As more Korean webnovels and webtoons from the romance-fantasy genre make the leap to live-action, two recent adaptations are taking dramatically different approaches—The Remarried Empress and The First Night With the Duke.
The First Night With the Duke chose to localize its story, reimagining the original Western-style fantasy as a traditional Korean historical drama. Character names and class systems were adapted accordingly, transforming noble titles into familiar Joseon-era equivalents.
In contrast, The Remarried Empress is doubling down on genre authenticity—retaining all character names and European fantasy elements from the original novel. The series is being shot on location in Prague and parts of Germany to capture the grandeur of its aristocratic backdrop.
Romance-fantasy stories are typically set in European aristocracy, with protagonists often being dukes, crown princes, emperors, princesses, or knights, and their names reflect Western nobility. When portrayed by Korean actors, these elements can risk creating a cultural disconnect—especially if not balanced with strong worldbuilding and immersive visuals.
Still, The Remarried Empress is leaning into the challenge. The drama stars Shin Mina as Navier, the poised empress of the Eastern Empire; Ju Ji Hoon as her husband, the cool and calculating Emperor Sovieshu; Lee Jong Suk as Heinrey, the charismatic Western prince; and Lee Se Young as Rashta, the ambitious former slave who seeks the throne.
This marks the first major attempt by a Korean production to fully preserve a Western-style fantasy setting—costumes, names, social structure, and all—while casting Korean actors in lead roles.
Industry insiders are watching closely. “If this lands with viewers, it could open the door to a new wave of globally oriented K-dramas,” one insider noted.
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