Inside 'Perfect Crown' controversy: Why its portrayal of Joseon royal rituals sparks outrage in Korea

“Perfect Crown,” one of the biggest K-dramas of the first half of 2026 starring IU and Byeon Woo-seok, is facing mounting backlash over its depiction of royal traditions, with potential repercussions including the repayment of government production funding.

The series performed strongly during its broadcast run.

According to Nielsen Korea, the final episode, which aired May 16, recorded a nationwide rating of 13.8 percent, up 0.3 percentage point from episode 11’s 13.5 percent, marking a series