Hold up K-drama fans! Did you hear the latest buzz? There were some whispers going around that IU and Byeon Woo Seok might be dropping out of their upcoming drama "Wife of a 21st Century Prince". Say what?! Of course everyone freaked out. But before you panic let's get the real story straight from the source.
Exit Stage Left? Rumors of IU and Byeon Woo Seok Leaving Drama Send Fans Into Frenzy But Are They True?
So the gossip started when one news outlet reported that IU and Byeon Woo Seok told the production team of "Wife of a 21st Century Prince" they were thinking of leaving. The reason? Apparently there was some trouble agreeing on where the drama would even be shown. This got fans worried because this drama is seriously anticipated. I mean IU and Byeon Woo Seok together in a romance drama? Yes please!
But thankfully before the internet went completely wild both actors' agencies jumped in to shut down those rumors. Byeon Woo Seok's agency VARO Entertainment was super clear. They stated "Byeon Woo Seok has not stepped down from ‘Wife of a 21st Century Prince.’ He will star in the drama as planned." Straight to the point no messing around.
IU's agency EDAM Entertainment also chimed in and said basically the same thing. They commented "The rumors about IU stepping down from ‘Wife of a 21st Century Prince’ are not true. She is preparing for the project well." So there you have it folks straight from the agencies mouths. It looks like IU and Byeon Woo Seok are still on board and ready to go for this drama.
What's the Drama Even About? A Sneak Peek into the Plot of 'Wife of a 21st Century Prince'
Okay so now that we know IU and Byeon Woo Seok are sticking around what is this drama even about? "Wife of a 21st Century Prince" is set in Korea but not the Korea we know. Imagine an alternate universe where Korea is still a constitutional monarchy. Cool right?
The drama is going to be a romance story between two very different people. We have Sung Hee Joo played by IU. She is a chaebol heiress basically born into a super rich family. She has everything money can buy but in this monarchy world she is considered a commoner when it comes to status. Then there is Lee Ahn played by Byeon Woo Seok. He is a prince like actual royalty but in a twist he "has nothing despite being the son of the king." Intriguing right?
It sounds like a classic opposites attract kind of story with a unique setting. A rich commoner heiress and a seemingly penniless prince in a modern day monarchy? Sign me up! This drama even won an award the Excellence Award at the MBC Drama Playbook Contest back in 2022. So it has got some potential for sure.
Distribution Drama? Why the Rumors Started and What It Means for the K-Drama
So why did these rumors about IU and Byeon Woo Seok leaving even start in the first place? Well apparently the report mentioned a failure to agree on the drama's distribution. Basically where is this drama going to air and stream?
The report claimed that MBC the network behind the drama is talking to Disney+ about streaming the show. But IU and Byeon Woo Seok and their teams supposedly would rather it be on Netflix. The thinking is Netflix has a bigger global reach and would give the drama more international exposure. That makes sense right? Netflix is huge worldwide.
Someone "close to the industry" even said that the actors' decision was because they couldn't "coordinate the broadcast" and that "MBC is negotiating with Disney+ while the actors want Netflix." Whether this distribution dispute is actually happening behind the scenes or not we don't know for sure. But it is an interesting bit of behind-the-scenes drama adding another layer of intrigue to this project.
Keep Calm and K-Drama On: 'Wife of a 21st Century Prince' is Still Happening (For Now!)
For now it seems like we can all breathe a sigh of relief. IU and Byeon Woo Seok are still set to star in "Wife of a 21st Century Prince". Their agencies have denied the exit rumors and confirmed they are preparing for the drama. But the whole situation does highlight how much behind the scenes stuff goes into making a K-drama happen and sometimes things can get a little complicated.
MBC originally planned to release the drama in the first half of 2025. Now they are just saying sometime in 2025. This little schedule shift also added fuel to the rumor fire making people wonder if there were production issues. But for now let's focus on the good news. IU and Byeon Woo Seok are still on board for this unique romance drama set in a modern day Korean monarchy. Let's hope everything goes smoothly from here on out and we get to see this drama in 2025 as planned.