"I felt like we were actors who had prepared together for 10 years." (IU, Byeon Woo-seok)

Actors IU (Lee Ji-eun) and Byeon Woo-seok reunited after a decade. While their previous project ended with a breakup, this time they complete a royal romance.

The two shared, "We appeared together in the 2016 drama 'Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.' Meeting again like this feels like fate," smiling.

The series enhances its appeal with Korean aesthetics. Byeon Woo-seok said, "It's a work that beautifully captures Korean beauty. We created something truly elegant and visually stunning."

"Our drama's biggest charm is IU and Byeon Woo-seok. Each episode offers different moments of excitement. Both the story and visuals are enjoyable." (Director Park Joon-hwa)

The production press conference for MBC-TV's new Friday-Saturday drama 'The 21st Century Grand Prince's Wife' was held on April 6 at Josun Palace Seoul Gangnam. IU, Byeon Woo-seok, Noh Sang-hyun, Gong Seung-yeon, Yoo Soo-bin, Lee Yeon, and director Park Joon-hwa attended.

'The 21st Century Grand Prince's Wife' is a romance drama. It tells the story of a woman who has everything but remains a commoner, and a king's son who has royal status but possesses nothing.

It introduces the unique concept of a constitutional monarchy. Director Park said, "I wanted it to feel like royalty still exists in our present reality."

He added, "We put a lot of thought into maintaining realism. Based on differences in setting and characters, we redesigned costumes and spaces."

IU decided to join the project immediately. "The script had a pace that made me keep reading without stopping. Every character was appealing," she recalled.

She added, "It was interesting to see palace and outside characters mix and clash." Byeon Woo-seok also said, "The character narratives were very well written."

Director Park remarked, "The greatest strength of this project is the two actors. When I first met them, I felt they had the presence of royalty. Watching the monitor during filming was enjoyable."

IU plays Sung Hee-joo, a wealthy conglomerate figure. She possesses beauty, ability, and wealth, but faces discrimination due to her status as a commoner and illegitimate child.

"She has everything but lacks status, which frustrates her. Once you watch the show, you'll understand why her character is described that way," IU explained.

She described the character as lively and multidimensional. "She gets annoyed and angry often, but also has humor and charm. That complexity drew me in."

IU highlighted a memorable line: "This is how you protect—by attacking back." She added, "Instead of just enduring, she thinks, 'You attacked me? Then I'll attack to protect myself.' That aspect felt powerful."

She also pointed out, "Hee-joo is a chaebol, but also has an influencer-like presence. She draws attention—there are many fun elements to her character."

Byeon Woo-seok transforms into Grand Prince Ian. As the second son of the royal family, he has lived while hiding himself, yet is considered one of the most beloved royals in Korea.

The character has been compared to a "21st-century Prince Suyang," but Byeon said, "I didn't approach him that way."

"I thought he might seem strong and twisted on the outside, but he also carries loneliness and wounds. I focused on that in my performance," he explained.

He also paid attention to styling. "Since it's set in a constitutional monarchy, I thought mixing traditional hanbok with modern fashion would be effective."

He contributed ideas to the character. "I worked closely with the staff to refine details. We put effort into hair and makeup to build a convincing royal character."

Byeon Woo-seok gained popularity from his previous work 'Lovely Runner.' When asked about pressure, he smiled and said, "Rather than pressure, I hope people will love it even more."

IU and Byeon Woo-seok expressed satisfaction with their reunion. IU said, "In 'Moon Lovers,' he played a man who hurt me. This time, he returned with a role that redeems that past."

"It felt like we had prepared together for 10 years. There were no awkward moments—we worked very well together," she emphasized.

Byeon Woo-seok added, "It's amazing. It feels like we brought 10 years of chemistry into this project. IU also helped me greatly in acting."

Co-stars also praised the duo. Yoo Soo-bin said, "Working with Byeon Woo-seok was fantastic. As both an actor and a person, he's admirable."

Lee Yeon shared, "I was already a fan of IU. She was impressive on set, and I learned a lot from her." IU responded, "Lee Yeon led well on set."

Director Park also expressed satisfaction. "They're actors every director wants to work with. Even the assistant director said they want the show to air as soon as possible."

The team expressed confidence in the project's story, visuals, and entertainment value. Director Park said, "There are many elements that global audiences can relate to."

Byeon Woo-seok said, "It's been a while since I greeted viewers with a new project. It's a beautifully crafted drama, and I hope you enjoy it."

IU added, "Byeon Woo-seok contributed ideas for costumes. The blend of tradition and modernity is something viewers should look out for."

She continued, "The drama becomes more engaging as it progresses. Director Park told us he would create a breakout project for us. I believe him—please watch until the end."

Gong Seung-yeon said, "This is a project made with great dedication by both actors and staff." Lee Yeon added, "Even though the weather is nice, please go home early and watch the broadcast."

The cast concluded with in-character remarks. Byeon Woo-seok said, "I did my best," adding with a smile, "I'll humbly accept the results."

IU said, "I've never lost my position as number one in the industry. Our team will aim to become number one as well."

Meanwhile, 'The 21st Century Grand Prince's Wife' premieres on April 10.