The solid lineup has been completed, making rumors of lead actors dropping out seem unfounded. MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama 'The Lady of the 21st Century' has definitely taken flight with Byun Woo-seok and IU.
On the 21st, MBC announced another lead performer following IU and Byun Woo-seok for the highly anticipated 'The Lady of the 21st Century.' Noh Sang-hyun, who delivered groundbreaking performances in 'Pachinko' and 'The Love Story of a Big City,' and Gong Seung-yeon, who established her presence through 'Karma' and 'Police Station Next to Fire Station,' have been confirmed as another lead.
'The Lady of the 21st Century' (scripted by Yoo Ah-in and directed by Park Jun-hwa) is being touted as the most anticipated work of the first half of 2026. It sets the stage in a constitutional monarchy in the 21st century South Korea and features a romance breaking social class barriers between 'Seong Hee-joo,' a woman who has everything but is frustrated by her commoner status, and 'Ian,' a sad prince who cannot possess anything.
IU and Byun Woo-seok were cast early on. For Byun Woo-seok, this project is a choice following the huge success of 'Sunkyung's Sky' last year on tvN, generating high expectations. IU, too, is transitioning positively into her next project after her high-profile career shot in Netflix's 'When Life Gives You Tangerines.'
However, this work was swept up in rumors about lead actors dropping out last month. A media outlet reported that both Byun Woo-seok and singer-actress IU, who occupy the lead roles in 'The Lady of the 21st Century,' would step down as per statements from broadcasting insiders. Although the article has been deleted, representatives for Byun Woo-seok and IU promptly clarified that it was unfounded.
As if to mock these rumors of departure, the casting for 'The Lady of the 21st Century' has been solidly completed.
IU plays 'Seong Hee-joo,' a capable businesswoman with outstanding beauty, intelligence, and competitiveness but bound by the limits of being a commoner in a chaebol family. Byun Woo-seok plays 'Ian,' a sad figure in the Ian lineage who cannot possess anything but royal status. Noh Sang-hyun portrays Min Jeong-woo, the prime minister and best friend of Ian from a politically prominent family. Gong Seung-yeon will meet viewers as Yoon Yi-rang, a woman born with 'the fate of a queen.'
'The Lady of the 21st Century' won overwhelming support from judges at the 2022 MBC drama script competition. The production is directed by Park Jun-hwa, who has previously directed the 'My Miss' series, 'Let's Eat' 1 and 2, 'What's Wrong with Secretary Kim,' and 'Alchemy of Souls.'
Starring IU, Byun Woo-seok, Noh Sang-hyun, and Gong Seung-yeon, the destiny-breaking class-romance 'The Lady of the 21st Century' is set to air on MBC during the first half of 2026 and will begin filming soon.
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