Byeon Woo-seok: Can he shake off acting-ability controversy and cash in on his “face value”? [Episode 2 of “Lady of the 21st Century”]

Byeon Woo-seok, who rose to syndrome-level popularity through the tvN drama 'Lovely Runner,' is returning to the small screen after two years. With his immense popularity, attention in the broadcasting world is focused on whether he can personally dispel the lingering question mark over his acting through this new work.

The MBC Friday-Saturday drama 'The 21st Century Grand Prince's Wife' (written by Yu Ji-won, directed by Park Joon-hwa and Bae Hye-young) will air its first episode at 9:40 p.m. on the 10th.

Byeon Woo-seok plays the role of 'Prince Ian' in the drama. He is a man born as the king's second son, a status that means he does not have to do anything, while at the same time he must not do anything. Beneath the splendor of royalty, he was forced into an idle life, but after the sudden deaths of his father and older brother, and with his nephew ascending to the throne, his life reaches a turning point.

Prince Ian is appointed regent, taking charge of state affairs on behalf of his nephew, who is only five years old, and in the process he earns the nickname 'the 21st Century Prince Suyang.'

This character is highly layered. Born as a second son in a royal family where primogeniture is the norm, he must portray the anguish of that position, the complex psychology of protecting his nephew at the peak of power, the loneliness of constant scrutiny, and even the precarious emotional line with the common-born conglomerate heiress Seong Hui-ju. It is a role that must be fully supported by an actor's depth of performance.

Through his previous work, 'Lovely Runner' (2024), Byeon Woo-seok sparked a truly unrivaled 'Sun-jae' craze. Based on Nielsen Korea, the series ranked No. 1 in the 2049 ratings for eight consecutive weeks, and on TVING it achieved the remarkable feat of ranking No. 1 in weekly unique visitors for four consecutive weeks.

Byeon Woo-seok also topped the overall TV-OTT performer buzz ranking announced by Good Data Corporation for four consecutive weeks. Thanks to this work, his popularity soared, leading to sold-out seats for his Asia fan meeting tour and his selection as a model for numerous brands, as he took over the advertising industry.

As he wrote dazzling records as a rising star in 2024, this new work carries even greater meaning for Byeon Woo-seok. After 'Lovely Runner,' he had few notable projects, making this a moment when he must prove himself not just through the charm of his character but through his acting ability.

Viewer reactions to the recently released highlight video are sharply divided. Praise is pouring in for the flawless 'complete visual,' but some viewers say that despite being only a short teaser, the diction and facial expressions feel awkward and are disappointing.

Indeed, across various online communities and social media, specific concerns are being raised, such as, 'There is almost no change in expression,' and 'It is hard to immerse myself because there is no sense of emotional highs and lows.' Two years ago, 'Sun-jae' blended a first-love image with the actor's natural charm to compensate for lacking skill, but this time Prince Ian must show 'technical completeness' beyond mere synchronization.

In particular, since IU, who plays Seong Hui-ju, has already established herself through many works as an actress audiences can trust, the key question is how stable a performance chemistry Byeon Woo-seok can show in step with her explosive acting. If the gap in acting ability becomes too obvious, harsh criticism will be difficult to avoid.

At the production presentation held earlier, when asked about concerns over his acting, Byeon Woo-seok calmly replied, 'I tried to do better acting-wise, and honestly, I've always done that before as well.' He continued, 'I focused on the narrative of Prince Ian's character and did my best so that people could empathize with him.'

Ultimately, this work is a proving ground for Byeon Woo-seok to demonstrate his independent presence as an actor by overcoming the huge wall represented by 'Sun-jae.' Attention is focused on whether Byeon Woo-seok can hold his own opposite a heavyweight partner like IU, truly live up to his looks, and shed the label attached to his acting.

[Kim So-yeon, Star Today reporter]