Cha Joo-young Opens Up About ‘The Queen Who Crowns’ and Controversial Exposure Scenes

On February 13, actress Cha Joo-young sat down for an interview at a café in Gangnam, Seoul, following the conclusion of tvN and TVING’s original drama “The Queen Who Crowns.” During the conversation, she shared her thoughts on the drama’s bold storytelling and the controversy surrounding its exposure scenes.

“The Queen Who Crowns” reimagines the life of Queen Wongyeong, who rose to power alongside her husband, King Taejong Lee Bang-won. Unlike previous adaptations that focused on Taejong, this drama presents a female-centered narrative, delving into the love and struggles of the royal couple. Premiering on January 6, the series received attention for its unique storytelling and Cha Joo-young’s powerful performance.

Controversy Over Exposure Scenes

However, “The Queen Who Crowns” also sparked controversy early on due to explicit exposure scenes featuring Cha Joo-young and co-star Lee Yi-dam. Addressing the issue, Cha Joo-young stated, “I think I’m quite bold when it comes to acting. I have no hesitation in interpreting and portraying a character. But since we were dealing with well-known historical figures, we had to be careful.”

She acknowledged that despite thorough discussions, some aspects were not fully calculated but believed the story would make up for it. While understanding viewers’ concerns, she emphasized that the drama’s core focus was the Joseon royal couple’s love story, which they aimed to depict in full.

Cha Joo-young acknowledged the divided audience reactions, saying, “Some might see it as a ‘bold and commendable attempt,’ while others might question, ‘Did it have to go that far?’ There were misunderstandings and concerns, but we carefully deliberated and did our best to make the right choices.”

Dispute Over Nudity Awareness

The controversy intensified when reports claimed that the actresses were unaware of the extent of nudity during the storyboard stage. According to media reports, the production team increased the level of exposure later in the process. It was alleged that Cha Joo-young and Lee Yi-dam filmed the scenes while wearing clothes, but the production team digitally composited body doubles for the final version. Their agencies reportedly requested edits before the broadcast, but the production team refused, stating the scenes were essential.

In response, The Queen Who Crowns’s production team released an official statement clarifying that the tvN and OTT versions were planned differently from the start, with the OTT version rated R. They asserted that the presence of nudity had been disclosed during casting.

When asked about this, Cha Joo-young cautiously responded, “I’d rather not talk about it. It’s a sensitive issue, and I’m not the only one involved.” However, she emphasized, “I had no objections to depicting a married couple’s private life. If I could contribute to that portrayal, I wanted to do so. But too many things happened for me to sum it up in one statement.”

Cha Joo-young also revealed her concerns about the drama’s fate amid the controversy. “At one point, I thought it might even be cut short. That’s how much I was focused on making sure this drama reached its conclusion. I didn’t want the efforts of so many people to go to waste just because of the controversy surrounding me.”

Despite the initial backlash, “The Queen Who Crowns” concluded successfully, garnering a final episode rating of 6.6% nationwide (according to Nielsen Korea, based on paid households). The drama’s unique perspective and strong performances solidified its place as a noteworthy historical series, with Cha Joo-young’s portrayal of Queen Wongyeong leaving a lasting impact.