The two lead actors of the MBC drama <The Grand Prince's Consort in the 21st Century>, which has been embroiled in a controversy over historical distortion, apologized in succession.

Byun Woo-seok, who played Grand Prince Ian in <The Grand Prince's Consort in the 21st Century>, posted a handwritten letter on Instagram on the 18th, saying, “I did not think deeply enough about what the work's historical context and meaning are and how they might be received by viewers,” and added, “I would like to say that I am truly sorry.” IU, who played Seong Hee-joo, also posted on Instagram the same day, saying, “I reflect and apologize without excuse for having taken on my acting without thinking more deeply about the issues of historical accuracy in the drama.”

<The Grand Prince's Consort in the 21st Century> faced criticism that the scene of Grand Prince Ian's enthronement as king at the end of episode 11, aired on the 15th, distorted history. The ministers shouted ‘cheonse’, used in a vassal state, instead of ‘manse’, emblematic of a sovereign state, and he wore a nine-stringed myeonryugwan worn by Chinese officials instead of a twelve-stringed crown worn by the emperor of a sovereign state.

After the production team posted a notice on the drama's website on the 16th, on the ‘One Word from Viewers’ board, saying, “We deeply bow our heads in apology for causing concern due to issues with the worldbuilding and historical verification,” the lead actors also expressed their apologies.

Byun said, “Through viewers' comments, I have engaged in self-reflection and introspection,” adding, “As an actor, I have once again deeply realized the need to examine and consider, with greater responsibility, the message and context a work carries.”

IU said, “Because it was a project for which it was important to be grounded in our unique history and to convey the traditional beauty of the Republic of Korea, I am ashamed of myself for not reading the script more carefully and studying more diligently as an actor,” adding, “I failed to properly recognize the issues in advance. I am sorry.”

Well-known Korean history lecturer Choi Tae-sung referenced the controversy on social media the same day, stating, “I hope the academic history community will also establish a research institute for historical productions.” Choi wrote, “Korean dramas and films are not watched only by us. People around the world are watching,” and added, “Despite repeated flare-ups over historical terminology, costumes, lines, and historical distortion, nothing changes. While paying actors' fees of hundreds of millions without hesitation, why do you try to settle historical verification costs for just a few hundred thousand… and why do you so thoroughly disregard the time needed for verification in program production?”