IU and Byeon Wooseok's '21st Century Grand Princess' Drama Garners Attention for Contract Marriage Romance

The drama '21st Century Grand Princess,' starring IU and Byeon Wooseok, became a hot topic for its contract marriage romance set against the unique backdrop of a 21st-century constitutional monarchy in Korea. Aired on MBC from April 10 to May 16, 2026, the series marked the actors' reunion after 10 years and their first time in leading roles together, generating significant anticipation prior to its broadcast.

'21st Century Grand Princess' tells the story of Sung Hee-joo (IU), a chaebol daughter, and Prince Lee An (Byeon Wooseok), the second son of the royal family, who enter into a contract marriage for their respective goals. The drama began with a 7.8% viewership rating and steadily climbed to a peak of 13.8% in its final episode, securing the top spot in TV and OTT drama buzz for three consecutive weeks. It also ranked No. 1 in non-English content on Disney+, indicating strong domestic and international reception. The release of Byeon Wooseok's self-sung OST 'Parallel Line' and a physical OST album with 56 tracks further contributed to the drama's popularity.

Bloggers praised the excellent chemistry between IU and Byeon Wooseok and the intriguing premise of the contract marriage. The evolving relationship, which began not out of love but mutual necessity, was highlighted as a major draw of the drama. Some viewers were so immersed that they speculated about a real-life relationship between the two actors, expressing satisfaction with a narrative that went beyond a simple romance.