IU and Byeon Woo-seok have unveiled a romantic wedding-themed pictorial ahead of their highly anticipated drama ‘Perfect Crown’, offering fans a first look at their on-screen chemistry. On April 2, fashion magazine ELLE Korea released its April special edition covers featuring the two stars, capturing a storybook-like wedding concept inspired by their characters in the upcoming MBC drama.
A Fairytale Wedding With a Twist
The pictorial reflects the relationship between their characters:
- Seong Hee-joo (IU) — a woman who has everything except noble status
- Prince Ian (Byeon Woo-seok) — a royal who holds status but lacks freedom
Set in a modern constitutional monarchy, the drama follows their contract marriage, which gradually evolves into something deeper. Dressed as a bride and groom in soft, spring-inspired visuals, IU and Byeon Woo-seok showcased a delicate yet emotionally charged chemistry that immediately captured attention.
IU on Hee-joo: “A Woman Who Doesn’t Hide Her Desires”
In the accompanying interview, IU shared her fascination with her character, a commoner who has everything but royal status. “Hee-joo is an incredibly interesting character. Her struggle to create a relationship with Lee Ahn to achieve her goals is both cute and slightly ridiculous”, IU remarked. “What I loved most was that she never hides her desires. She’s honest about what she wants, which made her so refreshing to play”.
Her interpretation highlights a character driven not just by romance, but by ambition and self-awarenes
Byeon Woo-seok: Finding Beauty in the ‘Prince Who Has Nothing’
Coming off a string of massive hits, Byeon Woo-seok dives into the psyche of Grand Prince Lee Ahn a man of high status who is forbidden from owning anything. “I always prioritize the emotions of the character, and Lee Ahn’s heart really reached me,” Byeon explained. “He’s a man who wants to be happy despite his restrictions. Seeing his multifaceted inner self was deeply attractive”.
His portrayal is expected to bring depth to a character caught between duty and personal desire.
“We Learned to Trust Each Other” — A Chemistry Built on Collaboration
Both actors highlighted the strong partnership they developed during filming.
IU shared: “He expressed the character even better than I imagined. On screen, he’s simply beautiful and elegant. We gave each other honest feedback and learned to trust each other deeply”.
Byeon Woo-seok added: “We had many serious discussions about acting, but also a lot of playful moments on set. IU is incredibly detailed in her approach — I learned a lot from her”.
Their mutual respect and communication have become a key factor behind the natural chemistry seen in both the pictorial and upcoming drama. Both actors highlighted the strong partnership they developed during filming.
IU shared: “He expressed the character even better than I imagined. On screen, he’s simply beautiful and elegant. We gave each other honest feedback and learned to trust each other deeply.” Meanwhile, Byeon Woo-seok added: “We had many serious discussions about acting, but also a lot of playful moments on set. IU is incredibly detailed in her approach I learned a lot from her”.
Their mutual respect and communication have become a key factor behind the natural chemistry seen in both the pictorial and upcoming drama.
Editor’s Insight
With a unique royal-modern setting, a contract marriage storyline, and two of Korea’s most popular stars, the drama is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated romance series of 2026. Even before its premiere, IU and Byeon Woo-seok’s wedding pictorial has already turned their pairing into a global talking point among K-drama fans.
‘Perfect Crown’ premieres on April 10, with full pictorials and interviews available in ELLE Korea’s April special edition.