(From left) IU and Byeon Woo-seok in a behind-the-scene photo from 'Perfect Crown.' Photo from IU's Instagram account
IU and Byeon Woo-seok personally apologized Monday over the controversy surrounding their recently concluded series "Perfect Crown," which drew criticism in South Korea for depicting royal rituals that apparently pointed to the country being a vassal state.
In an Instagram post, IU said she was reflecting and sorry "regarding the various issues of historical verification in the drama that viewers pointed out."
"Because this was a drama in which it was important to convey imagination grounded in our own history and the traditional beauty of Korea, I should have read the script more carefully and studied more as an actor," the singer-actress said in the post, as translated to English by Korean entertainment news website Soompi.
"But I did not, and I am ashamed of myself for that. I did not have a proper sense of the issues in advance," she said.
IU, whose real name is Lee Ji-eun, also thanked those "who watched the drama until the end and did not hold back from speaking up."
"I will always remember the valuable criticism and opinions you sent, and going forward, I will be IU who approaches projects with an even more cautious and thorough attitude," she said.
Her leading man, Woo-seok, also posted a statement on Instagram to address the issue.
"In the process of filming and acting in this drama, I did not think enough about what the historical context and meaning contained in it were and how that might be received by the viewers," Woo-seok wrote.
"Through the words of the viewers, I have been led to reflect and look back on myself, and as an actor I have once again deeply taken to heart that I need to approach my work with greater responsibility — considering not only the acting but also the message and context carried by the production," he added.
The statements from IU and Woo-seok came after the production team behind the romantic comedy series issued its own apology, reportedly acknowledging criticism that the show "seriously undermined our nation’s sovereign status."
The penultimate episode of "Perfect Crown," which aired Friday, drew backlash over a coronation scene in which Woo-seok's character, I-an, ascended the throne while wearing a ceremonial crown known as the Guryu Myeonryugwan, historically associated with feudal rulers serving under an emperor, according to South Korean media reports.
READ: IU, Byeon Woo-seok’s chemistry powers ‘Perfect Crown’
The chant used during the scene — "cheonse!" — was also criticized for being historically associated with vassal states under an empire, rather than with an independent sovereign nation.
The 12-episode "Perfect Crown" is set in an alternate version of South Korea governed by a constitutional monarchy, and follows the story of a conglomerate heiress and a prince who enter into a marriage of convenience.
FROM THE ARCHIVES