"Harsh Test," Finally Proven... Byun Woo-seok Was Not a "One-Hit Wonder" [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Byun Woo-seok was not a "one-hit wonder." Following his hit series "Carry Me Back," his next project, "21st Century Grand Duchess," also generated explosive buzz, once again sparking a phenomenon on television screens.

Byeon Woo-seok was finally recognized for his true talent through the 2024 drama "Seonjae Upgo Ttuyeo" (hereinafter "Seon-eop-twi"), bringing an end to his long period of obscurity.

However, as he has emerged as the definitive trendsetter, enduring the harsh scrutiny that comes with it has been entirely Byun Woo-seok's burden. While it may be said that the era of Byun Woo-seok has arrived, he has instead been left with the significant challenge of passing through a testing ground marked by even more critical and objective perspectives than ever before.

Byun Woo-seok was also well aware of this. Rather than remaining a "youth star" riding on the popularity of "Seonyeop-twi," he chose a bold transformation in his acting, willingly responding with vigor to the immense attention focused on his next project. The fact that he spent about a year deliberating before selecting his next role amidst a flood of offers alone reveals the weight and sincerity he brings as an actor.

Moreover, the MBC Saturday-Sunday drama "21st Century Grand Duchess" faced numerous significant challenges. The cast had to prove their acting skills surpassed those in the previous work "Sunyeop-tui" and navigate the inevitable comparisons to Ji-hoon Joo, the lead of the K-classic MBC royal romance "Goong."

Nevertheless, Byun Woo-seok faced the situation with calm resolve rather than being shaken by pressure. In an interview with StarNews ahead of the filming of "21st Century Grand Duchess" last January, he stated, "Rather than focusing on anything else, I decided to prioritize creating a work that would truly move me emotionally. While reviewing scripts with this focus in mind, I came across the script for '21st Century Grand Duchess.' Although there was some pressure regarding the level of interest, my current mindset is simply to do my best at every moment I can. At the very least, I believe that if I give my all, it will lead to a good result. If that happens, it would be incredibly fortunate; if not, I believe it is simply unavoidable."

In particular, at the time, Byun Woo-seok emphasized, "I do not consider the next work after 'The Escape of the First Love' to be special. I approach every work with the feeling that it is 'starting from now.' I believe this mindset is extremely important. This was the case during 'The Escape of the First Love,' and it is the same for '21st Century Grand Duchess.' The thought that I must do my best is always the same."

Ultimately, Byun Woo-seok is demonstrating his relentless determination in "21st Century Grand Duchess," crafting his own Prince Lee An. Having just aired the first two episodes, he is making a strong impact with his high synchronization with the character and his unique chemistry with co-star IU, with whom he shares a special bond spanning a decade. Byun Woo-seok previously made a special appearance in the 2016 drama "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" as IU's cheating boyfriend. Just as a decade can transform even a mountain, Byun Woo-seok has achieved remarkable growth across a broad spectrum, proving capable of handling such a dramatic narrative.

This achievement is also confirmed by the numbers. "21st Century Grand Duchess" launched on the 2nd with a high viewership rating of 7.8% (based on Nielsen Korea) from its first episode, recorded 9.5% by its second episode, and achieved results nearing 10%. The peak viewership rating reached 11.1%. Furthermore, it has maintained the number one spot in the Korean top 10 rankings simultaneously with its global release on Disney+, and according to FlixPatrol, it has climbed to fourth place globally in the Disney+ Top 10 TV Shows category.

According to the FUNdex survey by Good Data Corporation, a professional institutional investor specializing in K-content competitiveness analysis, the drama secured the top spot in TV-OTT drama buzz for the second week of April 2026. It recorded a buzz score of over 80,000 points, broke through a 90% share of the Friday-Saturday drama buzz, and achieved the remarkable feat of surpassing a 50% share across all content. It is no exaggeration to say that it has once again ignited the "Byun Woo-seok syndrome" in living rooms. However, the charm of Prince Lee An is merely a taste of what is to come; audiences should look forward to witnessing Byun Woo-seok's fully matured and compelling performance.

The third episode of "21st Century Grand Duchess" will be broadcast at 9:50 p.m. on the 17th.

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*This content was translated by AI.