IU and Byeon Woo Seok are set to star in a new romantic drama about love breaking through social boundaries in a modern South Korean constitutional monarchy.

On December 2, Kakao Entertainment confirmed that the two stars have been cast in the upcoming MBC drama 21st Century Prince's Wife (working title).

The drama is being planned by Kang Dae Seon, written by Yoo A In, and produced by MBC and Kakao Entertainment.

21st Century Prince's Wife is set in a 21st-century South Korea where a constitutional monarchy exists.

The drama tells the story of Seong Hee Joo, a chaebol heiress who has everything but still feels frustrated by her "commoner" status, and Lee An Daegun, the son of the king, who despite his royal blood, cannot have anything and lives a sad life.

The story revolves around their romance, which challenges and breaks down the barriers between social classes. The drama won the MBC Drama Script Contest and will be produced by MBC and Kakao Entertainment.

IU will play Seong Hee Joo, the second daughter of Korea's top chaebol family. She is beautiful, smart, and fiercely competitive, but she feels that being a "commoner" is holding her back in life. This frustration leads her to cross paths with Lee An Daegun.

Known for her powerful emotional performances in dramas like My Mister, Hotel Del Luna, and Broker, IU’s fans are excited to see her take on the role of Seong Hee Joo and bring a fresh transformation to her acting.

Byeon Woo Seok will play Lee An Daegun, the prince in this modern monarchy. Born as the second son of the king, he has always been destined to have nothing but his royal title.

Though he hides his pain, everything changes when he meets Seong Hee Joo. Byeon Woo Seok, who captured hearts with his sweet romance in Lovely Runner, will now step into the role of a royal prince, and fans are eager to see how he will bring his charm to this new character.

21st Century Prince's Wife is scheduled to air in the second half of 2025.

Source: [1]

Actor Kim Soo Hyun's dedicated fanbase is taking action against online hate and false rumors aimed at damaging his reputation.

On April 22nd, the Kim Soo Hyun Fan Union (comprising Daum Cafe Yukaris and DC Inside Kim Soo Hyun Gallery) released a statement announcing they are working to file criminal charges against those spreading harmful slander about the actor.

Their lawyer, Yang Tae Young from Law Firm Siwoo, revealed that they plan to take legal action as soon as this week, filing a formal complaint at the Seoul Seongbuk Police Station. According to the fan union, these online users are violating the Information and Communication Network Act by spreading malicious defamation.

While defamation cases can be pursued by third parties, unlike insults which require the victim to act, the fan union is determined to protect Kim Soo Hyun's reputation. They stated, "This is a voluntary movement to defend the actor’s rights and maintain a healthy fan culture. We won’t tolerate personal attacks disguised as freedom of speech and will take action without hesitation."

The fan union also emphasized that this effort is not just limited to South Korea. International fans have joined the movement, showing support for the cause. The union has gathered solid evidence, including harmful comments, manipulated images, and false posts made over the past few months.

In a related move, Kim Soo Hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, filed a separate report with the authorities on April 15th, condemning the continuous spread of baseless rumors and unverified claims that have been damaging to the actor’s image. They also filed a defamation lawsuit.

This all stems from claims made by the family of late actress Kim Sae Ron, starting in March. Through the Garoseero Research Institute YouTube channel, they alleged that Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron were in a relationship from November 2015 (when Kim Sae Ron was a minor) until July 2021. They presented supposed evidence such as handwritten letters Kim Soo Hyun allegedly sent to Kim Sae Ron during his military service and a photo of Kim Soo Hyun kissing Kim Sae Ron on the cheek.

In response, Kim Soo Hyun's agency clarified on March 14th that the actor only began a relationship with Kim Sae Ron after she became an adult, from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020. Kim Soo Hyun also addressed the rumors directly during a press conference on March 31st, stating, "I did not date Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor."

The situation continues to unfold, with fans and the actor taking a firm stance against the damaging rumors.

Source (1)