IU and Byeon Wooseok are preparing for marriage.
MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama 21st century grand madam, which will premiere in the first half of 2026, released a special teaser video and teased an unprecedented meeting between chaebol Seong Hee-joo (played by IU), who has everything except status, and the great lord Ian (played by Byeon Wooseok).
21st century grand madam is a status-defying romance drama set in 21st-century constitutional monarchy Korea about a woman who has everything as a chaebol but is frustrated because her status is commoner, and a man who is the king's son but can have nothing as he carves out his destiny. Expectations are at a peak, especially since IU (as Seong Hee-joo) and Byeon Wooseok (as the great lord Ian) appeared as presenters at the 2025 MBC Drama Awards and displayed explosive chemistry.
In the released special teaser, Seong Hee-joo's unabashed straight advance toward the great lord Ian draws attention. As the second child of a chaebol family with immense wealth and ability, Seong Hee-joo always shows a confident attitude but is sometimes scorned by people because of the social limitation of being a commoner born out of wedlock.
Although he is the king's son, the great lord Ian, who could not become king, is a threat to the current king simply by existing. Under the overt suppression of the queen dowager Yoon I-rang (played by Gong Seung-yeon), who seeks to protect her young son, he is even pressured to hold a wedding.
In particular, Seong Hee-joo, who aims to raise her status through marriage, appears before the great lord Ian and surprises everyone by proposing. Surprised by the unexpected proposal, the great lord Ian reacts lukewarmly, but Seong Hee-joo says "I missed you" and approaches by any means to capture the fortress-like heart of the great lord Ian.
It seems these efforts paid off as scenes unfold of the great lord Ian spending warm, friendly time with Seong Hee-joo, raising viewers' heart rates. And finally the order from the great lord Ian to "prepare to become the grand madam" is given, and the story of Seong Hee-joo and the great lord Ian that will stir Korea begins.
Thus, through the special teaser, 21st century grand madam heightens curiosity about the dizzying romance between Seong Hee-joo and the great lord Ian that will break the world's taboos. The premiere of 21st century grand madam, which heralds the birth of a perfect couple with wealth, ability and status, is already eagerly anticipated.
The MBC new Friday-Saturday drama 21st century grand madam, where viewers can meet the destiny-defying, status-breaking romance of IU and Byeon Wooseok that will remain in the 21st century, will reach audiences in the first half of 2026. <
[Photo] MBC new Friday-Saturday drama '21st century grand madam' special teaser video capture
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