Ju Ji Hoon stars as Emperor Sovieshu in the Disney+ Original Series The Remarried Empress, a character that sparked widespread discussion after early footage was unveiled at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). Attending the production press conference on November 3, he shared his thoughts on interpreting the role and jokingly admitted that he had long been mentally prepared to receive backlash from viewers.
Speaking about his first encounter with the original work, Ju Ji Hoon candidly revealed that it was a fairly unfamiliar genre for him. He hesitated for quite some time at first until trusted colleagues recommended it, leading him to take on the challenge. Using a playful food metaphor, he explained, “If you’re usually used to drinking traditional clear soup, and someone suddenly hands you a thick soup, it’s bound to feel a bit unfamiliar, right?” He added with a smile that he is still gradually analyzing it, noting that preconceived notions might have been why his initial acceptance wasn’t as high.
As for how he portrayed Sovieshu, Ju Ji Hoon explained that thinking from the character’s perspective helped him understand the reasoning behind his actions. For instance, wanting an heir—though seemingly unlikable on the surface—came from Sovieshu’s own imperial considerations. However, since the story unfolds primarily through Navier’s perspective, he also made sure his performance did not stray from the production’s original direction.
Regarding the strong reactions viewers had to Sovieshu after the early preview footage, Ju Ji Hoon humorously remarked, “Times are tough lately, the weather is getting cold, and everyone is working hard to get by. If my performance allows viewers to point fingers at me, vent their anger, and feel refreshed after watching, then as an actor, I am completely satisfied!” He added with a laugh that as the plot progresses, the upcoming developments will prove even more gratifying for the audience.
Ju Ji Hoon also noted that having been in the industry for over 20 years and reading hundreds of thousands of online comments, he is fully prepared mentally. He shared that as long as everyone enjoys the show, viewers can curse at his character all they want, eliciting bursts of laughter from the crowd with his humorous attitude.
Adapted from the popular web novel of the same name, The Remarried Empress follows Empress Navier (played by Shin Min Ah) of the Eastern Empire. After being served divorce papers by Emperor Sovieshu (Ju Ji Hoon), who fell for escaped slave Rashta (Lee Se Young), Navier accepts the divorce on the condition that her remarriage to Prince Heinrey (Lee Jong Suk) of the Western Kingdom be approved. The 10-episode series was released early on November 3, with two new episodes dropping every Wednesday.
