Perfect Crown may already be shaping up to become one of MBC’s biggest drama hits of the year, but the cast’s unusual silence ahead of the finale is turning just as many heads as its high viewership.
The series most recently recorded a nationwide rating of 13.3%, just shy of MBC’s top Friday-Saturday drama record this year, The Judge Returns at 13.6%. It also ranks among the network’s Top 5 highest-rated dramas in the time slot.
Despite the success, much of the cast has reportedly opted out of the usual round of pre-finale interviews.
IU, who leads the drama as Sung Hee Joo, along with co-stars Byeon Woo Seok, Gong Seung Yeon, Noh Sang Hyun, Yu Su Bin and Lee Yeon, are all said to have declined interview requests ahead of the finale.
Scheduling conflicts were cited as the reason, but the move has sparked speculation, given the show’s popularity. Hit romance dramas typically see actors actively participate in interviews before and after the finale to discuss fan reactions, chemistry and behind-the-scenes moments.
The unusual silence has led some to wonder whether the drama’s early controversies played a part.
Even before its premiere, Perfect Crown was one of the year’s most anticipated projects thanks to the pairing of IU — coming off When Life Gives You Tangerines — and Byeon Woo Seok, who became one of Korea’s hottest stars after Lovely Runner.
But the series faced criticism early on over IU’s character setup, Byeon Woo Seok’s performance and elements of its alternate-history worldbuilding. Some viewers also questioned how the drama handled class hierarchy and traditional social structures.
As the series progressed, however, reactions began to shift. Sung Hee Joo’s storyline gained momentum, character relationships deepened, and ratings steadily climbed from 7.8% at premiere to over 13%, while consistently holding the top spot in its time slot.
The silence extends beyond the actors. Writer Yoo Ji Won and directors Park Joon Hwa and Bae Hee Young have also reportedly not confirmed plans for interviews ahead of the finale.
For many viewers, that leaves a lingering sense of disappointment. Interviews surrounding a drama’s final week are often seen as more than simple promotion — they offer actors and creators a chance to reflect on the project and respond to audience reactions directly.
Perfect Crown has undeniably become a hit. But with both the cast and creators remaining quiet, some fans may be left without the behind-the-scenes reflections they were hoping for.
>> IU, Byeon Woo Seok’s ‘Perfect Crown’ Sparks Debate as Historian Calls It ‘Low-Level Alt-History’
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