IU’s sharp vision and Byun Woo-seok’s growth pay off: '21st Century Grand Duchess' box office success confirmed [★Report ②]

*This content was translated by AI.

It is not simply due to the popularity of the cast. The overwhelming figures recorded by '21st Century Grand Duchess' cannot be explained solely by the fandom power of lead actors IU and Byun Woo-seok.

The MBC Friday-Saturday drama '21st Century Grand Duchess' (script by Yoo Ji-won, directed by Park Jun-hwa and Bae Hee-young), which premiered on the 10th, is a drama depicting the fate of a woman who is a chaebol with everything but is merely a commoner by status, and a man who is the king’s son but can possess nothing, set in a 21st-century constitutional monarchy South Korea. It explores their journey to break through social class barriers in a romance.

According to ratings research firm Nielsen Korea, the drama started with a 7.8% viewership rating (nationwide average, hereinafter), rose to 9.5% in the second episode, 9.0% in the third, and reached a new personal record in the fourth episode, showing a steep upward curve. In just four episodes, it broke through the psychological barrier of 10% viewership, reaching 11.1%.

Its performance on domestic and international charts is also unparalleled. According to Good Data Corporation, an institutional investor analyzing K-content competitiveness, '21st Century Grand Duchess' ranked first in buzz for the drama category and also topped search engagement across all age groups.

Its standing on global OTT platforms is equally remarkable. According to FlixPatrol, it ranked fourth globally in the top 10 TV shows on Disney+ and first among non-English-speaking countries. It has maintained the number one position in five Asian countries—South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore—since its release. Furthermore, it has secured a top-tier position in North and South American and European markets, including the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

There is a reason behind this phenomenon. IU’s excellent vision in selecting works as a trusted actor and Byun Woo-seok’s growth, which has proven his presence through skill beyond just being a trend, have truly paid off.

IU has built an irreplaceable career by simultaneously achieving commercial success and artistic merit in every drama she has appeared in, including 'Dream High', 'Producers', 'My Mister', and 'Hotel Del Luna'. Especially last year, she received widespread acclaim from both the public and critics for perfectly portraying dual roles in 'I Have a Lover'.

Her judgment was further validated by awards ceremony results. At the '10th Anniversary Asia Artist Awards 2025' held in October last year, IU swept six awards, including the Grand Prize 'Actor of the Year', 'AAA 10 Legendary Female Solo', 'Best Artist', 'Fabulous', 'Hot Trend', and 'Best Couple', becoming a six-time award winner.

IU’s script selection is never accidental. '21st Century Grand Duchess', carefully chosen through rigorous analysis and intuition, has proven through numbers that her judgment was correct.

In a well-chosen work, IU is soaring. Playing Seong Hee-ju, a character who dreams of social advancement and boldly proposes to a prince, IU maximizes the drama’s immersion. She delicately portrays the pain of being an illegitimate child hidden behind her confidence. She also delivers a powerful performance, naturally delivering the bold line, "Marry me."

Byun Woo-seok’s dazzling growth is also a key pillar of the drama’s success. Having created a phenomenon with his previous work 'Backstreet Rookie', he takes on the role of Prince Lee An Lee Wan, the king’s son who can possess nothing, in this follow-up project, completing a deeper narrative.

While maintaining the dignified appearance of royalty on the outside, he vividly portrays Lee Wan’s inner turmoil caused by insomnia and conflicts within the royal family, proving his acting skills go beyond his visuals.

Especially in the fourth episode, the scene where Byun Woo-seok breaks from his fate-bound past and declares to Seong Hee-ju, "Prepare to become the prince’s wife," was praised as creating a masterpiece moment where his masculinity and acting growth converged.

Byun Woo-seok has grown beyond a simple youth star into a lead actor who dominates the entire drama. Through the complex character of Prince Lee An, his emotional depth is drawing viewers deeper into the story.

Currently, '21st Century Grand Duchess' is sweeping domestic and international metrics, writing a new chapter in K-drama history. With IU’s sharp vision and Byun Woo-seok’s growth creating strong synergy, anticipation is growing for the next record they will set.

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*This content was translated by AI.