
'The Remarried Empress' to be turned into series
One of Naver Webtoon's greatest hits to be made into K-drama starring Shin Min-a, Ju Ji-hoon and Lee Jong-suk
'The Remarried Empress,' one of Naver Webtoon's most popular series, will be adapted into a series, starring Hallyu sensations Shin Min-a and Ju Ji-hoon.
The story of web novel and webtoon 'The Remarried Empress' is a romance fantasy epic which follows Empress Navier of the Eastern Empire. After being informed of a divorce by her husband, Emperor Sovieshu, Navier accepts the divorce on the condition that she be allowed to remarry Prince Heinrey of the Western Kingdom.
Since its web novel debut in 2018, the story has enjoyed widespread popularity, being adapted into a webtoon series in 2019 and enjoying global success with the series translated into 10 languages including French, English, Japanese and German. The webtoon series has logged 2.6 billion cumulative views, as of December 2024.
Shin has been cast as Empress Navier, while Ju is to play Emperor Sovieshu, whose marriage with Empress Navier falls apart after he finds new romance with Rashta -- a former runaway slave who aims to take the place of the empress. Lee Jong-suk will play Prince Heinrey, Empress Navier's new potential love interest, while Lee Se-young will play Rashta.
The series will be directed by Cho Soo-won, who has previously helmed hit Korean dramas such as 'I Can Hear Your Voice' and 'Pinocchio." It will be written by Yeo Ji-na and Hyun Choong-yeol, the scriptwriters of 'The Uncanny Counter.' The series is produced by Studio N, which has created hit K-dramas such as 'The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call' and 'Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born.'
The release date and platform for 'The Remarried Empress' has yet to be decided, according to Studio N.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Korea Herald
12 hours ago
- Korea Herald
UNESCO can multiply Korea's Hallyu model, Egypt's heritage, says director-general candidate
UNESCO has the potential to amplify cultural legacies of both Korea and Egypt, leveraging them as models of soft power and global cultural engagement, according to Khaled El-Enany, Egypt's former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities and a candidate for UNESCO director-general for the 2025–2029 term. 'The model developed by the Republic of Korea is remarkable, and I want to acknowledge its success,' El-Enany said in an interview with The Korea Herald during his visit to Seoul. 'Hallyu is not just a pop culture wave — it's a long-term cultural strategy, rooted in strong content, modern platforms and the ability to speak to diverse audiences across the world,' he said, praising Korea's global cultural strategy. He cited Hallyu as a "well-defined form of soft power" that many countries observe "closely and with respect.' He also underlined Egypt's global cultural resonance, citing ancient Egypt's influence in museums, entertainment and literature worldwide. 'Ancient Egypt is a global reference point — an enduring source of fascination that transcends borders and generations,' El-Enany said. He stressed that if elected, he would work to turn UNESCO into a platform for genuine, two-way cultural exchange. 'I do not believe in one-way cultural exports,' he said. 'I believe in structured, lasting, mutually enriching exchanges.' El-Enany highlighted Egypt and Korea's efforts to promote intercultural dialogue through UNESCO initiatives such as the Silk Roads project and commended Korea's leadership in digital heritage preservation, such as the Digital Homecoming Project and academic collaborations. He cited Korea's support as a strong example of long-term cultural strategy. According to El-Enany, cultural diplomacy begins with a willingness to listen, translate and share. Expressing admiration for Korea's financial and institutional contributions to UNESCO, El-Enany underscored Seoul's recent pledge of 5 billion won ($3.65 million) to support UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund. 'This represents a powerful gesture of solidarity. … It is exactly the kind of initiative that shows how Member States can act with vision and generosity to serve the common good,' he said. El-Enany said that if elected, he would deepen cooperation not only with Korea and Egypt but with all UNESCO Member States. 'UNESCO must remain a place of connection, creativity and shared global purpose,' he said. 'And in that sense, the relationship between Korea and Egypt can serve as a model.' sanjaykumar@


Korea Herald
17 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Megahit webtoon 'Remarried Empress' to be turned into Disney+ original
Highly anticipated series to premiere on the streaming platform in 2026 Disney+ is set to adapt the smash-hit webtoon "Remarried Empress" into a live-action drama series, exclusively premiering on the platform next year. Based on the globally beloved web novel-turned-webtoon, "Remarried Empress" is a romance fantasy centered on Empress Navier of the Eastern Empire. When her husband, Emperor Sovieshu, demands a divorce, Navier agrees, on the condition that she be allowed to remarry Prince Heinrey of the Western Kingdom. Since its launch in 2019, the webtoon has garnered massive international popularity, translated into 10 languages including English, French, Japanese and German. The webtoon series racked up more than 2.6 billion cumulative views as of the end of 2024. Shin Min-a, known for hit dramas "Karma" and "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha," will lead the Disney+ original as Empress Navier. Ju Ji-hoon takes on the role of Emperor Sovieshu, whose betrayal of Rashta, a former runaway slave, sets the story in motion. Lee Se-young will portray Rashta, while Lee Jong-suk joins the cast as Prince Heinrey, Navier's new love interest. The series will be directed by Jo Soo-won, known for popular dramas including "I Can Hear Your Voice." The script is written by Yeo Ji-na and Hyun Choong-yeol, the screenwriting duo behind "The Uncanny Counter."


Korea Herald
19 hours ago
- Korea Herald
K-pop in pixels: Collaborations between K-pop and games grow
Gaming industries' desire to be included in the cultural landscape and K-pop's narrative appeal drive ongoing collaborations From blockbuster franchises to chart-topping idols, gaming and K-pop are increasingly joining forces, as the two converge in a bid to tap into the country's most lucrative entertainment sectors and elevate gaming as a legitimate cultural force. On June 13, Japanese video game company Capcom teased fans with an image titled 'aespa X Street Fighter 6,' shared across the official Street Fighter and Capcom channels. While no additional details were released, the announcement follows online leaks and speculation. The hint emerged through an in-game discovery, where fans spotted an outfit featuring aespa's logo. Although Capcom quickly patched the item out, the official reveal signals that more details are on their way. Meanwhile, Epic Games is teaming up with Hybe for a new Fortnite collaboration. As of June 11, the battle royale's in-game soundtrack includes tracks by Hybe artists, including BTS members Jungkook and Jimin, as well as Enhypen and illit. Players can remix or perform the songs within the game. Epic Games further announced that starting Saturday, the Son Heung-min bundle will drop in Fortnite, allowing players to channel the Premier League star's signature goal celebration pose with themed emotes and gear. Popular American video game developer Blizzard has also been delving deeper into the world of K-pop. In March, Overwatch 2 launched its second collaboration with Le Sserafim, introducing new character skins and a livestream event with the group. The partnership builds on a successful 2023 team-up, which included a custom game mode and skins inspired by the group's hit track 'Antifragile.' Le Sserafim also became the first K-pop act to perform at 2023 BlizzCon, an annual gaming convention held by Blizzard, taking to the stage with their English-language single 'Perfect Night." The hit track, which was produced in collaboration with Overwatch 2, has logged more than 125 million views on YouTube as of Friday. Korean video game publisher Krafton jumped on the bandwagon in March, partnering with YG's girl group Babymonster to mark the 7th anniversary of Battlegrounds Mobile. The limited-time crossover featured themed rewards, emotes choreographed to their single 'Drip' and immersive content such as in-game photo zones. Players could also listen to Babymonster's music while battling on maps like Erangel and Rondo. The growing number of K-pop and gaming crossovers reflects a mutual strategy. For games companies, it's a way to broaden their reach beyond traditional players and lure in a new demographic. Pop culture critics add that gaming companies can also look to shed their subculture image through such collaborations. 'While games have undoubtedly become part of modern culture, public perception still lags behind. Collaborating with mainstream cultural forces such as K-pop allows games to naturally embed themselves into the cultural fabric," said pop culture critic Jung Duk-hyun. For the K-pop industry, the narrative-building potential is a major draw, Jung explained. 'Idol groups have their own lore and well-developed characters, just like video games. That makes crossovers rich with storytelling possibilities.' Financial incentives also loom large. 'People often assume other content sectors are more profitable, but gaming eclipses them all (in Korea),' Jung said. 'For the K-pop side, if there's a way to bring gamers into the fan ecosystem, there's no reason not to pursue it.'