MBC’s new Friday-Saturday drama Perfect Crown is already stirring conversation online following its premiere—and not all of it is glowing.
Online communities lit up April 12th with reactions ranging from critiques of the show’s fictional setup to hot takes on the cast. Some viewers said the premise is hard to buy, questioning why the female lead—a chaebol heiress—is still treated as lowborn. Others pointed to over-the-top character setups, like a hereditary prime minister with a supercar collection and a royal male lead who has nothing, as difficult to relate to.
There were also claims that the series may have borrowed elements from Japan. Some viewers argued that its political system and class structure resemble Japan’s imperial framework, saying those elements feel out of place in a Korean setting.
Here are the specific examples cited: In the series, South Korea is shown either without a standing military or with a royal family exempt from military service. Viewers pointed out that while British royals traditionally serve in the military, Japan’s royals do not, which makes the portrayal of Korea feel more like Japan’s system. Additionally, Japan is the only country that switched to a constitutional monarchy right after World War II, which is reflected in the show. In the Joseon Dynasty, a king’s mother could legally act as regent. However, in the series, the queen is prevented from taking on this role, similar to Japan’s system, where women are excluded from inheriting the throne and holding power.
The show also features a strict, legalized social hierarchy that resembles Japan’s former Kazoku system. Critics argue that this feels more like the Japanese aristocracy than Korea’s traditional class system. One netizen who shared a screenshot from the show commented, “The aristocrats are sitting above in hanbok, while the businessmen, the commoners, are below in Western suits. Isn’t this just a crazy class system? It’s so disgusting and petty.”
Lastly, the series shows certain families monopolizing or inheriting the role of Prime Minister, which is similar to how political positions have sometimes been passed down within families in Japan.
Acting reviews, meanwhile, are split. Gong Seung Yeon earned praise for her steady, immersive performance as the Queen Dowager. But reactions to Byeon Woo Seok were more mixed, with some viewers calling his delivery flat and lacking emotional depth.
Content reviewer DaNKuN also weighed in during a livestream, briefly dropping his rating from a B to a C before settling back on a B. He noted that while the world-building is intriguing, the characters themselves aren’t fully convincing yet, adding that the central conflicts and narrative would benefit from more development.
Still, ratings are holding strong. Episode 2 pulled in 9.5% nationwide and 10.1% in the Seoul area, topping its time slot. It also ranked No. 1 among viewers ages 20 to 49 with a 5.3% rating, peaking at 11.1%.
So while Perfect Crown is off to a solid start, its bold choices—from story to performances—are clearly striking a nerve.
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