The backlash has become so severe that some viewers are now calling for the entire drama to be discarded, drawing comparisons to SBS drama Joseon Exorcist, which was canceled after only two episodes in 2021 due to similar accusations involving Chinese-style props and historical inaccuracies.
Five years later, another large-scale historical controversy has erupted — this time involving IU and Byeon Woo Seok, both of whom have already issued public apologies.
According to the report, many viewers now believe the warning signs were visible long before the drama aired.
During the press conference held ahead of the premiere in April, IU confidently praised the project and hinted at the production team’s high expectations for the series.
“Episodes 3 and 4 are even more fun than 1 and 2, and episodes 5 and 6 are even better,” she said at the time. “Our director promised to make this everyone’s breakout project. I believe him.”
The cast later appeared together on the web variety show Salon Drip, where they continued sharing stories about director Park Joon Hwa’s confidence in the drama.
Actor Noh Sang Hyun revealed, “The director told us every single episode was entertaining.”
IU then recalled receiving an excited phone call from the director after post-production was completed. “He said, ‘We’re all becoming stars,’” she shared. “He told us he would make all of us stars.”
Byeon Woo Seok added that the director repeatedly told him, “This drama is really fun.”
Although many interpreted the comments as expressions of affection and confidence toward the project, criticism has since emerged claiming the production may have become overly focused on buzz and star power while neglecting historical detail and research.
The drama reportedly invested more than 30 billion KRW into production, featuring lavish palace sets, luxury costumes, expensive CGI, sports cars, and high actor salaries. However, critics argue that the series failed to properly handle even basic historical verification.
The biggest controversy erupted during Prince Ian’s coronation scene in Episode 11. Viewers pointed out that the drama used the guryumyeonryugwan crown — traditionally associated with a vassal kingdom rather than an imperial nation — while characters also shouted “Cheonse” instead of the imperial expression “Manse.”
The scene quickly sparked accusations that the drama unintentionally portrayed Korea as historically subordinate to China, fueling concerns related to China’s controversial Northeast Project, which has long been criticized for attempting to reinterpret the histories of neighboring states as part of Chinese history.
Korean history lecturer Choi Tae Sung publicly criticized the drama on social media. “Another historical distortion controversy. At this point, are we goldfish?” he wrote.
He further explained the inaccuracies by stating, “Nine strings? Emperors use twelve. ‘Cheon-cheon-se’? Emperors are greeted with ‘Man-man-se.’”
Choi Tae Sung also criticized the Korean entertainment industry’s lack of proper historical consulting systems despite the global success of K-content.
“Korean dramas and films are no longer viewed only domestically. The entire world is watching,” he stated. “Production companies spend billions on actor salaries, yet hesitate to properly invest in historical research.”
The criticism became even more intense because Perfect Crown was not a small domestic production. The Disney+ series reportedly ranked in the Top 10 across 47 countries, including regions in Asia, North America, Europe, South America, and Oceania, while also maintaining the No.1 spot in the global non-English TV category during its broadcast run.
As a result, many viewers argue that the drama’s global reach makes the historical controversy even more serious, as inaccurate portrayals of Korean history could influence international audiences unfamiliar with the cultural context.
Despite achieving strong ratings and major international attention, Perfect Crown has ultimately become one of the most controversial K-dramas of the year — reigniting industry-wide debate over historical responsibility, cultural representation, and the growing global influence of Korean entertainment.
Sources: 네이트 뉴스
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