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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Perfectly hooked: Why 'Perfect Crown' is my new K-Drama obsession

Perfectly hooked: Why 'Perfect Crown' is my new K-Drama obsession

Published Apr 12, 2026 07:53 am

By Margaret Tipton Siytangco

I just finished the first two episodes of "Perfect Crown," which might be one of the biggest K-drama releases on Disney+ this 2026 … and wow. People always say K-dramas are just eye candy—and yes, fine, they absolutely are. But it’s not just that. 

A scene from 'Perfect Crown'
A scene from 'Perfect Crown'

Their stories? Always fresh. Always different. And honestly, that’s what I appreciate the most. They really give their writers room to play, and it shows. The ideas are bold, weird in a good way, and just … refreshing. I don’t care if I have to read subtitles forever—I will take that over predictability any day.

Now this show? It threw me off at first. I was like… wait. Royalty? In modern Korea? But that’s actually the whole point—and once it clicks, it hooks you. You’ve got a royal family in the present time, so of course there’s intrigue, politics, family tension… and right in the middle of it, a romance that you already know is coming—but the way they build it? You’re still pulled in.

I’m only two episodes in, and I am hooked. Like… already counting down to the next episode, kind of hooked.

And yes—let’s not pretend—the leads? Absolute. Eye. Candy. Both of them. No bias. Everybody wins here. Topping the series are Lee Ji-eun and Beon Woo-seok, whose chemistry is already doing a lot of the heavy lifting this early on.

Behind the scenes, the series is helmed by Park Joon-hwa, who also directed the hit K-drama "Alchemy of Souls" and "What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?" So yes, expectations? Very high—and so far, it’s delivering.

But what really got me was the twist. I won’t give anything away—but it’s refreshing how strong the female lead is. And honestly? It’s perfect. (Pun intended.)

All I know is, this is officially on my “drop everything” list. Every Friday, every Saturday—come hell or high water—I will be watching this on Disney+.

Related Tags

Perfectly Crown K-Drama Disney+ Lee Ji-eun Beon Woo-seok
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