The finale of Perfect Crown delivered one last dramatic twist by completely dismantling the monarchy at the center of the story — transforming Byeon Woo Seok and IU from royal figures into an ordinary couple living outside the palace walls.

The ending immediately sparked huge reactions online, especially after weeks of controversy surrounding the drama’s writing, pacing, and political world-building. While some viewers praised the emotional romance at the heart of the finale, others argued the conclusion only reinforced criticisms that the series prioritized symbolism and aesthetics over believable storytelling.

In the final episode, Grand Prince Ian, played by Byeon Woo Seok, prepares to officially inherit the throne. But instead of embracing royal power, he shocks everyone by announcing his true intention: abolishing the monarchy entirely.

“I’ll abolish the royal family,” he declares, arguing that inherited status itself creates inequality and oppression.

The moment becomes one of the drama’s most openly political scenes, with Seong Hui-ju, played by IU, immediately recognizing the decision not as betrayal, but as revolution. In one of the finale’s most quoted lines, she tells him, “You’re my revolution.”

The series then fully commits to its anti-monarchy conclusion.

After ascending the throne, Ian publicly announces plans to dismantle the royal system despite fierce opposition from Prime Minister Min Jung-woo, played by No Sang-hyun. Tensions escalate further when Hui-ju exposes Min Jung-woo for allegedly attempting to assassinate Ian in order to preserve royal power.

The revelation leads to one of the episode’s biggest confrontations. Min Jung-woo eventually confesses his actions, blaming Ian for abandoning the system he believed needed protection. Ian responds coldly, telling him he only lost something he never truly possessed in the first place.

The monarchy is ultimately abolished through a public vote, bringing the central political conflict of the series to an end.

But rather than ending with tragedy or royal spectacle, the drama jumps three years forward into a much quieter future.

Hui-ju returns to working at Castle Beauty, while Ian abandons his royal title entirely and resumes living under his original name, Lee Wan. Instead of ruling a kingdom, he now spends his time organizing former royal assets into a charitable foundation.

The finale’s emotional core comes from the couple finally living not as king and queen, but as ordinary lovers.

One of the final romantic scenes reveals that Lee Wan had secretly loved Hui-ju since their school days long before the political chaos of the series began. He confesses that he kept hearing about her even after graduation and always believed they would someday reunite.

The confession leads into a soft, intimate ending kiss that closes the series on a romantic note rather than a political one.

Online reactions, however, remain deeply divided.

Supporters of Perfect Crown praised the finale for staying emotionally consistent with the show’s core message: rejecting systems built on inherited privilege in favor of personal freedom and genuine love. Many fans especially loved the symbolism of the king willingly destroying the institution that gave him power.

Others were far less impressed.

Critics argued that the monarchy abolition storyline felt rushed and unrealistic, especially given the series’ already controversial world-building. Some viewers felt the ending relied heavily on emotional speeches and visual grandeur without fully earning its political resolution narratively.

The finale arrives at an especially interesting moment because the drama has already been under intense scrutiny following viral criticism from pop culture commentators who labeled the series a “moving photoshoot” rather than a coherent drama.

Ironically, the ending may only intensify that debate.

Because whether audiences see Perfect Crown as a bold romantic fantasy or a visually stunning but narratively flawed production, the finale ensured one thing: people will keep arguing about it long after the crown itself disappeared.