"Romance-fantasy is truly my personal color."
Actor Remarried Empress star Lee Jong-suk has captured the hearts of global viewers as the epitome of a romance-fantasy male lead. At this point, the genre seems tailor-made for him.
As the Disney+ original series ‘Remarried Empress’ (provided by Walt Disney Company Korea, produced by StudioN, directed by Jo Soo-won, written by Yeo Ji-na and Hyun Choong-yeol) sweeps global charts and popularity rankings, worldwide enthusiasm for Lee Jong-suk, who plays Prince Heinrey of the Western Kingdom, is soaring.
‘Remarried Empress’ is a grand romance-fantasy epic that unfolds when Navier (Shin Min-ah), the perfect empress of the Eastern Empire, receives a notice of divorce from Emperor Sovieshu (Ju Ji-hoon), who has fallen for the runaway slave Rashta (Lee Se-young), and demands approval for her remarriage with Prince Heinrey (Lee Jong-suk).
According to Disney+ on the 11th, ‘Remarried Empress’ broke the record for the highest global viewership among all Disney+ local original content within just three days of its release. It claimed the number one spot for K-content in over 50 regions worldwide, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Australia, and Canada.
Additionally, according to Good Data Corporation’s FUNdex for the first week of November, ‘Remarried Empress’ swept the number one spot for TV and OTT integrated drama buzz, while Lee Jong-suk ranked fifth in the TV and OTT integrated cast buzz category, proving his massive box office power.
In particular, Lee Jong-suk’s Heinrey, who made his full-fledged debut in episode 3, instantly changed the mood of the series with his very first appearance. International media outlet ScreenRant praised him, stating, "Lee Jong-suk’s signature witty and playful charm fits Heinrey perfectly," while global review sites like MyDramaList (MDL) showered him with praise, calling him, "The exact Heinrey I dreamed of, straight out of the original webtoon."
Critics noted that Lee Jong-suk’s acting prowess shone through, as he effortlessly brought to life a visual straight out of the original webtoon while smoothing out romance-fantasy dialogue that could easily feel cheesy into natural excitement.
The New Year’s masquerade ball waltz scene, which kicked off the romance between Navier and Heinrey, sparked an explosive response from international fans. Confronted by Lee Jong-suk reaching out a gentle hand to the sidelined Navier, global fans poured in multilingual comments expressing their awe, such as "My favorite Disney prince," "The gaze, the smile, and their locked hands make the most beautiful scene," and "An immersive experience as if reading souls through dance."
Lee Jong-suk breathes life into his character with effortless composure, straight-forward affection aimed solely at Navier, and subtle shifts in his gaze. His portrayal is expected to fuel the global box office craze of ‘Remarried Empress’ even further.
