Meet the cast and characters of ‘The Remarried Empress’, the new Disney+ romance fantasy K-drama

Some of Korean television’s most recognisable faces make up the cast of The Remarried Empress. Shin Min-a, last seen in Netflix’s Karma and tvN’s No Gain No Love and best known for rom-coms such as Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, Oh My Venus! and My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho, takes on the titular role of Navier, an empress whose composure is tested by her husband’s infidelity. Lee Jong-suk, whose credits include While You Were Sleeping, Pinocchio, W: Two Worlds Apart, Romance Is a Bonus Book and Big Mouth, plays Prince Heinrey, the Western Kingdom’s heir and Navier’s prospective second husband.

Meanwhile, Ju Ji-hoon adds another royal to his screen résumé as Emperor Sovieshu, having previously played the Crown Prince in Netflix’s Kingdom and starred in the K-drama Princess Hours. Lee Se-young, who portrays Sovieshu’s mistress Rashta, has also spent time as a royal on screen, with notable performances in The Red Sleeve and The Crowned Clown.

Together, the four leads anchor a tale in which matters of the heart are rarely separate from matters of state. When Sovieshu seeks to replace Navier with Rashta, the empress forms an alliance with Heinrey, turning a divorce into a move that could shift the balance of power between an empire and a kingdom.

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Shin Min-a as Empress Navier

Navier, the empress of the Eastern Empire, commands the respect of her subjects. She and her husband, Emperor Sovieshu, grew up side by side. Promised in marriage as children, their union may be a political one, but it is not without affection.

She remains dignified, even when Sovieshu breaks his promise to never take a concubine. She gives in to her heartache only in private, where her sole company is a surprisingly sympathetic bird whose visits bring her great comfort. But beneath her unflappable composure lies a sharp tongue that is more than capable of delivering a cutting retort. And when the Western Kingdom’s prince, Heinrey, offers her an unexpected way out of her predicament, Navier begins to see a chance at a passionate romance too.

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Ju Ji-hoon as Emperor Sovieshu

Emperor Sovieshu and Navier were betrothed from a young age. As husband and wife, they have spent years ruling the empire, but have yet to produce an heir—a lingering source of tension in their marriage. Despite that, Sovieshu seems to be an attentive husband, until he encounters Rashta while out hunting.

Enamoured with the runaway slave, he breaks the vow he made to Navier. As Rashta becomes the focus of his affections, Sovieshu grows increasingly dismissive of the wife who has stood beside him for years. The affair repeatedly exposes the empress to humiliation, revealing a petulant, callous and even mean-spirited side to the emperor.

It is not long before Sovieshu demands a divorce. To his shock, not only does Navier agree, she reveals her plans to marry Prince Heinrey of the Western Kingdom. 

Lee Jong-suk as Prince Heinrey

Prince Heinrey is next in line to the throne of the Western Kingdom. He has a reputation as a playboy and is renowned for his good looks. He first encounters Navier in his shapeshifting form as a messenger bird. Concealing his identity behind his avian guise, he catches glimpses of her more vulnerable moments, allowing an unexpected connection to develop between them.

When they first meet in court, Navier does not yet know that Heinrey is actually the feathered friend who has been visiting her regularly with correspondence from Heinrey himself. He presents himself as playful and boyish, but he is also a sensitive soul who develops a soft spot for the empress.

When Sovieshu chooses to dance with Rashta instead of his wife during the New Year’s Ceremony ball, Heinrey gallantly comes to Navier’s rescue, earning her gratitude and winning her over with his charm.

Lee Se-young as Rashta

Rashta is a slave whom Emperor Sovieshu stumbles across during a hunting expedition. Captivated by her beauty, he brings her back to the imperial palace. It does not take long before he declares her his mistress.

Rashta appears sweet and obliging, but behind her smiles is a master manipulator who has the emperor wrapped around her little finger. Jealous and insecure, she is constantly scheming to upstage Navier and take her place beside Sovieshu. Her arrival in court not only fractures the empress and emperor’s marriage but also throws the empire into chaos.

In an effort to secure her place among the nobility, Rashta is adopted by Lady Albani, the wife of Sovieshu’s disgraced uncle. The arrangement also makes Rashta a pawn in the political machinations of a family eager to regain its influence within the imperial palace.

Lee Bong-ryun as Countess Eliza

Countess Eliza is Empress Navier’s devoted head lady-in-waiting. Sharp and no-nonsense, she misses very little. A dependable source of support and a close confidante, she offers Navier the kind of steady counsel she needs as her marriage to Sovieshu becomes increasingly strained. Unlike the empress’s younger ladies-in-waiting, Eliza brings maturity and experience to her position, making her a reassuring presence amid the turmoil at court.

Choi Dae-hoon as McKenna

McKenna is Prince Heinrey’s cousin and right-hand man. As his secretary, he is responsible not only for attending to the heir’s official duties but also for keeping his cousin out of trouble, no small task given the prince’s penchant for mischief. And, like Heinrey, McKenna can shapeshift into a bird.

Jung Young-joo as Lady Albani

With her family stripped of its former privileges and influence at court, Lady Albani is keen to restore their standing in the palace. When Rashta, a former slave and commoner, needs to be legitimised as a member of the nobility, Albani is quick to offer her name and protection. But there is little altruism behind the gesture. By taking the emperor’s mistress under her wing, she hopes to turn Rashta’s growing favour with Sovieshu into political currency for her own family.

Nam Yoon-ho as Baron Lante

If Navier has Countess Eliza, Sovieshu has Baron Lante. As the emperor’s trusted advisor, he serves as a voice of reason, often reminding Sovieshu of his responsibilities as husband and ruler, particularly when it comes to Rashta. Nevertheless, his loyalty to the emperor is unwavering, and he is duty-bound to serve his sovereign even when he has misgivings about the latter’s decisions.

With Shin Min-a, Lee Jong-suk, Ju Ji-hoon and Lee Se-young leading the cast, The Remarried Empress brings together a compelling mix of romance, royal intrigue and power struggles. Whether it is Navier’s calculated response to betrayal, Heinrey’s growing affection for the empress or Rashta’s ambitions at court, the drama gives its characters plenty to contend with beyond matters of the heart.

Navier may have lost a husband, but she has no intention of losing her crown. And if Sovieshu thought she would quietly accept his decision, he may soon discover just how badly he has misjudged his empress.

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