‘Perfect Crown’ Blu-ray project canceled amid historical distortion controversy

The Blu-ray release of MBC’s drama 'Perfect Crown' has officially been canceled following months of controversy surrounding historical inaccuracies depicted in the series.

On June 15 KST, the drama’s Blu-ray promotion team announced through its official fan café that, after reviewing various circumstances, the project would no longer move forward. The team also urged fans to refrain from spreading unverified information or speculation regarding the decision.

Following the drama’s conclusion, advance orders for the Blu-ray had opened on June 8 in response to fan demand. However, the project ultimately failed to overcome the lingering backlash that accompanied the series throughout its broadcast run. All pre-orders will reportedly be canceled and refunded on June 18.

Set in a fictional 21st-century constitutional monarchy, 'Perfect Crown' generated significant anticipation before its premiere thanks to the casting of major stars IU and Byeon Woo Seok. Despite the strong pre-release buzz, the drama soon became the subject of criticism over both acting performances and historical inaccuracies.

One of the most controversial scenes involved the coronation of Grand Prince Ian. Although the fictional kingdom was portrayed as a successor to the Korean Empire, viewers pointed out that the character wore a ceremonial crown associated with a vassal state rather than an emperor, while officials shouted “Cheonse” instead of the imperial salute “Manse,” sparking widespread criticism online.

As the controversy grew, director Park Joon Hwa, writer Yoo Ji Won, and members of the cast publicly apologized. Nevertheless, the backlash continued to overshadow the drama, ultimately culminating in the cancellation of its planned Blu-ray release.

The decision marks a disappointing end to a series that began as one of the year’s most anticipated productions but struggled to recover from persistent criticism throughout its run.

SEE ALSO: Byeon Woo Seok to embark on his 2026 ‘The Secret Library’ fan meeting tour

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