IU and Byeon Woo-seok are once again dominating online discussions after their lengthy kiss scene in Perfect Crown triggered mixed reactions from viewers. Despite the controversy, the drama continues breaking its own ratings records.
According to Nielsen Korea on May 10, episode 10 of the MBC Friday-Saturday drama recorded an impressive nationwide rating of 13.3%. The figure marks a major jump from episode 9’s previous personal best of 11.7%, allowing the series to achieve new record-high ratings for two consecutive days.
The Seoul metropolitan area rating reportedly reached 13.5%, while the key 20-54 demographic achieved a dominant 5.6%. The episode’s highest-rated minute peaked at 15.4% during the dramatic ending scene where Seong Hee Joo, played by IU, realizes that Grand Prince Ian, portrayed by Byeon Woo Seok, is trapped inside a burning palace building.
Set in an alternate modern-day constitutional monarchy version of South Korea, The 21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife follows the romance between wealthy chaebol heiress Seong Hee Joo and Grand Prince Ian, a royal figure who possesses status but little real freedom.
Episode 10 particularly drew attention for a passionate kiss scene between the two leads that lasted approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds. During the scene, Seong Hee Joo emotionally confesses her feelings before kissing Ian first and asking, “You don’t like it?” Ian then responds, “No,” before the two share an extended and emotionally intense kiss.
The sequence featured close-up shots, physical intimacy and detailed sound effects that quickly became one of the most talked-about scenes online after the broadcast aired.
Viewer reactions, however, were sharply divided. Many praised IU and Byeon Woo Seok for their strong emotional acting and believable chemistry, saying the scene successfully captured the excitement of two characters finally confirming their feelings for one another.
Others, however, criticized the direction for being overly explicit and unnecessarily prolonged. Some viewers argued that the scene felt excessive compared to the tone of the rest of the drama. The criticism also follows earlier complaints surrounding the series, including debates over historical inaccuracies, directing choices and the chemistry between the lead actors.
Even so, the controversy appears to have only increased public attention toward the drama. Clips from the kiss scene rapidly spread across Korean social media and online communities, accumulating high view counts and generating heated discussion among viewers.
With only two episodes remaining before the finale on May 16, The 21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife continues proving its explosive popularity despite ongoing debates surrounding the series.
