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Ju Ji-hoon almost never ended up playing Emperor Sovieshu in « The Remarried Empress » («The Empress's Second Marriage» in France). With less than a month to go before the drama's release on Disney+, the actor revealed that he had turned down the project several times, in part because he had trouble understanding the world of this fantasy romance.
It was during a Q&A session held on October 9 at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF 2026) that Ju Ji-hoon talked about what went on behind the scenes during his casting.
And his comments show just how much his perspective on the drama has evolved between the initial proposal and reading the script with the other actors.
«At first, I turned down *The Remarried Empress* two or three times.“
As a guest on the «Actors House» program, organized as part of the Busan International Film Festival, Ju Ji-hoon spoke candidly about his initial hesitations regarding “The Remarried Empress.”.
«Actually, at first, I turned down *The Remarried Empress* two or three times.“ The reason? The actor didn’t feel comfortable enough with the conventions and the world of the story. ”I didn’t think I had a deep enough understanding of that world.»
Adapted from a romantic fantasy novel, the drama is set in a fictional empire with its own rules, political intrigues, and characters with unusual names.
It wasn't immediately obvious to Ju Ji-hoon that this was a role he should take on. But someone with whom he had worked several times before—and who trusted him—kept trying to convince him. She even went so far as to write him a letter.
That gesture eventually piqued his curiosity. «I then asked myself, “What is it about this work that makes the public appreciate it so much?”»
The actor finally agreed to take a closer look at the project. However, his difficulties did not immediately disappear.
A difficult first reading, until a moment of inspiration sparked by the theater
Ju Ji-hoon explained that the first script reading with the cast and crew had also been unsettling.
«I had a little trouble during the first read-through. It’s an imaginary world, but when you film it with live-action shots, you inevitably try to make the situations feel familiar.»
He also humorously mentioned the disconnect between the Korean actors« appearances and the characters» names. “And then, we’re Asian, but the characters have names like Sovieshu…” Yet it was during that very same read-through that he found a way to approach his role.
Rather than trying to portray this fantastical world in a strictly realistic tone, he decided to draw inspiration from the conventions of theater and musicals. «I figured it would be easier to approach it as a musical rather than in a realistic tone.»
According to him, audiences naturally accept the specific conventions of a play or musical. This realization helped him overcome his own reservations. «By approaching it this way, the barriers I had built up in my own mind came crashing down.»
A shift in perspective that ultimately allowed her to find her place in the world of «The Remarried Empress.».
In the drama, Ju Ji-hoon plays Sovieshu, the emperor of the powerful Eastern Empire. Married to Navier (Shin Min-ah), an empress renowned for her perfection, he falls in love with Rashta (Lee Se-young), a former slave on the run, and tells his wife that he intends to divorce her.
But Navier refuses to simply fade from the political scene. She agrees to the separation on one unexpected condition: that she be allowed to remarry Heinrey (Lee Jong-suk), prince of the Western Kingdom. This decision sets off a series of emotional and political upheavals.
From «Kingdom» to «The Trauma Code»: Ju Ji-hoon Also Talks About His Other Projects
During that same event, Ju Ji-hoon also shared a surprising anecdote about «Kingdom.».
When he agreed to join the series in 2019, he knew virtually nothing about Netflix. «Back then, I didn’t even know what Netflix was.» The actor revealed that he accepted a fee lower than his usual rate, at a time when, as he recalls, the platform had about 100,000 subscribers in South Korea. He was primarily drawn in by the story, director Kim Sung-hoon’s reputation, and Ha Jung-woo’s encouragement. He didn’t expect the series to be such a hit.
Ju Ji-hoon has finally shared an update on his schedule: he has finished filming « Buy King »about ten days ago and plans to start filming Season 2 of «" The Trauma Code ".
The actor has a busy schedule ahead, and he’ll first return to the screen in the role of Sovieshu. «The Remarried Empress» will be available on Disney+ starting November 4, 2026.
Presented in the On Screen section of the Busan International Film Festival, «The Remarried Empress» will have its festival premiere on October 9, prior to its release on the streaming platform.
