Lee Se Young Takes on the Female Antagonist Role in the K-drama Adaptation of Remarried Empress Joining Shin Mina, Lee Jong Seok, and Joo Ji Hoon
The casting for this K-drama has turned into one of the wildest (and most intriguing) in recent years and this final piece in the foursome of leads is the cherry on top. K-actress Lee Se Young has joined the upcoming adaptation of manhwa Remarried Empress as the second female lead/antagonist Rashta. As a former child actress turned leading lady, this is an almost fall off the chair casting of her as the universally loathed green tea bitch of all green tea bitch characters I’ve read in recent memory, and goodness she’s going to be nauseatingly good as Trashta opposite Joo Ji Hoon as the second male lead Sovieshu. For two super successful lead stars to join as the second leads is almost unheard of, and makes the casting of Shin Mina as female lead Navier and Lee Jong Seok as male lead Heinrey even more primed to have sparks fly onscreen. Joo Ji Hoon has never played a second male lead in his career as he debuted with Goong (Princess Hours) as Shin and Lee Se Young went from child actress to female lead almost direct expect for once she played the bitchy second female lead antagonist in Lovers of Music which coincidentally is when I took notice of her. Much as I hate seeing her play a hateful character she’s going to make Trashta sooooooo much more puncheable onscreen to watch.
Total booring manhwa I have read till now ,expectation is zero. Talent cast but totally waste . don’t know what interesting thing they have seen.only good thing is main female character is good and not typical poor female manhwa .I can predict before hand that this project budget will be high and success will average.if director is doing changes in story of manhwa then my opinion will be different.
I hate the manhwa too, won’t be watching this
Totally agree. Not a fan of the manhwa. Its a total mess for me.
Though I’d probably watch only for Juji-satto moments. I am expecting them to sizzle and be just amazing with no holds bar as they turn dark…
I feel the same way.
I was about to say she has played mean girl and jerks before so I think she would do well. I doubt they will adapt the manhwa verbatim though. I can totally see them altering the world and place of story. They did this with the bride of the water god and barely hit the mark on that interpretation. Guess we will see when the time comes.
To make such big actors to play second leads, especially villains, especially from isekai manhwa, very surprising. I think they rewrote their characters to make them more significant. Not second main leads, but main leads as well in assembly drama.
I didn’t read that manhwa though, only description of the Lee Se Young’s character on wiki, she is pretty interesting. Has big story and a lot of depth and layers to portrait.
So I read more about webtoon (SPOILERS ABOVE):
Ugh, it’s not two couples, it’s love triangle between LJS, SMA and JJH, and LSY character is a sidekick interest. Like female lead is a good harmless one, while second female lead is a typical evil one, thirsty for attention of a man who doesn’t love her back. And her whole purpose to be evil is to help to shine female lead more.
I saw many examples of such stories, and I’m not a fond of them. I thought JJH and LSY are villains or misunderstood anti-heroes and they’re a real couple, but of course not.
LSY character still looks the most interesting one, her traumatic past and complex relationship with a kids. But for the drama itself my interest drop down.
I think it would be more interesting to switch the leads with the second leads. But then, the second lead characters are more interesting and challenging to play. Joo Ji Hoon and Lee Se Young might steal the thunder of Lee Jeong Seok and Shin Mina. Somehow good characters can be a bit boring to watch, they can come across as bland.
This is getting interesting. JJH is arguably has a higher star and acting reputation than LJS though both are top A-list. I really wonder why JJH chose this role as his next project. This makes me think the character and even maybe the script is that good for him to agree to this.
Also, I reallyyy like the cast. Hoping for this drama to not disappoint and waste such a strong cast
JJH hasn’t on just yet so I’m not convinced he’ll do it.
I am no JJH fan and find his brand of acting not my style but I don’t think anyone can argue that in 2025, LJS has higher star power than him. JJH is coming off a huge huge hit in Trauma Code and has had a few popular and big dramas in recent years. LJS is basically a non entity and was never a ratings draw. If JJH and LSY signs up, they’ll be 2nd leads in name only because I think it’s almost guaranteed they’ll be stealing the show.
Actually nothing has been confirmed as yet for the casting of the four actors (but it seems Shin Minah and Lee Jongseok are positively considering as it’s reported their agencies are in negotiations with the production team).
The consideration of Ju Jihoon and Lee Seyoung is definitely weird because they are both doing well with their careers. It seems more like a marketing tactic by the production team to garner more interest to the drama. I’d prefer to see Lee Seyoung in a meatier antagonistic role, like Park Eun-bin’s character Se-ok in the upcoming drama Hyper Knife. I was thinking actress Han Su-a who has recently been in critically-acclaimed Doubt would be befitting for Rashta appearance and acting-wise. I re-watched clips of Shin Sung-rok in The Last Empress and he would make a perfect Sovieschu, making him goofier and more lovable(?) lol
I am out here still hoping for the FL to be Yoon Eun Hye and somehow give me a GOONG reunion. All that chemistry, the sparks, the possibility!
Still don’t understood why he signed up for 2nd lead. His career is hotter than all 3leads combined. jJH it’s not too late
I mean, people were saying the same thing when Ko Hyun Jung took the second female lead role of Lady Mishil in The Great Queen Seondeok, but she ended up overshadowing the female lead and getting all the top awards. To this day, her portrayal is still iconic and is basically the blueprint for cunning and ruthless but calm and stoic female villains in sageuks. So if JJH indeed signed up to play the second male lead role, he probably sees the role as meatier than that of the male lead
JJH character Sovietshu is pathetic, not ruthless or cunning or feels like once in a lifetime character.
Has massive ego and inferiority complex towards his wife and thinking he plays 3D chess when his amount to not much.
Also don’t have much screen time too.
There are so many great manhwas, but I wonder what is it about this one that has attracted so many top actors. Is there a billionaire mega-fan bankrolling this. I’m worried that we’ll get a situation where the budget is spent more on the actors and not enough spent on executing the story.