[Dispatch | Busan=Reporter Jung Tae-yun] It was certainly a setting far removed from the familiar grammar of Korean dramas. There were concerns it could end up being an awkward fantasy.

But once the lid was opened, the impression changed. There were clear traces of effort in implementing an unfamiliar world. Costumes, spaces, and music were all carefully built up to create a single world.

The unfamiliarity remained, but that strangeness itself came across as part of a new attempt. It offered viewers familiar with the source material a fresh interpretation, and those encountering it for the first time another dramatic experience.

Disney+ 'Remarriage Empress' was invited to the On Screen section of the 31st Busan International Film Festival. It was shown to audiences episodes 1-3 first at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan.

The on-site response was heated. GV tickets sold out, and as questions began, hands went up throughout the hall. Curiosity and expectations about the work carried over into the energy of the audience.

Actors Shin Min-a, Joo Ji-hun, Lee Jong-suk, Lee Se-young, and Director Jo Su-won held a GV and met with the audience after the screening on the 10th. The deliberations of the actors and production team regarding the work could be confirmed.

'Remarriage Empress' is based on a Naver web novel and webtoon. Korean actors brought the Western-style imperial world to life as a live-action drama.

Navier, the perfect empress of the Eastern Empire (played by Shin Min-a), is notified of divorce by Emperor Sovieshu (played by Joo Ji-hun), who has fallen for Rastha (played by Lee Se-young), a runaway slave.

The story unfolds as Navier accepts this but demands approval for remarriage with Prince Heinley (played by Lee Jong-suk) of the Western Kingdom.

Shin Min-a said, "I read the script before the source novel. At first, it was unfamiliar. While it contained elements of familiar stories, the world, names, and costumes surrounding it were strange."

To enter the unfamiliar world, the team discussed costumes and character direction extensively. It felt awkward before the first shoot, but once filming began, it became familiar quickly.

Deciding what kind of character Navier should be was also a task. Shin Min-a said, "What I considered important in adapting many episodes from the source into a 10-episode series was one woman's choice."

Shin Min-a focused on portraying Navier as an empress who loves her people and citizens, and as a person who must decide her own life.

She said, "Four characters move with clear goals. Within that, I thought Navier should be a realistic person with her feet on the ground so that viewers could follow her emotions to the end."

"As a woman choosing a new love, I hoped viewers would follow Navier's heart." (Shin Min-a)

Joo Ji-hun took on the role of Emperor Sovieshu. "I was actually taken aback when I received the offer," he said, adding "Sovieshu is trash who creates a mistress while having an empress. Rather than overthinking, I gave the character his own justification."

He said, "I accepted that such things can happen in life. I promised the empress I wouldn't take a mistress, but shouldn't the imperial family continue the bloodline and uphold the empire? I found my own justification that way."

What he was most careful about was ensuring Sovieshu didn't come across as simply a despicable character. Beyond the genre prejudice of fantasy, he had to convince audiences why a person shouldering the palace and royal family would make such choices.

Joo Ji-hun said, "Especially in the relationship with Rastha, I carefully coordinated with Se-young so that the process of rapidly changing emotions would be convincing to the audience."

Lee Se-young also focused on understanding how the character survives. He made an effort to understand Rastha's heart, which had to be fierce to survive in the palace.

He explained, "It's a character with a different resolve from me in everyday life. Rather than making quick judgments or thinking I understood, I listened to various opinions and tried different approaches. Unexpectedly, that work was fun."

Lee Jong-suk was already familiar with the source material. He also had a history of working with Director Jo Su-won on another project. Knowing there would be difficulties in adapting the source to live-action, he felt interested as a viewer who loves dramas.

He said, "I wondered when I'd get to play a prince role. Above all, I wanted to be part of it because actor Joo Ji-hun is playing Sovieshu."

Heinley is a character where casual composure is important. Lee Jong-suk made an effort to naturally create that atmosphere on set.

He added, "When working with actor Choi Dae-hoon, who plays McKenna, Heinley's secretary aide, I tried to be playful and lighten the mood."

The preparation process was busier than expected. Lee Jong-suk said, "The director said no special preparation was needed, but I had to learn horseback riding and waltz. In particular, it was important how to portray the new 'Queen' with Navier."

He continued, "I deliberated over the Queen's movements with the CG team. They created movements that brought out my characteristics, so it turned out well. At this screening, the Queen got the best response," he laughed.

For Shin Min-a too, acting with the Queen was not easy. She had to film scenes of interaction without knowing how the Queen's CG would be rendered. On set, she had to act opposite a blue model bird.

Shin Min-a said, "I had to express emotion toward empty space, feel sadness or love," adding "At first, it lacked realism and felt awkward."

But as she followed the flow of the story, she gradually grew attached. She said, "Later, I became more immersed and even spoke to the model bird and greeted it. You'll be able to see that in behind-the-scenes footage."

Director Jo Su-won also found the process of implementing the world not easy. He said, "There was a lot of difficulty in deciding how much the director should be involved in the completion, and in implementing the world in terms of art and space," but added "Thanks to the courage to try and the actors who joined me, we were able to start off wonderfully."

Finally, Shin Min-a said, "There's still a month left before release, and I'm grateful you came all the way to Busan to show interest. It's a work we deliberated over and worked hard on, so I ask for your support."

'Remarriage Empress' will be released on Disney+ on the 4th of next month. A total of 10 episodes.

<Photo source=Disney+>