The upcoming drama “Wife of a 21st Century Prince” grabs attention for its star-studded cast and swoon-worthy romance. Starring IU, Byeon Woo Seok, Steve Noh, and Gong Seung Yeon, the MBC drama will begin filming soon.
On April 21, MBC confirmed the cast lineup and broadcast plans for its Saturday-Sunday drama “Wife of a 21st Century” (working title). Previously, there were reports that IU and Byeon Woo Seok had stepped down due to creative differences. Their agencies quickly refuted “groundless” rumors.
Now, the network and production team have officially announced the cast and release schedule for the romance drama.
“Wife of a 21st Century Prince” Plot
“Wife of a 21st Century Prince” tells the romance story of Seong Hee Joo, a commoner from a wealthy family, and Yian, a prince restricted by his royal status.
Cast and Characters
- IU – Fresh from the success of Netflix’s “When Life Gives You Tangerines”, IU will play a different role from her previous characters. She plays Seong Hee Joo, a capable and intelligent businesswoman from a conglomerate family who is considered a commoner despite her wealth. She enters a contract marriage with Prince Yian to gain the status she lacks. IU has proven her exceptional acting skills in “Hotel del Luna”, “My Mister”, and “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo”.
- Byeon Woo Seok – Byeon Woo Seok takes on the role of Prince Yian, the restrained second son of the royal family. Due to his royal status, he is unable to fully express himself and pursue his true desires. With his natural elegance and charm, Yian is adored and loved by people but keeps his true self hidden. He undergoes an inner transformation when he meets Song Hee Joo, his contract marriage partner. Following his widely popular romantic performance in “Lovely Runner”, Byeon Woo Seok now transforms into this modern-day royal character.
- Noh Sang Hyun (Steve Noh) joins the cast as Min Jeong Woo, the youngest prime minister and a close friend of Yian. He is a third-generation political figure and the youngest prime minister from Korea’s most influential political dynasty. He is considered the most eligible bachelor due to his status and accomplishments. Min is a childhood friend of Yian and a mentor to Song Hee Joo from their Royal School days. Noh Sang Hyun is known for his roles in “Love in the Big City”, “Pachinko”, “Soundtrack 2”, and more.
- Gong Seung Yeon plays Yoon Yi Rang, a woman destined to become queen. Born into a family that has produced four queens, Yi Rang has always believed she would follow in their footsteps. She has chosen the path of a queen over her own personal desires, and she constantly fights to protect that destiny, no matter what. Gong Seung Yeon is known for her acting roles in “The First Responders”, “Karma”, and more.
Production Team
“Wife of a 21st Century Prince” was selected in the 2022 MBC Drama Script Contest and underwent three years of development. With MBC handling drama planning and Kakao Entertainment producing, the drama is the debut work of writer Yoo Ah In.
It is helmed by director Park Joon Hwa, who has delivered many swoon-worthy romances. Park has previously directed Kdramas like “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?”, “Alchemy of Souls”, “Love Your Enemy”, “Touch Your Heart”, and more.
“Wife of a 21st Century Prince” Release Date
MBC’s weekend drama “Wife of a 21st Century Prince” was scheduled to broadcast by the end of this year. Since the filming has yet to begin, the drama release is pushed to early 2026. As reports suggest, the drama will likely premiere on Disney.