Actors IU, Byeon Woo-seok, Noh Sang-hyun, and Kong Seung-yeon unveiled intense looks that reflect each person’s desires within the daring setup of “The 21st Century Constitutional Monarchy.”
Set against modern-day constitutional monarchy-era South Korea, MBC’s new Fri-Sat drama “The Grand Lady of the 21st Century,” airing its first episode on April 10, tells a fateful story of status-breaking romance: a woman who has both wealth and ability but is trapped by her restriction as a commoner, and a man who, despite his noble standing as the king’s son, is fated to own nothing—until their destinies collide in a quest to overturn their lives.
The newly released character posters spotlight the overwhelming charisma of Seong Hee-joo (played by IU), Prince Ean-daegun (played by Byeon Woo-seok), Min Jung-woo (played by Noh Sang-hyun), and Yoon I-rang (played by Kong Seung-yeon), all set against a grand palace backdrop. The phrases written on the posters hint at the dramatic narratives and the slices of life each of the four characters faces.
Seong Hee-joo, CEO of Castle Beauty, is the kind of person who breaks the label of “a commoner by birth” and boldly enters the palace as a grand lady. The provocative line, “I’ll win, even if it’s dirty,” embodies his ruthless determination and competitive drive to rise in status, while foreshadowing the massive aftershocks he will bring within the palace walls.
The king’s second son, Prince Ean-daegun, heightens the tension of the drama with a chilling line: “Do you think there’s a right season for hunting?” Living while hiding his true nature within the inherent limits of being unable to become king, he and Seong Hee-joo’s marriage are expected to trigger what kind of twist—drawing intense attention from viewers.
As Prime Minister Min Jung-woo says, “Sure, let’s do it. It’ll be nothing more than a harmless incident anyway,” he outwardly maintains an easygoing attitude. However, as Prince Ean-daegun’s longtime aide, he has kept the delicate balance between the royal court and the cabinet. With Seong Hee-joo’s arrival, he is expected to plunge into an unstoppable spiral of emotions.
Yoon I-rang, the highest-ranking elder in the royal family, delivers a heavy question: “Is there any room for happiness in a royal marriage?” Prioritizing the authority and traditions of the royal court above all, her reaction to Prince Ean-daegun’s decision to marry a commoner is sure to raise curiosity about what kind of resistance—or control—she will exert.
As such, these character posters capture the distinct values of four different people, setting the stage for an inevitable clash between those who seek to carve out their own destinies and those who try to protect the established order. MBC’s new Fri-Sat drama “The Grand Lady of the 21st Century” will premiere at 9:40 PM on April 10.
