Did You Know? IU and Byeon Woo Seok Both Starred in "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo"

If Perfect Crown feels like a reunion you didn’t quite clock at first, you’re not alone. Long before they were headlining one of the buzziest K-dramas of the year, IU and Byeon Woo Seok had already crossed paths—briefly, but memorably—in a series many fans still hold close.

Their history goes back nearly a decade, and now that they’re sharing the spotlight again, that full-circle moment is adding an extra layer of intrigue to their on-screen chemistry.

This isn’t the first time K-drama audiences have seen IU and Byeon Woo Seok in the same frame. The two previously appeared in the 2016 historical drama Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, where Byeon Woo Seok made a short but memorable appearance as IU’s cheating ex-boyfriend—yes, that guy!

That shared past ended up working in their favor. According to a report by ABS-CBN, Woo Seok noted that their connection “stretches over a decade,” adding that viewers can see that chemistry “flower in this series.” IU echoed the sentiment, saying that even without staying in touch over the years, “it almost felt like we had been friends all along that time.” She even joked that she’d be open to reuniting again in another decade.

Their overlap didn’t stop there. As reported by Kbizoom, Woo Seok revealed on the YouTube channel 뜬뜬 DdeunDdeun that he also appeared in the teaser for her 2013 track “Between the Lips.”

Fans recently got a visual reminder of that evolution, too. In a set of playful “life four-cut” photos shared by Disney+, the pair recreated a couple pose from Moon Lovers. The difference? This time, the energy was warmer, more affectionate—a far cry from their chaotic past storyline. In another promo video, IU even joked in a promo clip that if she had recognized him back then, she might have “grabbed him by the collar,” while Woo Seok quipped that his “cheating days” must have been a past life.

The series follows a modern-day grand prince and a corporate heiress who enter into a marriage of convenience—only to find that keeping things strictly transactional is easier said than done. IU plays Seong Hui-ju, a sharp, ambitious chaebol heiress, while Woo Seok takes on the role of Prince I-an, a royal whose title doesn’t necessarily come with power.

And it’s already making serious waves. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Perfect Crown became the most-viewed Korean series premiere globally on Disney+ within just five days of its debut. While exact numbers weren’t disclosed, the platform confirmed it’s their biggest K-drama launch to date, with the show quickly entering the Global Top 10 and trending in over 40 countries.

The hype isn’t exactly surprising. IU comes off a critically acclaimed run, while Byeon Woo Seok’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric in recent years. Pair that with a decade-long shared history—and a storyline that turns former chaos into slow-burn romance—and you’ve got a pairing audiences are clearly invested in.

Perfect Crown is streaming on Disney+.