IU Faces Backlash for Latest Role, Highlighting Issues in K-Dramas

IU is facing controversy over casting in the upcoming Disney+ series Perfect Crown.

The drama stars IU as Seong Hui Ju, a chaebol frustrated by her commoner status, and Byun Woo Seok as a prince with only his title. The series is set in an alternate universe where Korea remains a constitutional monarchy.

Two teasers dropped recently — the first on March 10, the second on March 18.

The controversy started after fans noticed IU (32) and Noh Sang Hyun (35) playing high school students in flashback scenes. Clips from the second teaser show them running through a school hallway in uniforms.

Many fans took to X complaining about grown adults in school uniforms.

“kinda getting tired of watching grown ass adults in school uniform. surely it can’t be that hard to cast young actors for such scenes..”
— jay (@tensorfied_)

“agreed… watch you and everything else cause even though the lead actresses look like babies themselves the drama have younger actresses for high school role.”
— luck⁷ᵗʰʸᵉᵃʳ (@BENCHOll)

“atleast iu pulls it off somehow…but HIM??”
— stryd (@levanterlxst)

Others defended the casting, arguing the flashbacks are minor and not a main setting.

“Who tf cares if it’s some flashbacks lol, it’s not like Friendly Rivalry where the grown ass adults are in high school uniform THE WHOLE TIME.”
— Kuroko’s #1 Fan (#DécimoquintaEra) (@xomyseries)

“Probably because a good amount of the series takes place in the royal academy. I don’t think those scenes are just mere flashbacks, and I also don’t think their characters were that young at that time.
Exhibit B set at the royal academy:”
— mano. (@minimanomi)