Hit 19+ K-Drama Ends with 6.6% Ratings… But the Lead Actor Says “I Cried, It Was Painful”

The hit historical K-drama ‘The Queen Who Crowns’ wrapped up with a peak rating of 6.6%, delivering a strong finale. However, lead actor Lee Hyun-wook has now spoken out about his struggles with the drama’s 19+ rating and explicit content.

A 19+ Historical Drama That Divided Viewers

Airing on tvN, ‘The Queen Who Crowns’ tells the story of Queen Won-gyeong, who fought for power alongside her husband, King Taejong (Lee Bang-won). The drama explored the complex dynamics of their marriage, both as rulers and as a couple.

While the series was broadcast with a 15+ rating on tvN, the TVING version was categorized as 19+, sparking controversy. The show kicked off on January 6 with an impressive 4.9% nationwide rating and remained in the 5% range throughout, culminating in a high of 6.6% in the finale.

Despite its success, ‘The Queen Who Crowns’ drew mixed reactions. Many praised the cast’s compelling performances, particularly Cha Joo-young’s portrayal of Queen Won-gyeong, which brought a fresh take on female narratives in historical dramas. However, some viewers criticized the 19+ version, arguing that it focused too much on explicit content rather than storytelling, questioning whether such graphic scenes were necessary in a historical drama.

This controversy echoed a similar debate surrounding TVING’s 19+ original drama ‘Queen Woo’, which aired in August 2023. Critics at the time claimed that rather than serving the plot, its explicit scenes felt like a tool to generate shock value, sparking heated discussions.

Lee Hyun-wook Opens Up: "I Cried a Lot, and It Was Hard"

On February 19, lead actor Lee Hyun-wook, who played King Taejong, addressed the 19+ label controversy in an interview at a café in Gangnam, Seoul.

“I personally don’t prefer explicit content,” he admitted. “Since we were dealing with real historical figures, I felt a great sense of responsibility.”

He also revealed the emotional toll the production took on him. “Honestly, there’s not much I can say,” he said. “I wish I had communicated more with the cast and production team. When I watched the broadcast, I was shocked. I cried a lot, and it was really difficult for me. I even started doubting my own acting.”

Despite his struggles, he expressed relief in sharing his experience: “Doing this interview is helping me find closure. If I didn’t get this opportunity to talk about it, I think it would have weighed on me for a long time.”

Cha Joo-young Also Addressed the Controversy

Cha Joo-young, who played Queen Won-gyeong, also previously spoke about the drama’s explicit content in an interview on February 13. She admitted she was worried the show might even face early cancellation due to the backlash.

“I just wanted the drama to be completed properly,” she said. “I didn’t want all the hard work of our cast and crew to be overshadowed by controversy. I hoped it wouldn’t create another round of unnecessary debate.”

TVING’s Next 19+ Historical Drama: ‘The Scandal of Chunhwa’

Following ‘Queen Woo’ and ‘The Queen Who Crowns’, TVING recently introduced another 19+ historical romance drama, ‘The Scandal of Chunhwa’, which premiered on February 6.

The drama follows Princess Hwa-ri (Go Ara), who—after a failed first love—boldly declares that she will choose her own husband. This leads her into a tangled romance with Hwan (Jang Ryul), the biggest playboy in the capital, and Jang-won (Kang Chan-hee), the perfect suitor.

However, early reactions suggest that unlike its predecessors, ‘The Scandal of Chunhwa’ has a much lighter tone and less explicit content, offering a brighter, youthful approach to the historical romance genre.

As the drama unfolds, many are curious to see how it will navigate the ongoing debate surrounding explicit content in historical K-dramas.