Singer and actor IU's Perfect Crown ended with a peak rating of 13.8%, but she ultimately could not smile brightly.
IU rented a theater at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul on the 16th to mark her birthday and held a group screening event of the MBC Friday-Saturday drama Perfect Crown with fans.
IU opened her mouth, saying, "I've been increasingly preparing an album lately and the drama is heading toward its end, so I guess that's why I feel 'I must do better. I must take more responsibility and do well' these days."
She continued, "I must do well for you all, even if only a little. It is truly my fault if I disappoint you or show an inadequate side. It's not that it's not true; it really is. I will take responsibility and do well. I must become someone proud even to our Ujena (fan club name)," and added, "I've been thinking a lot recently. There are really things I could have done better. As someone who receives your love, I will do better. I will take more responsibility and live well without wasting a single moment to become IU who shows a better side to you all."
She promised, "Even so, I still have many shortcomings, and I'm grateful that you love and support me. Everything you say has a reason, and I think I should accept all of it. If I have lacking parts, please tell me more, scold me more, urge me more; then I'll listen more and work hard to become a better person."
Finally, IU said, "I'm late saying this, but I love you, and I want to show a better side, and I'm sorry that there continue to be lacking parts, and thank you for continuously giving me chances and your affection and attention," then her eyes welled up and she became choked up. She also bowed 90 degrees to the fans to convey her sincerity.
The final episode of the MBC Friday-Saturday drama Perfect Crown, which ended on the 16th, recorded ratings of 14.1% in the Seoul metropolitan area, 13.8% nationwide, and 5.9% in the 2054 demographic, setting record highs for both the metropolitan area and nationwide. It ranked first among all Saturday programs and reached a peak minute rating of 16.1%. (According to Nielsen Korea)
However, although the work was considered one of the most anticipated releases of the year, controversy over the acting of lead actors IU and Byeon Woo-seok erupted from the first episode, causing noise. In addition, criticisms poured in over a weak story that repeats a palace fire scene three times, an unconvincing progression, and above all, that the constitutional monarchy at the core of the drama lacked justification.
Amid this, after episode 11 aired, the Northeast Project controversy even spread. Problems included that at Prince Ian's coronation he shouted 'cheonse'—used when a vassal state is subordinate to an emperor—instead of 'manse,' the symbol of an independent sovereign state; that while the emperor of an independent sovereign state (king) wears a "twelve-string jeweled crown," Prince Ian wore a "nine-string crown," which signifies a vassal of the emperor.
Also, criticism continued that the tense scene between Seong Hee-ju (IU) and Yoon-i (Gong Seung-yeon) followed Chinese-style tea ceremony methods. They pointed out that while Korea's tea ceremony places a tea server vessel on a small tray and only pours the drinking water, the scene in question followed the Chinese method of placing a water catcher, setting the teaware on it, pouring tea water, and drinking.
Previously, King Gojong proclaimed an empire in 1897, changed the country's name to the Korean Empire, and ascended the throne as emperor himself. Although Perfect Crown differs from reality in that it is a parallel world split after the accession of Munhyoja following King Jeongjo, if it is an independent sovereign state, as the Korean Empire was, it would be appropriate to use the title 'emperor' rather than 'king.' However, Perfect Crown assumes from the form of address that Korea is a vassal state under Chinese rule. This is a fatal error stemming from clumsily adopting Joseon-era settings.
Netizens expressed concerns that depictions suggesting that the Republic of Korea portrays itself as a vassal state could erroneously instill the perception that Korean history was a subordinate of another country. Moreover, regarding Seong Hee-ju following Chinese-style tea ceremony methods and refusing to wear hanbok, some reacted that this might be an intentional attempt to denigrate Korean history.
As the controversy spread, the makers of Perfect Crown issued an official statement and expressed apologies. The production team said on the official website, "We bow our heads in sincere apology to the many viewers who watched the drama with affection for causing concern over the worldbuilding setting and historical verification issues," and added, "This issue occurred because the production team did not carefully examine how Joseon etiquette changed in history."
They continued, "Perfect Crown is both a romance and an alternate history drama, and careful, in-depth consideration was needed for parts where the fictional world intersects with real historical context, but our effort to meticulously refine the worldbuilding and examine it more closely was lacking. We humbly accept viewers' criticism and will correct the audio and subtitles of the relevant parts as quickly as possible in future reruns, VOD, and OTT services. We deeply apologize again for causing discomfort to viewers. Going forward, our production team will do its best with a heavier sense of responsibility to produce works that repay viewers' trust," the statement bowed.
In the end it ended with its highest ratings, but it made a bitter exit amid controversy over historical distortion.
[Photo] Perfect Crown poster and captures, SNS
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