On May 19, the Wanju Culture Foundation officially announced the cancellation of the “Perfect Crown Story Tour,” a tourism collaboration program connected to the drama.

The event had originally been scheduled for May 21–22 around Jeonju Hanok Village and Soyang Oseong Hanok Village. Planned activities included filming-location tours, docent-guided commentary, OST mini concerts, traditional craft experiences, and XR smart bus programs themed around the series.

However, the foundation explained: “The program was planned to connect Wanju’s hanok architecture and cultural resources with tourism content, but we decided to review the project more carefully after taking the various opinions raised by the public seriously.”

The organization added that future projects would place greater emphasis on historical authenticity and cultural sensitivity.

Since premiering on April 10, Perfect Crown remained at the center of controversy until its finale on May 16.

The drama initially drew criticism over the lead actors’ performances before the issue escalated into accusations of historical distortion.

One of the most controversial scenes appeared in Episode 11 during Lee An Daegun’s coronation ceremony. Viewers pointed out that the character wore a ceremonial crown associated with vassal-state rituals while officials shouted “Cheonse,” a phrase many considered politically and historically problematic.

As criticism intensified online, the production team released an official apology: “We sincerely apologize for causing concern regarding the fictional world-building and historical research.”

The team also announced plans to fully replace the related audio and subtitles for rebroadcasts, VOD releases, and OTT streaming services.

Lead actress IU personally addressed the controversy through her social media account on May 18.

“As the lead actress, I feel deeply sorry and heavy-hearted for not showing a more responsible image and for disappointing many people.”

Co-star Byeon Woo-seok also posted a handwritten apology the same day.

“While filming and acting, I lacked sufficient consideration regarding the historical context and how viewers might perceive the work.”

Director Park Joon-hwa later addressed the controversy during a post-finale interview on May 19.

“As the representative of the production team, I will take full responsibility.”

He additionally expressed regret that the cast’s dedication ultimately resulted in emotional pain instead of positive recognition.

Despite repeated apologies from the cast and production team, public sentiment surrounding Perfect Crown remains sharply divided.

Online discussions continue debating whether the issue stemmed from careless fictional storytelling or deeper insensitivity toward Korean historical symbolism and national identity.

The cancellation of the official tourism collaboration is now being viewed by many netizens as evidence that the backlash has moved beyond online criticism into tangible cultural and commercial consequences.

Sources: Daum | TV리포트