Byeon Woo-seok, the actor who shone in 2024 with "Seon-jae Up and Jumping," is facing a test. What kind of performance will he show in his first leading role after the "big hit"?
On the 2nd, Kakao Entertainment announced that Byeon Woo-seok has been cast in the new MBC drama "21st Century Grand Prince's Wife" (tentative title, planned by Kang Dae-sun, written by Yoo Ah-in, produced by MBC Kakao Entertainment), which is scheduled to air in the second half of 2025.
"21st Century Grand Prince's Wife" (tentative title) is set in a constitutional monarchy in South Korea in the 21st century. It depicts the romance of a woman who is a wealthy heiress but is frustrated by her status as a mere commoner, and a sad man who is the son of a king but can possess nothing. Byeon Woo-seok will play Lee An-dae-gun in this modern monarchy, performing alongside IU.
With this, the public's attention has turned to Byeon Woo-seok's next project. He gained immense popularity as 'Ryu Seon-jae', the lead vocalist of the band Eclipse and a top actor, in the tvN drama "Seon-jae Up and Jumping," which ended in May. The drama's OST "Shower," sung by Byeon Woo-seok himself, achieved remarkable success by charting not only on domestic music charts but also on the Billboard charts, making him the center of the "Byeon Woo-seok syndrome."
Byeon Woo-seok, who has risen to stardom in Asia, received continuous overseas love calls and successfully completed the 2024 Asia fan meeting tour "Summer Letter" in eight cities. Amidst his hot popularity, he has also emerged as a blue-chip model in the advertising industry, appearing in nearly 20 advertisements this year.
In October, Byeon Woo-seok quietly donated 300 million won to Severance Hospital for pediatric patients, showing his gratitude for the love he has received.
With such attention on every move he makes, interest in Byeon Woo-seok's next project has intensified. Although he rose to stardom with "Seon-jae Up and Jumping," he is in a situation where he must prove that his popularity is not temporary. In this sense, his next project holds even greater significance.
Thus, Byeon Woo-seok carefully considered his next project, and the chosen work is "21st Century Grand Prince's Wife" (tentative title). After showcasing a youthful romance in "Seon-jae Up and Jumping," it raises curiosity about what kind of charm he will display as he transforms into a modern-day royal, and how his acting will evolve.
[Shin Young-eun, Star Today Reporter]
