to approach not only my performance but also the message and context of a project with greater responsibility,” adding, “I will become an actor who approaches future works with more caution and depth.”
IU also posted an apology on her SNS the same day, writing, “I sincerely reflect on and apologize, without excuse, for acting in the drama without thinking more deeply about the various historical inaccuracies that viewers pointed out.”
She added, “As this was a project where it was important to incorporate imagination based on our unique history and the traditional beauty of Korea, I am ashamed that I failed to study the script more carefully and approach it more thoughtfully as an actress. I failed to properly recognize the issue beforehand.”
She concluded, “I will always remember the valuable criticism and opinions you have given me, and I will approach future projects more carefully and thoroughly.”
“Perfect Crown” faced criticism from some viewers after episode 11 aired on the 15thof May. During the coronation scene of Prince Ian (played by Byeon Woo Seok), officials shouted “Cheonse,” a term associated with vassal states, instead of “Manse,” a symbol of a sovereign nation. The king also wore a “Guryumyeonryugwan,” a crown historically associated with Chinese subjects, instead of the twelve-jeweled crown traditionally worn by emperors of sovereign states.
As the drama is set in a modern independent constitutional monarchy, viewers argued that using terminology and ceremonial items associated with Chinese vassal states was inappropriate.
The production team previously apologized, stating, “We sincerely bow our heads in apology for causing concern regarding the world-building and historical accuracy issues,” and announced plans to edit the controversial audio and subtitles in reruns, VOD, and OTT versions.
What do you think of their apology statements?
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