IU and Lee Jong-suk were recently filmed enjoying a casual date at a baseball stadium during production of their new MBC drama 21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife, sparking widespread interest among fans of the series and Korean entertainment followers worldwide.
The scenes, which aired as part of Episode 4 on April 18, 2026, depict the show’s lead characters Sung Mi-joo (played by IU) and Prince Ri-an (played by Lee Jong-suk) sharing a lighthearted outing at a ballgame. According to verified broadcast details from the episode, the setting features the characters purchasing snacks, sitting in the stands, and engaging in playful conversation that reflects their developing relationship within the drama’s fictional modern constitutional monarchy setting.
This marks the second time IU and Lee Jong-suk have portrayed romantic leads together, following their 2016 collaboration in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. Their reunion in 21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife has been widely noted by Korean media as a significant casting choice, particularly given the decade-long gap between their joint projects.
The baseball stadium date scene serves as a narrative device in the series to highlight the contrast between Prince Ri-an’s sheltered royal life and Sung Mi-joo’s assertive, modern personality as a chaebol heiress navigating societal prejudice due to her illegitimate birth status. Throughout the episode, Sung Mi-joo takes initiative in planning their outings, demonstrating her proactive approach to building trust and intimacy within their contractually arranged marriage.
Filming locations for 21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife have included various sites across Seoul and Gyeonggi Province to authentically portray the drama’s unique blend of contemporary urban life and preserved royal traditions. Even as the specific baseball stadium used for the April 18 broadcast has not been officially disclosed by MBC or Kakao Entertainment, industry sources confirm that production teams frequently utilize accessible public venues in the Seoul metropolitan area for such casual-date sequences.
The drama, which premiered on April 10, 2026, airs new episodes every Friday and Saturday at 10:20 PM KST on MBC, with simultaneous international streaming available exclusively on Disney+. Each episode runs approximately 66 to 72 minutes, and the 12-episode series is scheduled to conclude on May 16, 2026.
Costume design and set direction have been highlighted as notable aspects of the production, merging traditional hanbok elements with modern fashion to visually represent the series’ core premise of a constitutional monarchy existing within 21st-century South Korea. This aesthetic choice reinforces the ongoing thematic exploration of tradition versus progress, particularly through the experiences of the two main characters as they navigate institutional expectations and personal desires.
Fan reactions to the baseball date scene have been predominantly positive across social media platforms, with particular praise directed at the natural chemistry between IU and Lee Jong-suk and the humor derived from Sung Mi-joo’s enthusiastic pursuit of Prince Ri-an despite his initial hesitation. Commentary has emphasized how the scene advances their relationship while maintaining the lighthearted romantic comedy tone established in early episodes.
As the series progresses beyond its midpoint, viewers anticipate further development of the central contract-marriage premise, including how external pressures from royal politics and corporate interests will test the authenticity of Sung Mi-joo and Prince Ri-an’s growing bond. The baseball outing remains a memorable early milestone in their journey from strategic partners to genuine companions.
New episodes of 21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife continue to air weekly on MBC and Disney+, with the next installment scheduled for release on April 25, 2026. Fans seeking updates can follow official announcements from MBC’s drama division and Kakao Entertainment’s social media channels.
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