The first full teaser for Perfect Crown, one of the most talked-about Kdramas of 2026, was revealed on December 30 during the 2025 MBC Drama Awards. Also known as Wife of a 21st Century Grand Prince, the drama stars IU and Byeon Woo Seok and is set in a modern version of Korea where a constitutional monarchy still exists.
On December 31, MBC officially released the teaser on social media and announced the release timeline. Perfect Crown will premiere on MBC and Disney+ in April 2026.
At its core, Perfect Crown tells a romance built on ambition, pressure, and social status. IU stars as Sung Hee Joo, the second daughter of a chaebol family who technically has everything — except real acceptance.
Born out of wedlock, Hee Joo is quietly treated like an outsider even though her family is wealthy and well-connected. As she is repeatedly judged for something she cannot change, she begins to see marriage not just as love, but as her way out
Byeon Woo Seok stars as Prince Yi Ahn, the second son of the king. His royal blood puts him in a difficult position, as his very existence is seen as a threat to the monarchy. With no role beyond his title, he lives a lonely and restrained life. He constantly faces pressure from the royal court, especially the Queen Dowager, to marry.
Their lives intertwine when Hee Joo confidently proposes a contract marriage to Prince Yi Ahn.
The teaser shows Hee Joo surrounded by whispers about her “humble birth” as she questions why outdated systems still decide people’s worth. She then directly proposes marriage to the prince, seeing it as her way to gain a title.
Yi Ahn responds with doubt, asking, “You want to marry me just to gain a title in name only?” Despite the clear terms of their agreement, the mood shifts when Hee-joo quietly says, “I missed you.”
Perfect Crown is officially scheduled to premiere in the first half of 2026. The drama will air on MBC in South Korea every Friday and Saturday. International viewers will be able to stream the series on Disney+, with Indian audiences expected to watch it on JioHotstar.
Director Park Joon Hwa, known for the fantasy hit Alchemy of Souls, is leading the drama. The script was written by Yoo Ah In, a writer who won first place at MBC’s 2022 Drama Script Contest. The supporting cast includes Noh Sang Hyun, Gong Seung Yeon, Yoo Su Bin, and Chae Seo An.
Perfect Crown is part of a packed lineup of major Korean dramas arriving in 2026. Other highly anticipated titles include Can This Love Be Translated? starring Kim Seon Ho and Go Youn Jung, set to premiere on Netflix in January 2026. Plus, No Tail To Tell with Kim Hye Yoon and Lomon, also arriving on Netflix in January.
Disney+ will release several high-profile dramas throughout the year, including Made in Korea starring Hyun Bin and Jung Woo Sung, Portraits of Delusion with Kim Seon-ho and Bae Suzy, and The Remarried Empress led by Shin Min Ah and Ju Ji Hoon.
