As criticism over historical distortion in 'Perfect Crown' grows stronger, public criticism of actor Byeon Woo-seok's Q&A has also become uncertain.
On the 18th, OSEN reported that whether Byeon Woo-seok's Q&A regarding MBC's Friday-Saturday drama Perfect Crown would proceed has become unclear. The controversy over historical distortion that surfaced near the end of the production has led to heated public backlash.
Earlier, Byeon Woo-seok's agency Baro Entertainment on the 13th announced on its official social media that it would hold a Q&A with fans. It asked, Please leave questions you want to ask Wooseok! At the same time, the English title of 'Perfect Crown' and on-set stills of Byeon Woo-seok were posted with the phrase Good bye "Perfect Crown," attracting attention.
Perfect Crown is a work that drew attention from domestic and international fans as a project featuring Byeon Woo-seok. It also ranked high on Disney+ charts, drawing interest from overseas fans. However, Byeon Woo-seok did not hold a separate end-of-series interview. Instead, his agency planned to accept questions directly from fans and prepare a Q&A.
However, a Baro Entertainment representative told OSEN, We are currently discussing it. Nothing has been decided, declining to comment. Since the series finale of Perfect Crown on the 16th, controversy over historical distortion has been raised continuously, and Byeon Woo-seok not only failed to give closing remarks but also issued an apology. As a result, the prevailing view is that proceeding is practically impossible. This contrasts with co-star IU, who on the 16th held a group viewing event with fans and personally bowed in apology over the mixed reception to the work.
In the 11th episode broadcast on the 15th, just before the end of Perfect Crown, controversy over historical distortion erupted over the coronation scene of Prince Iaan (played by Byeon Woo-seok). When Prince Iaan ascended the throne, he wore the guryu-myeonryugwan, a marquess's ceremonial headdress, rather than the ten-pointed crown or the ones associated with an emperor, and attendees called out chonse. Critics argued that even though the work set a fictional constitutional monarchy, it could provide grounds for historical distortion like China's Northeast Project claiming that Joseon was its vassal state.
Accordingly, Byeon Woo-seok on the 18th released an apology on his personal social media. He said, Over the weekend I worried that my words might cause further harm, and that during the filming and acting process I lacked sufficient consideration of the historical context and meaning contained in the work and how it might be received by viewers. Through viewers' comments I underwent reflection and remorse, and I have come to deeply recognize once again the need to examine and consider not only my acting as an actor but also the message and context of the work with greater responsibility. I offer my sincere apologies.
[Photo] OSEN DB, MBC source.
[OSEN]