IU Apologizes for Historical and Acting Controversies in 'Perfect Crown' Drama Singer and actor IU, whose MBC weekend drama "Perfect Crown" concluded with a peak viewership rating of 13.8%, addressed fans during a group viewing event at the CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall in Seoul on May 16, coinciding with her birthday. Despite the drama’s record-breaking ratings, IU expressed regret over criticisms of her acting and historical inaccuracies in the production. During the event, she acknowledged her shortcomings, vowing to take responsibility and strive for improvement. “I must do better for you, even if it’s just a little,” she said, emphasizing her commitment to becoming someone her fans, whom she called “Uaena,” could be proud of. Her emotional speech, which included a heartfelt apology for her perceived inadequacies, left her visibly moved, with tears welling up as she bowed deeply to her audience. The drama, written by Yoo Ji-won and directed by Park Joon-hwa and Bae Hee-young, concluded on May 16 with a final episode viewership rating of 14.1% in the capital region, 13.8% nationwide, and 5.9% among viewers aged 20–54, setting a new record. It ranked first in Saturday programming with a peak of 16.1% (Nielsen Korea). However, the series faced significant backlash from the outset due to controversies surrounding its portrayal of historical and cultural elements. Critics highlighted issues such as the leads’ acting performances, a repetitive palace fire scene, and unconvincing plot developments. The drama’s alternate history premise, which depicted a split Korean Empire after King Jeongjo, was also scrutinized for its handling of historical accuracy.#iu #perfect_crown #mcgovern #yoo_ji_won #park_joon_hwa
