‘Perfect Crown’ faces backlash again over royal history controversy

A scene from "Perfect Crown" / Courtesy of MBC

Just one episode before its finale, MBC drama “Perfect Crown” is once again facing heated online criticism in South Korea — this time over royal terminology, ceremonial details and accusations of historical distortion.

Episode 11 of the drama aired Friday and featured a dramatic sequence in which Seong Hee-joo, played by IU, risked her life to save Grand Prince Ian, played by Byeon Woo-seok, before he ultimately ascended to the throne.

Scenes from "Perfect Crown" / Courtesy of MBC

But while the series continued its strong ratings streak, online discussion quickly shifted away from the romance and toward the show’s depiction of royal rituals.

One scene drew criticism after royal officials shouted "Cheonse," rather than "Manse," during the coronation ceremony. Some viewers argued that "Cheonse" historically referred to expressions used by tributary states toward an emperor, making its use by a 21st-century constitutional monarchy inappropriate.

Others pointed to the king’s ceremonial crown, saying it featured nine bead strings instead of the 12-string design associated with sovereign rulers.

Scenes from "Perfect Crown" / Courtesy of MBC

Another scene that sparked debate showed the dowager queen kneeling before the grand prince and apologizing — an interaction some viewers said felt inconsistent with historical royal hierarchy.

Although the drama is set in a fictional 21st-century constitutional monarchy version of Korea, criticism over historical inaccuracies has followed the series since its premiere.

Some Korean historians previously weighed in on the controversy, arguing that several elements — including depictions of royal regency and scenes involving the king’s birthday ceremony — conflicted with Joseon-era customs despite the show’s alternate-history premise.

Online criticism has grown intense enough that some viewers are reportedly demanding an official explanation or apology from the broadcaster, while others said they filed complaints with Korea’s broadcasting regulator.

Byeon Woo-seok, left, and IU / Xportsnews

At the same time, the backlash has done little to slow the show’s popularity.

After debuting with a 7.8 percent rating, the drama continued climbing throughout its run, surpassing 11.1 percent by Episode 4 and reaching 13.3 percent by Episode 10.

The series has also reportedly maintained long-running popularity on Disney+ in multiple regions including North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

A poster for "Perfect Crown" / Courtesy of MBC

Despite criticism over historical details and mixed reactions to the performances of IU and Byeon Woo-seok, the show has remained No. 1 in topicality rankings tracked by data platform FUNdex since its premiere.

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.