Cover Disney Plus’ ‘The Remarried Empress’ is drawing attention for its star-studded cast, featuring Ju Ji Hoon, Shin Min Ah, Lee Jong Suk and Lee Se Young (photo: Disney Plus)
Disney Plus’ ‘The Remarried Empress’ is drawing attention for its star-studded cast, featuring Ju Ji Hoon, Shin Min Ah, Lee Jong Suk and Lee Se Young (photo: Disney Plus)
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The global community of Korean film enthusiasts was recently abuzz with news that production has officially begun on ‘The Remarried Empress’, a highly anticipated series headlined by Ju Ji Hoon, Shin Min Ah, Lee Jong Suk and Lee Se Young.
The Remarried Empress is based on the popular webtoon of the same name. Since its debut in 2020, the original story has captured widespread attention, amassing over 2.6 billion views in Korea alone. Recognising its potential, Disney Plus acquired the adaptation rights, assembling a high-profile cast and an accomplished production team for the project.
The series follows Navier (Shin Min Ah), an empress cast aside by her husband, Emperor Sovieshu (Ju Ji Hoon). She later remarries Prince Heinrey (Lee Jong Suk), while Rashta (Lee Se Young), a former slave determined to change her destiny, finds herself unexpectedly rising to the position of the emperor’s concubine. Praised for its portrayal of women navigating a patriarchal society, the story weaves together themes of political intrigue, love, and betrayal, adding depth and drama to its richly imagined world.
‘The Remarried Empress’: A chance for Disney Plus to gain ground in Korea’s streaming market
Alongside the formidable lead cast, the adaptation is directed by Cho Su Won, known for hits such as I Can Hear Your Voice, Pinocchio, Still 17, and Doctor John. The screenplay is penned by Yeo Ji Na and Hyun Chung Yeol, the writing duo behind the first season of Netflix’s The Uncanny Counter.
With its royal court setting (though it remains to be seen whether the European-inspired aesthetic will be retained) and a proven creative team, it is evident that Disney Plus is making a serious push to compete in the Korean market. The move signals a strategic effort to enhance its content quality and rival Netflix, which has built significant momentum in the region in recent years.
According to a report by Omdia published in May 2025, Netflix currently dominates Korea’s streaming landscape, holding 31 per cent of the market. Trailing behind are domestic platforms TVING (16 per cent), Coupang Play (13 per cent), Wavve (11per cent), and YouTube Premium (10 per cent). Despite being lauded for a number of well-produced titles, Disney Plus presently accounts for just 7per cent of the market, lagging behind its local counterparts and still well behind Netflix.
Since 2016, Netflix has invested heavily in producing original Korean content to broaden its appeal. Its catalogue now boasts a series of global hits such as Squid Game, Kingdom, Vagabond, Crash Landing on You, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, Sweet Home and The Call. These successes have not only elevated the international profile of Korean drama but also solidified Netflix’s foothold in the country. Beyond scripted drama, the platform has also seen success in other formats, including reality TV (Culinary Class Wars, Single’s Inferno) and animation (Lost in Starlight, Lookism).
By contrast, Disney Plus entered the Korean market at a later stage, by which time Netflix had already established a strong presence. Its first notable success came at the end of 2021 with Snowdrop, a period romance starring Ji Soo (BlackPink) and Jung Hae In. In 2023, the release of Moving, featuring celebrated names such as Jo In Sung, Han Hyo Joo, Cha Tae Hyun and Go Yoon Jung, achieved international acclaim and earned numerous accolades, marking a significant milestone for the platform.
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In recent years, Disney Plus has continued to produce and broadcast a range of Korean dramas featuring distinctive storylines and well-known actors, in an effort to attract viewers and expand its market presence. However, despite critical praise for their quality, titles such as Light Shop (Ju Ji Hoon, Park Bo Young), Blood Free (Ju Ji Hoon, Han Hyo Joo), A Shop For Killers (Lee Dong Wook, Kim Hye Jun) and Our Movie (Nam Goong Min, Jeon Yeo Bin) have struggled to significantly boost the platform’s share in the Korean market.
More recently, Nine Puzzles, a detective thriller starring Kim Da Mi and Son Suk Gu, quickly gained traction across Asia and Europe, helping Disney Plus attract a broader audience. Looking ahead, alongside The Remarried Empress, the platform is also developing several promising projects, including Tempest (Jun Ji Hyun, Kang Dong Won), Low Life (Yang Se Jong, Ryu Seung Ryong), Delusion (Bae Suzy, Kim Seon Ho) and The Murky Stream (Ro Woon, Shin Ye Eun).
‘The Remarried Empress’: Disney Plus’ opportunity and the risks it must navigate
The Remarried Empress enters the scene with notable advantages, including a devoted fan base from the original webtoon and the presence of four widely admired leads: Ju Ji Hoon, Shin Min Ah, Lee Jong Suk and Lee Se Young. All are acclaimed actors with strong portfolios and proven on-screen charisma.
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Still, the adaptation faces certain risks that could temper its success. One key challenge lies in the setting. The original story unfolds in a European-style royal court, so retaining this backdrop may seem visually incongruous with an all-Asian cast, while altering the setting to modern-day Korea or the Joseon era could alienate loyal readers who are attached to the original context.
Costume design also emerges as a delicate issue. Regardless of whether the setting is preserved or altered, the challenge lies in creating costumes that reflect the original aesthetic while complementing the actors. At present, Disney Plus has yet to release visuals or official images, making it difficult to assess how these elements are being approached.
Another consideration is the platform’s limited reach. While Netflix enjoys widespread availability, Disney Plus remains absent from several regions, including Vietnam. This lack of global presence may limit access for certain audience segments, particularly those eager for high-quality, licensed content but unable to view it legally in their country.
Nonetheless, The Remarried Empress carries the potential to become a television sensation. If the series can harness the strengths of its talented and photogenic lead cast, while drawing effectively on the compelling source material, it may well emerge as a cultural moment, further elevating the international stature of Korean drama and helping Disney Plus establish a firmer footing in the domestic market.
