A historian is weighing in on Perfect Crown—and raising questions about its historical footing.
On April 28th, Shim Yong Hwan shared a YouTube analysis of the MBC drama starring IU and Byeon Woo Seok, examining both its alternate-history premise and its use of real historical elements. The series imagines a modern-day Korea where a constitutional monarchy still exists.
Shim acknowledged the growing popularity of the genre, noting that works like Perfect Crown reflect a broader trend in webtoons and web novels. “The strength lies in expanding imagination,” he said, adding that “if it’s backed by detailed evidence, it can become a much more refined piece.” Still, he noted that some scenes—like the palace fire—fell short in terms of historical accuracy.
On the drama’s central premise, Shim was more direct. “The reason a constitutional monarchy didn’t continue into 21st-century Korea is, sadly, because the royal family did nothing after its fall,” he said, pointing to the diminished role of the monarchy following Joseon. Referencing Crown Prince Yeongchin and former president Syngman Rhee, he suggested the institution had already lost its political footing.
He also addressed the show’s power structure, questioning whether a royal relative like Byeon Woo Seok’s character could realistically act as the true authority behind a young king. “Historically, that’s impossible,” he said, explaining that Joseon strictly blocked royal family members from intervening in governance.
Shim further flagged inconsistencies in titles and costume design, explaining that terms like “yeonggam” and “daegam” refer to official ranks. As for wardrobe choices—such as mixing royal insignia or loosening ceremonial robes—he noted they would be serious breaches of protocol, but could be viewed as design decisions.
Still, Shim framed the drama as part of a larger cultural experiment. “Gyeongbokgung, Hangul, and Yi Sun Shin are stories of Joseon, but in reality they are assets we rebuilt and gave meaning to in modern history,” he said. “A work like ‘Perfect Crown’ may look low-level from a historical perspective, but it’s an interesting experiment creating a new culture called Hallyu.”
Perfect Crown has aired six episodes so far, reaching a peak nationwide rating of 11.2%, according to Nielsen Korea.
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