When heritage meets pop culture: K-drama

Korean tradition is having a moment, with a growing number of K-dramas turning the country's cultural heritage into one of their biggest selling points for global audiences. Leading the charge in the first half of 2026 is MBC's "Perfect Crown," a fictional 21st-century constitutional monarchy drama starring Hallyu heavyweights IU and Byeon Woo-seok as Hui-ju and Crown Prince I-an, respectively. Since its April premiere, the series has driven global conversation through its avant-garde reinterpre