Shin Min-a has expressed her curiosity about the romance fantasy series 'The Remarried Empress,' set against a backdrop that combines Eastern and Western elements. She also noted similarities between her character as an empress and her own life as a public figure.
On the 13th, The Walt Disney Company Asia-Pacific (APAC) held the 'Disney+ Original Preview 2025' at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel. This event showcased upcoming APAC and global original content set to be released on Disney+. The lineup included APAC originals from countries like Korea and Japan, as well as general entertainment content, with top stars and creative partners in attendance.
Among the new Korean content introduced was 'The Remarried Empress.' The series follows the perfect empress of the Eastern Empire, Navier (played by Shin Min-a), who is informed of her divorce by Emperor Sovieshu (played by Ju Ji-hoon) after he falls for a runaway slave, Rashta (played by Lee Se-young). Navier then seeks permission to remarry Prince Heinley (played by Lee Jong-suk) of the Western Kingdom, leading to a captivating romance fantasy.
Shin Min-a, who plays Empress Navier, shared her thoughts on joining the project, which is based on a popular webtoon. She stated, "I know the webtoon received a lot of love and many people were looking forward to its adaptation into a drama. I was curious about how it would be transformed into a series and really wanted to be a part of it."
Discussing the similarities with her character, Shin Min-a said, "Navier has been in a constant state of tension to maintain her position as empress for years, always learning and striving. As an actress in the public eye, I also find myself constantly learning and being mindful, which is similar." She added, "Navier's journey to find her love and identity is another aspect I found relatable."
This is Shin Min-a's first time working on a palace-themed project. She admitted, "I've done fusion historical dramas before, but mostly modern dramas, so I was a bit worried and nervous, yet also excited." She continued, "Our drama is a new attempt at romance fantasy. It's a story set in a palace somewhere between the East and the West. It felt unfamiliar at first." Despite this, she found the experience enjoyable, saying, "Other actors mentioned feeling different when playing high-status roles, and as I wore the dresses and crowns, I felt the weight and adjusted my posture and demeanor accordingly. The atmosphere wasn't bad. It was fun." In contrast, Ju Ji-hoon, who debuted as a crown prince in the drama 'Goong,' humorously remarked, "I debuted as a crown prince, so I'm used to it," eliciting laughter.
Hong Kong - Reporter Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr