Hold on to your crowns, K-drama fans — the queen of K-pop and the prince of your daydreams are teaming up! On December 2, 2024, Kakao Entertainment confirmed what fans have been manifesting for months: IU and Byeon Woo Seok are officially starring in a brand-new romance drama, Wife of a 21st Century Prince. And honestly? We’re not okay.

IU — our nation’s sweetheart, vocal powerhouse, and certified scene-stealer — is making a glorious return to the small screen after nearly six years. Since the 2019 hit Hotel Del Luna, she’s been dazzling us with music (hello, The Winningand the HEREH world tour!) and gearing up for her highly anticipated 2025 K-drama comeback. She’s already starred alongside Park Bo Gum in When Life Gives You Tangerines, and now she’s adding another swoon-worthy title to her lineup — this time with none other than Lovely Runner heartthrob Byeon Woo Seok.

(By the way, Record of Youth fans: fun fact — Park Bo Gum and Byeon Woo Seok once shared the screen in that 2020 series. Now, in 2025, they’ll both be IU’s love interests in separate dramas. Royalty indeed.)

After winning hearts (and CF deals!) post-Lovely Runner, Byeon Woo Seok had his pick of scripts — over 20, he revealed on Yoo Quiz on the Block. And now, he’s chosen Wife of a 21st Century Prince as his next big project. Fresh off his Asia fan meeting tour, this casting news has Tongtongs and Uaenas everywhere absolutely losing it — for good reason.

Here’s everything we know so far about this royal rom-com that’s about to take over your watchlist:

1. A Fictional Monarchy with Modern Day Feels

Think Princess Diaries meets Princess Hours — but set in a fictional modern-day South Korea where a constitutional monarchy still exists. Wife of a 21st Century Prince isn’t your typical sageuk (historical drama). It’s a sparkling, contemporary take on love, power, and societal rules, where a chaebol commoner collides with a hidden prince. Cue the chaos, the glam, and (of course) the romance.

2. IU as Sung Hee Joo — A "Chaebol Commoner" with Diva Energy

IU plays Sung Hee Joo, the fierce and fabulous second daughter of a super-wealthy chaebol family. She has everything — money, ambition, and killer outfits — except social status in the royal pecking order. Determined to upgrade her standing, Hee Joo gets entangled with a mysterious prince… and nothing will ever be the same. Expect attitude, elegance, and maybe even some revenge heels. We are so here for IU’s return to glamorous, confident characters.

3. Byeon Woo Seok as Prince Lee Ahn — The Hidden Royal

Woo Seok steps into the velvet shoes of Prince Lee Ahn, the second son of the King who’s kept his royal identity under wraps. With no power or fortune of his own, he’s been living off the radar — until he meets Sung Hee Joo. Their relationship promises sparks, scheming, and a rollercoaster of emotions. Oh, and did we mention Hee Joo might be engaged to Lee Ahn’s best friend? Yep. Let the plot thicken.

4. The Script That Beat 997 Others

The drama’s storyline originally won MBC’s prestigious 2022 screenwriting contest — besting nearly 1,000 submissions! Written by newcomer Yoo Ah In, judges praised the script’s fresh take on modern monarchy and its dynamic, progressive characters. So you already know the writing is about to be top-tier.

5. When Does It Air?

While there’s no official airdate just yet, Wife of a 21st Century Prince is expected to premiere on MBC in the second half of 2025 — with some insiders speculating a September launch. It’ll be co-produced by MBC and Kakao Entertainment, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most anticipated dramas of the year.