Korea’s Painful Road to Democracy and the Glory of the Republic
K-Drama & Film
Perfect Crown — the new MBC drama starring IU and Byeon Woo-seok — is built around a fantasy: a modern Korea with a royal family, a palace, and a monarchy that never disappeared. International viewers are loving it. But for many Koreans watching the same drama, something quietly uncomfortable stirs.
Do Koreans truly want a monarchy?
According to a survey on constitutional reform and power structure preferences conducted in 2024–2025, over 70% of Koreans overwhelmingly preferred a presidential system. A parliamentary or power-sharing system came in at around 10%. A constitutional monarchy wasn’t even included as an option.
Why do Koreans feel so strongly about their republic? The answer requires some history.
Joseon — 500 Years of Legacy
The Joseon Dynasty ruled from 1392 to 1897 — over five centuries. King Sejong created Hangul, the Korean alphabet. Ceramics and painting flourished at a world-class level. A Confucian-based governance system, civil service examinations, and medical institutions — the cultural legacy Joseon left behind is still alive in the daily life of Koreans today.
Living in Seoul, I feel it. Standing in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace, walking through the rear garden of Changdeokgung — you feel in your bones how deep this country’s roots go. Joseon is not simply history. It is Korean identity itself.
For a closer look at Joseon’s palaces still standing in Seoul today, our Seoul itinerary covers them in detail.
The Glory of Joseon — and Its Shameful End
Five hundred years of greatness. But the ending was devastating.
In the late 19th century, imperial Japan extended its reach toward Joseon. The dynasty’s response was weak and cowardly. King Gojong thought primarily of his own survival. A faction of officials chose to collaborate with Japan rather than defend the nation.
In 1894, an estimated one million peasants joined the Donghak Peasant Movement in an attempt to protect the country. Gojong and the ruling class turned their backs on them — and instead allied with Japan to slaughter the very people who had risen up. Joseon destroyed its own last chance at survival.
In 1905, the Eulsa Treaty stripped Korea of its diplomatic sovereignty. In 1910, Japan formally annexed Korea. The dynasty was gone.
Five hundred years of history — ended this way. Many Koreans feel something beyond sorrow about this chapter. Something closer to rage. This is part of why the lavish royal fantasy in Perfect Crown doesn’t land as pure escapism for Korean viewers.
Resistance — The Fight to Take Back a Nation
Koreans are not, by nature, a people who submit.
Survival on a small peninsula surrounded by powerful neighbors — China, Japan — required constant resistance across centuries. A people who love peace but will not tolerate injustice. Both China and Japan, across thousands of years of shared history, have acknowledged this.
On March 1, 1919, independence uprisings broke out across the country. Students, farmers, and religious leaders took to the streets. Japan suppressed the movement by force — thousands were killed. But the spirit of that day did not die. Koreans moved to Manchuria in large numbers to begin guerrilla resistance. The term Uibyeong — volunteer soldiers, ordinary citizens fighting injustice with no official status — has roots stretching back to Korea’s resistance against the Mongols in the Goryeo period.
These fighters reorganized as independence armies, and when the Korean Provisional Government was established in Shanghai, they were folded into the Gwangbokgun — the Liberation Army. The modern Republic of Korea’s military traces its origins directly to the Gwangbokgun.
Liberation — But Division
In August 1945, atomic bombs fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan surrendered. Korea was liberated — but not by its own hand. The Provisional Government went unrecognized. The independence movement that had sacrificed so much was not given its due. This remains one of the most painful chapters in how Koreans remember their modern history.
And then came division. Under the pretext of disarming Japanese forces, Soviet troops occupied the north of the peninsula and American forces the south. That division has lasted to this day.
Films That Help You Understand This Era
These are essential. And genuinely gripping.
Mr. Sunshine (2018)
Set in the early 1900s during the final years of the Korean Empire. A Korean-born US Marine officer and a noblewoman fighting as a resistance fighter — against the backdrop of a nation losing itself. Starring Lee Byung-hun and Kim Tae-ri. Written by Kim Eun-sook, directed by Lee Eung-bok. Visually stunning, emotionally devastating. The polar opposite of the royal fantasy Perfect Crown offers.
Assassination (2015)
Set in 1933 colonial-era Gyeongseong (Seoul). A mission to assassinate a pro-Japanese collaborator — and the people caught in the middle. Starring Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Jung-jae, and Ha Jung-woo. One of the top five highest-grossing Korean films ever made. This is not just action entertainment — the weight of the choices these characters make stays with you.
The Age of Shadows (2016)
Set in the 1920s. A Korean officer serving the Japanese police finds himself pulled toward the independence movement he is supposed to be hunting. Starring Song Kang-ho and Gong Yoo, directed by Kim Jee-woon. If you enjoy le Carré-style spy fiction, this film is essential.
A Drama Is a Drama — But
Perfect Crown is a good drama. IU and Byeon Woo-seok’s chemistry works. The rom-com mechanics are well-executed. It’s enjoyable.
But the complicated feeling many Koreans have while watching it is separate from the drama’s quality. Enjoying the royal fantasy while feeling quietly unsettled by it — understanding where that discomfort comes from changes how you read the show.
Know why the crown disappeared, and you’ll understand why it still feels heavy.
In Part 2, we’ll look at what happened after liberation — how Korea fought to build its republic, what that cost, and why Koreans today wear that history with pride.
Korea has a long history. If watching Perfect Crown has sparked any questions about Korean history or culture, leave them in the comments — I’ll cover them in a future post.
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K-wave Insider 
Hi Sapna, thank you so much for your insightful question!
In my view, the fascination with a fictional monarchy in modern Korean dramas stems from two key factors:
Reimagining Heritage: It’s about how creators can modernize the legacy of the Joseon Dynasty—which has long since disappeared—into something visually stunning and grand enough to captivate today’s audience.
The Genre Mastery: Korean creators are exceptionally skilled at both political thrillers and melodramas. The challenge lies in balancing intense political intrigue with the romantic chemistry of lead actors like IU and Byeon Woo-seok. (To be honest, Korean viewers are quite demanding; they wouldn’t settle for anything less than perfection in both genres!)
I’ve actually written a post sharing my thoughts after watching Episodes 1 and 2 of ‘Perfect Crown’. It might give you a better sense of the atmosphere I’m describing. Also, Part 2 of this series will be posted very soon, so please stay tuned!
Have a wonderful day!
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