One of the most highly anticipated Korean dramas is finally arriving to our screens via Disney+, and just like everyone else, we’re counting down the days, hours, minutes, and even seconds til we can watch Perfect Crown.

Set in a reimagined modern-day Korea that operates under a constitutional monarchy, Perfect Crown follows the people’s favorite royal, Grand Prince Lee Ahn (Byeon Wooseok), as he becomes embroiled in a power struggle with other members of the royal family. With pressure on the prince to marry, he strikes up a marriage of convenience with Seong Huiju (played by IU), the heir to a Korean conglomerate, but while the pair will work together to advance their own ends, things don’t go quite as smoothly as planned.

Ahead of the drama’s release, 8List.ph was able to virtually join a press conference featuring director Park Joonhwa (Alchemy of Souls, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim, Because This is My First Life) and cast members IU (When Life Gives You Tangerines, Hotel del Luna, My Mister), Byeon Wooseok (Lovely Runner, Strong Girl Namsoon), Noh Sanghyun, (Pachinko, Genie Make a Wish) Gong Seungyeon (Are You Human?, The First Responders), Yu Subin (Crash Landing on You, Weak Hero), and Lee Yeon (Weak Hero, Duty After School). And we’re sharing with you a sneak peek behind the scenes, straight from the director and cast themselves!

Why Byeon Wooseok chose Perfect Crown right after Lovely Runner

Since his meteoric rise to global stardom after the hit series Lovely Runner in 2024, many fans around the world (us included!) have been eagerly waiting for what project Byeon Wooseok would choose next. Now that he’s finally meeting viewers as Grand Prince Lee Ahn in Perfect Crown.

When asked why he was drawn to the script of Perfect Crown, he said he was able to see Lee Ahn clearly and immediately upon reading the script.

“When I read a script, it’s really important that you can envision it in your head. I could really envision it. I could resonate with the backstory of Lee Ahn.”

When asked if he felt pressured by the speculation after Lovely Runner, Byeon Wooseok said he felt more grateful than pressured with all the love and interest.

“I’m so extremely grateful,” the actor said. “The fact that there’s so many people out there excited to see what I do next… I don’t feel pressure. I’m just so happy about it. But I want to do my very best and repay that love. I think it’s not pressure that I feel. I think it’s just a mindset that I want to carry with me as an actor.”

What drew IU to Perfect Crown

Known for her keen eye when choosing scripts and projects, IU also drew much anticipation as well after the casting announcement. She admitted that when she read the script of the first four episodes, she couldn’t even put it down. “It was just so fast-paced and I didn’t stop once. I read all four episodes in one sitting.”

She added that she loved how all the characters, not just her own, were charming and how all those characters interacted with one another. “The people that are in the palace and also those outside — people of these different worlds coming together and interacting with each other, living alongside one another,” IU said. “That kind of story, alongside such great comedy, I thought was very entertaining.”

When asked how she felt choosing Seong Huiju, a completely different character from her previous one as Oh Aesun and Yang Geummyeong in When Life Gives You Tangerines, IU said it was an easy decision.

“I’m so grateful for all the love that everyone has shown for When Life Gives You Tangerines. I spent so much time in that character. And it was an easy decision for me to choose a character that was completely different from the previous one,” the actress said. “I felt more at ease because it was so different. I didn’t feel like there was a pressure from this series being different from my previous one.”

IU’s favorite line in the series

When asked if there was a line that stood out to her, she pointed to a line by her character Seong Huiju. “‘This is how you protect what you want to protect. You have to attack the attacker,’ she says something like this a little bit later in the episodes.”

“I thought she was just so cool because she is someone who is not afraid to attack whoever attacks her because she wants to protect herself,” IU added.

On working together again since Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

In case you didn’t know, IU and Byeon Wooseok shared the screen ten years ago in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, where IU played a woman who lands right in the Goryeo dynasty and finds herself involved with several princes vying for the throne. If you’re wondering which prince Byeon Wooseok was, well, he wasn’t. He played IU’s boyfriend, who cheated on her before she left the modern era.

So, of course, so many are curious how the two actors feel as they reunited on screen after so long.

“This time around, it was almost as if he was set on making up for all of that hurt ten years ago,” IU said.

“We have a chemistry that stretches over a decade and you can really see that chemistry flower in this series,” Byeon Wooseok added, complimenting his costar. “IU makes you feel at ease instantly, and she’s such a great scene partner, and she gave me a lot of advice as well, so I enjoyed it so much.”

IU even said that she would be happy to do another project with him in the future. “Honestly, it’s not like we had stayed in touch since sharing the screen in Moon Lovers, but it’s almost felt like we had been friends all along that time. It almost makes me feel like I wanna do another project with him ten years from now.”

On Perfect Crown drawing comparisons to Princess Hours

Perfect Crown is produced by MBC, which is also the same studio that brought the ever-beloved modern royalty drama series Goong or Princess Hours, released 20 years ago in 2006.

Perfect Crown is director Park Joonhwa’s first drama series with MBC, “I have to bring my A-game so I poured everything into it.”

When asked how their series compares to the classic 2006 K-drama, the director said: “I understand it’s comparable to Princess Hours in that you see these wonderful characters in the backdrop of a palace. And may I dare say that this is going to be a series worthy of being compared to the wonderful series Princess Hours.”

He pointed to the cast as the drama’s biggest strength. “Looking at these wonderful people, especially with Huiju and Lee Ahn, at the script read I felt like this is indeed the royal couple that we’re seeing here in front of our eyes.”

On each episode having “different charms”

Director Park added that the cast was not the only strength of the series, but also the great script, hinting that there are “different charms” to be expected per episode.

“The writer really did a good job writing the script. There are different charms to different episodes,” he said. “You’re going to have a lot in store for you. Not just the performance but the script is also great. I think this is truly a dream team.”

“Whether it’s the performance or the visuals, as the director or even just an audience member, looking at the screen, I just loved every minute of it,” he added. “Your hearts are going to flutter for all the different reasons.”

On the marriage of traditional and modern Korea in Perfect Crown

So many series, films, and music coming out of Korea that have received so much love across the globe. Cases in point: BTS and K-Pop Demon Hunters. When asked how the cast and crew would like the global audience to see this series, especially since Perfect Crown is coming out on Disney+, they point to how the series captures what is uniquely Korean.

“There’s a lot of Korean-ness in this drama series obviously,” the director said. “But on top of that, there are also many universal elements that I think would resonate with anyone around the world.”

“I think this is a series that really beautifully captures the beauty of what is uniquely Korean. So I hope that will really touch a lot of people’s hearts. I hope that it will be something that people will enjoy,” Byeon Wooseok said.

“The harmony between the modern and the traditional is indeed a strength of Perfect Crown,” added Noh Sanghyun. “Whether it’s the story, the space, or our wardrobe, also the traditional ceremonies you will see in the series… I hope you will see a beautiful, more sophisticated version of those traditional Korean elements.”

Meanwhile, IU pointed out their press conference wardrobe, which saw them wearing the outfits they wore in the drama’s posters. “This was actually Wooseok’s idea. We came in the wardrobe that we wore in our posters. We are each in character as you saw in the drama posters. All of us are a harmony of the traditional and the modern. That’s something that you will see not only in the visuals but also in between the characters as well, which I hope you will appreciate.”

Where to watch Perfect Crown

When asked how they think the audience will receive the series in terms of viewership and ratings, IU jokingly answered as the proud chaebol heiress Seong Huiju: “‘I’ve never done anything below #1, so I think that our team, the Perfect Crown team… we’re only aiming for the absolute best, only #1.’”

“As myself, I’m so happy to see how excited people are to watch the drama series,” IU added, now speaking as herself. “All we can do as cast members, we are going to do everything possible to promote the series. I’m really enjoying this promotion series. And I hope you show us a lot of love and support.”

Perfect Crown streams exclusively on Disney+ starting April 10, with new episodes dropping every Friday and Saturday.

Watch the trailer below:

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Header image from Disney+