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MBC's upcoming K-drama Wife of a 21st Century Prince has confirmed its slot in the Friday-Saturday drama lineup for the first half of 2026.
Following the confirmed casting of Hallyu stars IU and Byeon Woo Seok in Wife of a 21st Century Prince, Steve Noh and Gong Seung Yeon have also been confirmed as lead actors.
Set to be one of the most anticipated dramas of the first half of 2026, Wife of a 21st Century Prince, set against the backdrop of a 21st-century constitutional monarchy of the Republic of Korea, follows Seong Hee Joo, a chaebol heiress who has everything except a royal status, and Prince Lee Wan, the king's son who, despite being a royal, is deprived of everything, as they set out on a journey to carve their destinies, defying their social statuses that confine them.
Wife of a 21st Century Prince is a winning work from the 2022 MBC drama script contest. Following its selection, the project underwent nearly three years of development, and with Kakao Entertainment joining as co-producer and top-tier actors IU, Byeon Woo Seok, Steve Noh, and Gong Seung Yeon onboard, the drama has marked its name among one of the most highly anticipated works of 2026.
IU will portray Seong Hee Joo, the second daughter of a chaebol family — a capable businesswoman blessed with beauty, intelligence, and a fierce spirit of ambition. Despite having everything, she feels constrained by her commoner status, as it starts to become an obstacle in her life. She chooses a contract marriage with Prince Lee An (Byeon Woo Seok) in order to obtain the one thing she does not have: royal status.
Riding a wave of popularity, Byeon Woo Seok takes on the role of Prince Lee An, a royal who possesses nothing but his royal status — a man burdened by sorrow. As the second son of the royal family, he has lived his life suppressing his fiery spirit, forbidden from shining too brightly or raising his voice. Yet, with his grace and charm, he is considered the most beloved royal by the public.
Accustomed to hiding his true self, his life begins to change when he enters a contract marriage with Seong Hee Joo, a woman who, in a way, mirrors him, yet is also different from him.
Steve Noh will play Min Jeong Woo, the Prime Minister and the top figure in the executive branch, as well as a close friend of Prince Lee An. Coming from a prestigious political family, Jeong Woo followed in the footsteps of his grandfather and father to become Prime Minister. With a perfect family background, a brilliant mind, and striking looks, he is widely considered the nation's top eligible bachelor.
He is quite close with Lee Wan as a baedong — a childhood companion to the princes. He is also connected with Seong Hee Joo as her senior from the royal academy.
Gong Seung Yeon will portray Yoon Yi Rang, a woman born with the destiny of becoming a queen. Coming from a family that has produced four queens, Yi Rang has never once questioned her fate as a queen.
She chooses to live as Queen Yi Rang rather than just Yi Rang. Determined to uphold this destiny at all costs, she struggles relentlessly to protect her fate, no matter the circumstances.
Wife of a 21st Century Prince will be directed by Park Joon Hwa (What's Wrong with Secretary Kim, Alchemy of Souls), with the script from rookie writer Yoo A In.
MBC's EP Kang Dae Seon commented: "Wife of a 21st Century Prince, the winner of the 2022 MBC script contest, is a charming work that stands out for its fresh concept, captivating characters, and solid storyline. After three years of planning and development to perfect the work, we're thrilled to be working with such a solid cast, including IU, Byeon Woo Seok, Steve Noh, and Gong Seung Yeon. It truly feels like the project has wings now." He continued, "Just like previous works selected through the MBC drama script contest, such as The Veil and Doubt, which were very much loved by viewers, there are high expectations that the witty script by writer Yoo A In and the direction of Park Joon Hwa — renowned for his mastery in melodrama — will come together to create a truly meaningful drama."
Wife of a 21st Century Prince has been confirmed for a 2026 release, with filming set to begin soon.
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