Romance in 21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife Sparks Buzz

A modern royal romance draws global attention.
IU and Byeon Wooseok spark powerful on screen chemistry.
A 2026 Disney+ drama poised to captivate viewers.

Amid the lights and excitement at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel Conference Center on November 13, 2025, Disney+ held its Disney+ Original Preview 2025. The event was not only a showcase of upcoming content but also a celebration of five years of Disney’s content production across the Asia Pacific region. Around 400 journalists from 14 countries attended, highlighting the massive interest in these new projects. When the lineup of Korean titles such as “Fragmented City,” “Made in Korea,” “Fate War 49,” “21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife,” “Gold Land,” “The Killers’ Shopping Mall 2,” “Remarried Empress,” and “Hypnotic” was introduced, the hall erupted in cheers. A short teaser showing the chemistry between IU (Lee Jieun) and Byeon Wooseok in “21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife” left the audience captivated. The enthusiastic response showed how Korean dramas have become a major pillar in Disney+’s global expansion strategy.

Luke Kang, President of The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific, stated that 2025 marks an important milestone as it signals five years of APAC content production. According to him, Korean titles are not only highly popular in Asia but are also gaining strong fanbases in the United States, with Latin America now targeted as the next market. Kang emphasized Disney’s long-term ambition to turn APAC original series into global franchises by leveraging their IP strength and platform reach. He praised Asian fandoms as “unmatched” and expressed confidence that this investment will pay off.

Synopsis, Release Schedule, and Fan Reactions

“21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife” (21세기 대군 부인) is a romance drama set in a modern Korea under a constitutional monarchy. Written by Yoo Ahin and directed by Park Joonhwa, the series stars IU, Byeon Wooseok, Noh Sanghyun, and Gong Seungyeon. The story follows Seong Heejoo, the second daughter of a chaebol family, who feels uncomfortable with her status as a commoner despite her privileged upbringing. She becomes entangled in a contract marriage with Yi Ahn, the king’s second son, who lives with a deep sense of loss from never being able to have anything of his own. The clash of social status and the blend of classic and modern romance create the drama’s central appeal.

Supporting characters include Min Jeongwoo (Noh Sanghyun), the son of a political family and Yi Ahn’s longtime friend, Yoon Yirang (Gong Seungyeon), a noblewoman from a lineage that has produced four queens, and Do Hyejeong, Heejoo’s personal secretary. The series will air on MBC TV every Friday and Saturday and is scheduled to premiere in the first half of 2026. Although it is produced by MBC, Disney+ acquired global distribution rights, allowing international audiences to stream the series on the platform.

The announcement that the drama would stream exclusively on Disney+ immediately stirred conversations online. Many fans rejoiced over the IU and Byeon Wooseok pairing, especially after the teaser was shown at the event. The reactions demonstrated how highly anticipated this drama is, with the visual pairing and strong chemistry of the leads becoming a major talking point.

“The historic encounter everyone has been waiting for”

“Guysss😭😭😭😭 whatttt … YASSSS”

“IU and Byeon Wooseok’s chemistry is no joke i mean LOOK AT THEM THEY LOOK PERFECT!!”

“OMG WHAT IS THIS?? FOR REAL?? MY PARENTSSSS”

However, some comments also questioned the choice of platform. Many were surprised and confused that Disney+ secured the distribution, especially since several popular MBC titles in recent years debuted on other platforms like Netflix. Concerns grew in regions where Disney+ does not have complete service coverage.

“good thing I already have Disney+ cuz my nieces and nephew can’t live without Bluey but Disney+?? Really???? They must’ve slapped MBC a buttload of money”

“Too disappointed because it’s Disney+, but I know that teaser will let me have my inner peace – RELEASE IT PLS”

“the problem is they call it global, but it’s never ‘globally’ on d+ 😭”

“We have to accept it now that daegun buin will really be on Disney+ and not Netflix. But let’s hope that MBC Disney will still go all out with the promos because we know it’s gonna be fire! 🔥”

“the visual is CRAZYYYYYYYYY”

“OMG IU and Byeon Wooseok look even better together than I had imagined, can already tell this is going to be one unforgettable pairing”

The platform related concerns are understandable. Disney+ is still unavailable in several regions, leading audiences to worry about accessibility. MBC, which has frequently collaborated with other global platforms, has taken a new direction by partnering with Disney+ for this release. Still, with its strong promotional push, significant investment value, and star-studded cast, “21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife” is widely predicted to become one of the most anticipated dramas of 2026.

Source: Disney Plus Korea, Star News