MBC’s “Perfect Crown” ended on a strong note in ratings, but the drama also closed with several controversies still following it.
The final episode of “Perfect Crown”, which aired on May 16, recorded 13.8%, marking the drama’s highest rating.
The series started with 7.8% for episode 1 and quickly passed the 10% mark by episode 4 with 11.1%. It continued to hold double digit ratings until the end and stayed strong as the No. 1 weekend drama.
The drama also gained attention overseas. According to Disney Plus, “Perfect Crown” became the most watched Korean series worldwide in North America, Europe, Latin America, and other regions during the first 28 days after its release.
Starring IU and Byeon Woo Seok, “Perfect Crown” drew attention even before its premiere because of its top star casting and large scale setting.
The drama takes place in a 21st century South Korea with a constitutional monarchy and follows the romance between Seong Hee Joo, played by IU, and Grand Prince Ian, played by Byeon Woo Seok.
However, the drama received mixed reactions throughout its run. Early on, some viewers questioned the acting of the lead stars, while others criticized the story for feeling forced and the setting for being weak. Many felt that the drama’s overall quality did not fully match the huge attention it received.
The biggest controversy came near the end with the coronation scene in episode 11. Viewers pointed out that the officials shouted “Cheonse” instead of “Manse”, saying the term made the country seem like a vassal state rather than an independent nation.
Some also criticized the crown used in the scene, saying it did not fit the image of an independent country’s ruler.
As the criticism grew, the production team apologized and said, “We take seriously the criticism that this damages our country’s independent status”.
They also admitted that they “lacked the effort” to look more carefully at the historical context and said the audio and subtitles would be revised for reruns, VOD, and OTT services.
Still, the drama kept viewers watching until the end. Its royal setting, strong visuals, and episode endings helped maintain public interest. Even when some viewers found the story predictable, many continued to tune in to see what would happen next.
Pop culture critic Kim Sung Soo said, “Because this was a work with many expectations, there was also criticism, but ‘Perfect Crown’ achieved meaningful results as an original creative content without a source material.” He added, “The high ratings show that there were many points viewers could relate to.”
In the end, “Perfect Crown” finished with impressive ratings and global attention, but its controversies over acting, story quality, and historical accuracy remained part of the discussion until the finale.
Source: [1]
