TLDR: The Remarried Empress is a 10-episode Korean fantasy romance drama on Disney+, based on the hit webtoon of the same name. Starring Shin Mina, Ju Jihoon, Lee Jongsuk and Lee Seyoung, it premiered with four episodes on 4 November 2026, with two new episodes weekly until 25 November 2026.
One of the most-read webtoons is now a live-action K-drama! The Remarried Empress follows Empress Navier (Shin Mina), whose marriage to Emperor Sovieshu (Ju Jihoon) falls apart when he brings a runaway slave, Rashta (Lee Seyoung), into the palace to make her his concubine. Then Prince Heinrey (Lee Jongsuk) of the rival Western Kingdom enters the picture.
The series premiered on Disney+ on 4 November 2026, and the four leads have shared what drew them to the story, how they see their characters and what it was like filming in real European castles.
What Is The Remarried Empress About?
The Remarried Empress is a Korean fantasy romance drama about Empress Navier of the Eastern Empire, who is betrayed when her husband, Emperor Sovieshu, brings a runaway slave named Rashta into the palace as his intended concubine. When Prince Heinrey of the Western Kingdom shows interest in Navier, she makes a life-changing decision to rewrite her destiny.
Navier has built and led a prosperous empire alongside Sovieshu, and their marriage appears close to ideal, apart from one problem: the couple has not been able to produce an heir. That changes when Sovieshu, separated from Navier on a hunting trip, rescues Rashta and becomes entranced by her.
The series is adapted from the webtoon The Remarried Empress, which has amassed almost three billion views to date. The original story was written by Alphatart and first published as a web novel on Naver, with the webtoon illustrated by Sumpul.
It is directed by Cho Suwon and written by Yeoh Geena and Hyun Choongyeol. If you enjoy webtoon adaptations, here are more K-dramas based on webtoons to add to your watchlist.
Who Is in The Remarried Empress Cast?
The Remarried Empress stars Shin Mina as Empress Navier, Ju Jihoon as Emperor Sovieshu, Lee Jongsuk as Prince Heinrey and Lee Seyoung as Rashta.
- Shin Mina as Empress Navier: the beloved leader of the Eastern Empire, known for her wise counsel and kind heart. Shin Mina is known for Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021), Our Blues (2022) and Karma (2025).
- Ju Jihoon as Emperor Sovieshu: the proud and imperious ruler of the Eastern Empire, whose lack of an heir weighs on him. Ju Jihoon is known for Kingdom (2019), the Along with the Gods films and The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call (2025).
- Lee Jongsuk as Prince Heinrey: the charming crown prince of the Western Kingdom, whose arrival at the New Year’s Ceremony sets the palace talking. Lee Jongsuk is known for Pinocchio (2014 to 2015), W: Two Worlds Apart (2016) and While You Were Sleeping (2017).
- Lee Seyoung as Rashta: a runaway slave whose beauty captivates Sovieshu during a hunting trip. Lee Seyoung is known for The Red Sleeve (2021) and The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract (2023 to 2024).
What Happens in The Remarried Empress Episodes 1 to 4?
The first four episodes are now streaming on Disney+. It sets up the love triangle that threatens the Eastern Empire’s royal marriage.
- Episode 1: Sovieshu and Navier seem to have everything they could want, until a runaway slave is brought into the palace.
- Episode 2: Sovieshu falls for Rashta and works to set her free. As rumours spread, Navier stands firm, while news of Prince Heinrey’s visit stirs excitement in the palace.
- Episode 3: Conflict deepens between Navier, Sovieshu and Rashta at the New Year’s Ceremony. Rashta grows bolder with the emperor’s favour, and Heinrey’s arrival complicates things further.
- Episode 4: The ceremony sparks an unexpected attraction that leaves Sovieshu conflicted. Rashta discovers the identity of Heinrey’s secret pen pal and plots to throw the palace into chaos.
What Can We Expect in the Next Episodes?
From episode 5 onwards, Rashta’s schemes start to unravel the palace, Navier and Heinrey grow closer, and Sovieshu tries to repair what he has broken.
By the final episodes, Navier and Heinrey each face a choice between duty and love, and a single statement from Navier threatens to change the fate of the Eastern Empire.
Why Did the Cast Sign On to The Remarried Empress?
In exclusive coverage shared with MiddleClass.SG, all four leads said the popularity of the original story was a big draw, along with the challenge of bringing a fantasy world of this scale to the screen.
Ju Jihoon said: “The first thing that drew me in was hearing that the original story was so widely loved by so many people,” adding that “the pleasure of helping to build something on this scale was a big part of the appeal.”
Lee Jongsuk was already a fan. “I already knew the original very well, so knew I’d love to be a part of it,” he said. “As we were filming the series I also found myself thinking what a fresh and compelling story it was.”
He also sees the series as a step forward for Korean dramas.
“Audiences will see an imperial palace and settings of tremendous scale and splendor. It’s something totally new for a Korean series and I hope The Remarried Empress becomes a forerunner that helps widen the range of stories we tell.”
For Shin Mina, the script itself was the hook. “When I was first approached about starring in the series I had so much fun reading the script, and I loved how original the story was,” she said, noting that Navier lets her show “something I’ve never portrayed before.”
Lee Seyoung named director Cho Suwon as a reason she joined, along with the chance to reunite with her co-stars: “getting to work alongside Shin Mina, Ju Jihoon and Lee Jongsuk again after such a long time also really appealed.”
How Do the Actors See Navier, Sovieshu and Rashta?
At its core, The Remarried Empress is about love, betrayal and dignity, and each of the leads approached their character through one of those themes.
Navier: Dignity Under Betrayal
Shin Mina describes Navier as “a leader who’s beloved by her people,” one who is “repeatedly hurt by Sovieshu’s actions leading up to his request for a divorce but she never once loses her dignity.”
“Even as she’s being told her husband wants a divorce, she says that being loved is not the main goal in her life. I think that line expresses who Navier is better than any other.”
Sovieshu: A Character Fans Love to Hate
Sovieshu is the character webtoon readers criticise most, and Ju Jihoon admits he did not fully understand the appeal either.
“While we were filming, I asked everyone around me who had also read the original: ‘this character gets so much criticism, so why do you find him compelling?’ And no one could explain it clearly,” he said.
It was the writers and producers who convinced him. “I could feel how sincere they were when they said they truly hoped I would take the role, and that’s how I came on board.”
Rashta: Hard to Hate, Easy to Curse
Lee Seyoung sees Rashta as “a remarkably multi-dimensional character,” a “pure, intelligent girl” who “begins to get a taste of things she’s never had before, and little by little she starts to want more” once she enters the palace.
Her goal was to make viewers torn. “I played her with the goal of making viewers dislike her while at the same time feeling sorry for her. I want them to see her and think ‘I can’t bring myself to hate her,’ and then curse her again the next second.”
The scene that unlocked the character for her is one where Rashta tells Sovieshu that “even the water from the fountain is so, so, so delicious.” From that line, she came to understand that “for Rashta, Sovieshu is her one ray of light: her hope, her love, her everything.”
Heinrey: A Prince With a Secret
Lee Jongsuk describes Heinrey as the first in line to the Western Kingdom’s throne, who “draws every eye wherever he goes, and rumors follow close behind. He’s a character hiding a beautiful secret.” Playing a character described as flawless made him “quite shy” at times, and he often reminded himself to “focus a little harder” in a world unlike his previous work.
Where Was The Remarried Empress Filmed?
The Remarried Empress was filmed in Germany and the Czech Republic, with castles and landscapes standing in for the drama’s two realms.
“As you can imagine, the castles, weather and landscapes were truly spectacular,” Lee Jongsuk said. He noted the contrast between the two kingdoms on screen: “To me, the Eastern Empire is a bright, golden tone, while the Western Kingdom feels like a light and achromatic color.”
Shin Mina said the sets for Navier’s study, bedchamber and corridors were the kind “it’s rare to get to act on,” and that filming there “would become such a wonderful memory for me to look back on.”
For Lee Seyoung, the costumes and Rashta’s princess-style room helped her get into character. Some of her hair ornaments were handmade by the hair and makeup team, the flowers on her dresses were newly made for the production, and the wallpaper and some props in Rashta’s room were brought in from abroad.
“I wanted one lamp so badly that I asked, ‘How much is this?’ and it turned out to be terribly expensive,” she said. “Filming in a space that felt like a dream, I came to understand a little of how Rashta must have felt.”
What Can Viewers Look Forward To in The Remarried Empress?
For fans of the webtoon, Ju Jihoon promises “the pleasure of seeing what they love come to life in front of their eyes.” For newcomers, he points to the costumes, the new world and “most importantly, the story. Love, divorce, entanglement, the struggle for power, all make for a fascinating subject matter.”
Lee Jongsuk singled out his co-stars’ performances. On his first day of filming, Lee Seyoung was “already completely immersed in her character,” he said. “She was so remarkable that I found myself thinking, ‘she’s a genius.'”
Where Can I Watch The Remarried Empress?
The Remarried Empress is available to stream on Disney+ in Singapore. The 10-episode series premiered on 4 November 2026 with four episodes, followed by two new episodes every week:
- 4 November 2026: episodes 1 to 4
- 11 November 2026: episodes 5 and 6
- 18 November 2026: episodes 7 and 8
- 25 November 2026: episodes 9 and 10
For another Disney+ K-drama, check out Gold Land, the crime thriller starring Park Boyoung.
The Remarried Empress: Key Information
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Genre | Fantasy romance |
| Platform | Disney+ |
| Premiere | 4 November 2026 |
| Episodes | 10 |
| Release schedule | 4 episodes on 4 November; 2 episodes each on 11, 18 and 25 November 2026 |
| Cast | Shin Mina, Ju Jihoon, Lee Jongsuk, Lee Seyoung |
| Director | Cho Suwon |
| Writers | Yeoh Geena, Hyun Choongyeol |
| Based on | The Remarried Empress webtoon |
Frequently Asked Questions About The Remarried Empress
What is The Remarried Empress?
The Remarried Empress is a Korean fantasy romance drama about Empress Navier of the Eastern Empire, who is betrayed when her husband, Emperor Sovieshu, brings a runaway slave named Rashta into the palace as his intended concubine.
Is The Remarried Empress Based on a Webtoon?
Yes. The Remarried Empress K-drama is based on the popular webtoon of the same name, which has amassed almost three billion views. The original story was written by Alphatart as a web novel, and the webtoon was illustrated by Sumpul. The live-action series is directed by Cho Suwon.
How Many Episodes Does The Remarried Empress Have?
The Remarried Empress has 10 episodes. It premiered on Disney+ on 4 November 2026 with four episodes, followed by two episodes each on 11, 18 and 25 November 2026, with the finale airing on 25 November.
Who Plays Navier in The Remarried Empress?
Shin Mina plays Empress Navier, the beloved leader of the Eastern Empire, in The Remarried Empress. Shin Mina is known for K-dramas such as Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha and Our Blues, and describes Navier as a caring woman who “never once loses her dignity” despite being repeatedly hurt by Sovieshu.
Where Was The Remarried Empress Filmed?
The Remarried Empress was filmed in Germany and the Czech Republic. According to Lee Jongsuk, the castles and landscapes helped create two visually distinct realms, with the Eastern Empire in bright, golden tones and the Western Kingdom in light, achromatic colours.
Where Can I Watch The Remarried Empress in Singapore?
The Remarried Empress is streaming on Disney+ in Singapore. The first four episodes premiered on 4 November 2026, with two new episodes released every week on 11, 18 and 25 November 2026.
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