"The best visual harmony of 2026 has been born."
MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama '21st Century Great Lady' revealed the exciting script reading scene of lead actors IU and Byun Woo-seok, showcasing its status as the most anticipated work of the first half of 2026. This project, a collaboration between romantic comedy master director Park Jun-hwa and writer Yoo Ji-won, has garnered intense interest since its production stage.
Set to premiere in April, '21st Century Great Lady' is based on an original worldview of a constitutional monarchy in South Korea. It depicts the 'class breaking romance' between a chaebol daughter who has everything but is dissatisfied with her commoner status, and a great prince who is the king's son but has no real power.
The revealed script reading scene featured the main cast including IU, Byun Woo-seok, Noh Sang-hyun, and Gong Seung-yeon, delivering performances that resembled an actual filming set. IU, playing the role of chaebol 'Seong Hee-joo' who dreams of rising in status, exuded confident and provocative charm. In particular, during a scene where she proposes marriage to the character Lee An-daegun, her playful acting turned the scene into a sea of laughter, showcasing a perfect synchronization with her character.
Byun Woo-seok, portraying 'Lee An-daegun', who hides emptiness behind royal dignity, captivated hearts with his unique deep voice. He delicately expressed the gradual emotional turmoil of the previously dry great prince upon meeting Seong Hee-joo, evoking admiration. The two actors showcased perfect eye contact and chemistry from the script reading stage, heightening expectations for the upcoming contract marriage romance.
The performances of the supporting characters also stood out, adding tension and vitality to the drama. Noh Sang-hyun, playing the role of 'Min Jeong-woo', the Prime Minister of South Korea, portrayed a friendly senior-junior chemistry with IU and a strong friendship with Byun Woo-seok. Gong Seung-yeon, playing 'Yoon I-rang', who is destined to be the queen, displayed a cool charisma amidst elegance, opposing Lee An-daegun and maintaining the tension of the drama.
The production team expressed confidence, stating, "It was a moment to confirm the actors' passionate enthusiasm and perfect chemistry," and added, "'21st Century Great Lady', which highlights a romance that transcends class and complex character relationships, will bring excitement and fun to viewers' homes in the spring of 2026." The drama will meet viewers as MBC's Friday-Saturday drama in April.
