A scene from "Perfect Crown" / Courtesy of Disney+
Female leads in Korean dramas are becoming increasingly diverse in their professions. Moving beyond the once-common “Candy girl” heroine archetype, where a hardworking young woman meets and falls in love with a wealthy benefactor, more dramas now center economically successful women such as CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs and professionals. But “Perfect Crown” leaves room for disappointment precisely at that point.
The MBC drama is set in a fictional 21st century constitutional monarchy and follows the romance between a wealthy conglomerate heiress frustrated by her commoner status and a prince who possesses royal blood but lacks freedom and power.
In the series, Seong Hui-joo, played by IU, is introduced as the CEO of the nation’s top-ranking conglomerate, also known as a “chaebol.” MBC’s official character description presents her as “the second daughter of Castle Group, the No. 1 business empire,” and as someone with “an exceptional mind and fierce competitiveness.”
On the surface, she fits squarely into the recent trend of successful female protagonists. The drama frequently shows her at work, attending executive meetings, leading organizations and receiving reports from employees.
At first glance, she appears to be a textbook capable female CEO. The problem lies in how convincing that image feels.
Most of Hui-joo’s workplace scenes revolve around pressuring or scolding subordinates. Rather than showing her strategically solving problems or making decisive judgments during crises, the drama emphasizes emotionally charged confrontations. Since the story fundamentally centers a woman who already possesses wealth and status but seeks to shape her destiny further through marriage into the royal family, the credibility of her successful CEO identity becomes an important narrative element.
Yet throughout the series, viewers are left with the impression of a sensitive and demanding boss rather than a genuinely accomplished business leader. Because the drama does not sufficiently demonstrate her competence within the story itself, a gap emerges between the character’s setup and her actual portrayal, weakening the overall believability.
The contrast becomes even more noticeable when compared with recent female-led career dramas.
In “Queen of Tears,” Hong Hae-in, played by Kim Ji-won, is portrayed as a cold and sharp chaebol heiress and retail industry CEO. But the series does not stop there. It consistently depicts her making strategic decisions during corporate crises and carrying the responsibilities expected of a business leader. Although “Queen of Tears,” like “Perfect Crown,” is fundamentally a romance drama, it still convincingly establishes why Hong is considered capable.
Source: Korea Times News
