Perfect crown its penultimate episode has now aired. After spending much of the story avoiding responsibilities, the male protagonist Ian, played by Byeon Woo Seok, finally decides to take the throne to gain enough power to protect the woman he loves.
However, the coronation scene featured in episode 11 quickly became the center of controversy, with audiences criticizing what they described as serious inaccuracies involving royal traditions, national symbolism and historical awareness. On May 16, Chosun Ilbo compiled several examples of the drama’s controversial scenes.
One of the major points of criticism concerned the ceremonial chant used during Ian’s coronation. Instead of shouting “manse,” a phrase symbolizing an independent sovereign nation, the drama used the term “cheonse,” historically associated with tributary or subordinate states. Viewers also pointed out that Ian’s royal crown contained nine strands of beads, another symbol historically linked to vassal kingdoms. In contrast, emperors of fully independent nations traditionally wore crowns with twelve strands of pearls.
Another scene involving the female lead Seong Hui Ju, played by IU, also drew criticism. Viewers argued that the tea ceremony scene with the queen dowager appeared heavily influenced by Chinese-style tea rituals rather than Korean royal customs.
Netizens also noticed several props supposedly from inexpensive Chinese products. The Queen Dowager was seen using a fountain pen sold by Chinese company Jinhao for around 10,000 won. Meanwhile, the tea set used in the series was reportedly found on Chinese e-commerce platforms for around 126 yuan. Many viewers criticized the production team for the lack of attention to detail, claiming that the fictional members of the Korean royal family using cheap imported props damaged the drama’s credibility.
The controversy has intensified because the series is set in an alternate reality where Korea remains a constitutional monarchy and has never become part of another nation. Some viewers argued that depicting the fictional kingdom with symbolism associated with subordinate states actually undermined Korean national dignity.
One viewer commented: “This is dangerous filmmaking that could spread distorted historical perceptions and lead viewers to misunderstand Korean history as the history of a dependent nation.”
Some viewers have reportedly already filed official complaints with the Korea Communications Standards Commission, citing Article 25 of the Broadcasting Regulations, which states that programs must not harm national dignity or pride. The complainants are reportedly demanding strict action against the drama for its alleged historical inaccuracies.
At the same time, criticism of the drama’s script continued to grow online. Many viewers argued that the series relied heavily on visuals and the popularity of its lead actors rather than strong storytelling.
Comments from netizens included reactions such as:
“The visuals match the script. The first few episodes were decent, but later they became more ridiculous and full of plot holes.”
“The script is incredibly bland. There’s no real political tension. It probably only became popular because of the cast.”
“The male and female leads have absolutely no chemistry.”
“The drama keeps using palace fires every time someone needs to be attacked. It’s repetitive and boring.”
“The script seems really weak. MBC promoted it as an award-winning script, so the disappointment seems even bigger.”
“The coronation makeup was terrible. The king’s face was overloaded with powder and lipstick.”
Some viewers also questioned the characterization of IU’s role, criticizing how the story depicted the audience’s obsession with her character despite the political instability caused by her actions.
Despite the ongoing backlash, some viewers have urged others to wait until the final episode airs before escalating further criticism and legal complaints.
This is not the first time the drama has been mired in controversy. Early in its broadcast, viewers had already pointed out inconsistencies and unusual portrayals involving the series’ fictional constitutional monarchy system.
Meanwhile, on May 16, the production team released a statement through the drama’s official website, saying: “We sincerely bow our heads in apology to the viewers who have supported the drama with affection for causing concern on issues related to world-building and historical authenticity.”
In addressing the criticism, the production team directly acknowledged viewers’ concerns.
The statement read: “We take seriously criticism from viewers regarding concerns that the drama may have damaged the image of Korea’s independent national status.”
The producers also admitted, “This problem occurred because the production team failed to carefully examine how Joseon’s royal protocols and ceremonial traditions have evolved throughout history.”
The team also apologized for not looking more closely at areas where the fictional narrative intersected with real historical context.
Additionally, the production staff announced that they intend to review the controversial scenes as quickly as possible for future rebroadcasts and streaming services, including both audio and subtitle corrections.
Sources: K14, Nate
