Director Park Joon Hwa shared his thoughts on IU and Byeon Woo Seok’s performances in MBC’s Friday Saturday drama “Perfect Crown”.
In a recent interview, Park Joon Hwa talked about the acting direction of the two lead stars and addressed the different reactions from viewers.
“Perfect Crown” is a romance drama set in a modern constitutional monarchy. It follows Hee Joo, a wealthy chaebol woman who feels limited by her commoner status, and a grand prince who is the king’s son but cannot freely have what he wants. The drama focuses on their romance as they try to challenge fate and social class.
Park Joon Hwa, known for directing “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim,” “Alchemy of Souls,” and “Love Your Enemy,” said he first saw the drama as having the feel of a romance comic.
Speaking about IU’s role as Hee Joo, he explained that the character’s strong desire had to be shown clearly in the early part of the story. He said, “I talked with IU about the direction of her acting and asked her to strongly show the emotions she expresses in each moment.”
The director praised IU’s effort and performance, saying, “I think IU’s acting gave a lot of strength in the early part of the drama.”
He added that some viewers may have felt her acting was strong at first, but said her effort helped shape the character. He continued, “She gave a more three dimensional performance than what I had imagined.”
Park also praised Byeon Woo Seok, saying, “He was an actor who really worked hard.” He explained that because Byeon Woo Seok’s character has a high status, he had to show emotion carefully without losing the character’s weight and dignity.
The director added that he wanted the grand prince to stay rational even when he was affected by Hee Joo. He also praised Byeon Woo Seok’s “depth in his eyes” and “sad look,” saying he hoped viewers would recognize how hard the actor worked to express the character’s sadness.
