GQ Korea Behind with #ByeonWooSeok
Every year on set, Byeon Wooseok greets us with the same bright, radiant smile and meets our eyes. Yet beneath that smile, he is constantly confronting new fears and shaping what comes next for himself.
Rather than settling into familiarity, he is always taking another step forward. We invite you to take a look behind the scenes of Byeon Wooseok on set, where he continues to push beyond his own limits.
Discover the new sides of him that shine even more vividly beyond the frame.
From barely getting her to say a word to him and only getting her glares…
to now…
getting her to ramble about her day while looking at him with pure heart eyes. 🫠
lucky wan.
#perfectcrown#wanseongfriday
Korean history Professor Lee Ikjoo shared another livestream on his YouTube channel to address the controversies behind the “cheonse” chant and the crown.
Professor Lee’s central argument is not that the drama is historically accurate, but that the criticism directed at it has been inconsistent, emotionally driven and selectively applied.
The main points he reiterated include:
• The backlash was disproportionate. He believes many historians and commentators reacted emotionally rather than applying consistent historical standards.
• The drama is fundamentally fictional. It imagines a constitutional monarchy in the 21st century, so expecting perfect historical accuracy misunderstands its premise.
• The title itself establishes that it’s a kingdom, not an empire. Since the protagonist is a Grand Prince, criticism over using symbols associated with a kingdom (such as “cheonsee” or a nine-string crown) ignores the drama’s own fictional setting.
• Historical practice was more flexible than critics claimed. Joseon did not exclusively use “cheonse”, nor did it always follow tributary protocol rigidly. He argues the production team’s mistake came from knowing only simplified historical “rules.”
• The same standards should apply to all historical fiction. He compares the controversy with The King and the Clown, arguing that both productions altered history for storytelling, yet only Perfect Crown faced intense criticism.
• Creative freedom matters. He believes historical accuracy is important, but artistic creation should not be stifled. Since perfect historical accuracy is nearly impossible in historical dramas, creators should have room for interpretation.
• He rejects linking the drama to China’s Northeast Project. He argues that acknowledging Joseon’s historical status as a tributary kingdom is simply recognising historical fact and should not be confused with endorsing Chinese historical claims.
• The Korean Empire alternative would likely have caused different controversies. Recreating an imperial Korea could have led to accusations that the drama resembled Chinese historical dramas or promoted monarchism.
• The industry should use this controversy constructively. Rather than repeating cycles of outrage, he hopes future discussions will focus on establishing clearer approaches to balancing historical accuracy and creative storytelling.
https://t.co/bhQ8OsauDz
2026 Korea Drama Awards "preliminary" voting has started! #ByeonWooSeok is nominated in 4 categories
- Global Star
- Hot Star Male
- Best OST (Fate Line - Perfect Crown)
- Best Couple (with IU - Perfect Crown)
📅 july 15 - 27
🗳 20 roses/hearts per vote via celebchamp & my1pick
👸🏻there's no man who is smarter than me, as handsome as me, as amazing as me, and as rich as...
🤴🏻 not handsome, beautiful
👸🏻 i'm saying jaga is the handsome one
🤴🏻 ah... (shy)
👸🏻 there was no other man like that except for daegun jaga
i miss you promotion era wanseong 🥺
Wooseok’s belated proof shots of coffee trucks sent to the Perfect Crown set from @Woochetongvn and Chinese TTEs!! 💙
Missing Grand Prince Lee Ahn badly now 😭
the way iu is basically the set photographer and social media manager for her own dramas. she even made that separate account for jang manwol. she’s always been so dedicated.