Mailman Choi Jin-hyuk and Christmas-fairy Jang Nara for An Empress’s Dignity
by tineybeanie
I can’t wait for this alternate reality rags-to-riches story! New stills for An Empress’s Dignity have been released, and Jang Nara (Go Back Spouses) looks as bubbly as ever, while Choi Jin-hyuk (Devilish Joy) looks like a confused puppy dog. An Empress’s Dignity is about Jang Nara’s character, a bright and lovely musical actress who marries the Emperor of Korea in this alternate reality where Korea is ruled by a constitutional monarchy. Think Meghan-Harry, except if Prince Harry were a morally ambiguous ruler.
Shin Sung-rok (Return) plays Jang Nara’s husband, the Emperor, whose mother played by Shin Eun-kyung ( Village: Secret of Achiara) is murdered. The dowager empress’s death creates pandemonium in a palace ruled by an iron fist. Jang Nara fights against absolute power to find the truth behind this palace intrigue and also find her true love and happiness.
In the stills, you can see Jang Nara acting in a musical as a Christmas fairy, while Choi Jin-hyuk is in a mailman’s uniform. Choi Jin-hyuk plays a palace guard, whose motivations are a mix of revenge and love. He finishes whatever he starts, and follows his heart until the end. His mother’s dying wish was for him to become a guard, and he gambles everything to attain that position. Oooh, I hope he gets the girl this time. (He and Jang Nara were in Fated to Love You, and I had such a bad case of second lead syndrome during that drama.)
SBS Wednesday-Thursday drama An Empress’s Dignity airs beginning this November.
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1 IamPilgrim
October 30, 2018 at 10:05 AM
Okay, I need to get it settled now. Who’s the main male lead? Choi Jin Hyuk or Shin Sun-rok? I love both of them and in order to avoid boarding a ship doomed to sink, I want to know up front. None of that APAD cruelty!
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Cloggie
October 30, 2018 at 11:23 AM
I just automatically assumed that Shin Sung-rok played an evil character, because he always does, and his emperor is described as 'morally ambiguous'.
My money would be on Choi Jin Hyuk's palace guard showing Jang Nara's Christmas fairy that the emperor killed his mother or something like that. And then they will live happily ever after.
Or all die, depending on how sageuk they want to be.
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larus
October 30, 2018 at 11:47 AM
Both are protagonists but Choi jin Hyuk plays the hero and Shin Sung Rok, the antagonist. It is easy to assume who will get the girl in the end.
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KSKalways
October 31, 2018 at 7:14 AM
too easy, even... which kinda sucks... can this guy NOT play the bad guy, for once?
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larus
November 1, 2018 at 7:59 AM
I know. He plays the bad guys very well but most of the times, in mystery dramas, we know he plays the guilty guy before the drama starts. lol
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2 Jrr 🌈
October 30, 2018 at 10:14 AM
Should I really find the time to watch Fated to Love You? Hmmmm...
Anyway, I love them both but the plot seems to be tapping a little into the gray area of makjang, not to my liking... 🤔
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larelle79
October 30, 2018 at 10:36 AM
Honestly, I liked the Korean version better than the Taiwanese version. The dude in the Taiwanese version was just horrible and there was no redemption for him. They were smart in the Korean version not to make the male lead on a similar path.
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egads aka Dame Maggie
October 30, 2018 at 11:19 AM
I love Jang Hyuk, but actually preferred Ethan Ruan in the role. I guess we all see and like different things.
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bjharm
October 31, 2018 at 2:51 AM
I thought he was way to inexperienced, at the time, for the role and frankly it was the female lead that saved the drama for me
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goldenaddiction
November 1, 2018 at 12:44 PM
I totally agree with you @larelle79
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Jrr 🌈
November 2, 2018 at 7:33 PM
i did watch the TW version but kinda hated the plot, which was what stopped me for watching the KR remake even though i wanted to watch the leads' reunion drama badly. i couldn't even get pass episode 1 since i know what's gonna happen. argh.
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Amilia
October 30, 2018 at 10:18 PM
I adore Fated to Love You. To itty bitty bits and pieces. It's not a perfect drama by any means. It's got an icky premise and a long stretch of sadness and separation in the middle. But . . .
I have never identified so strongly with a fictional character as I did with Kim Mi-young (Jang Nara). Yes, I know what that says about me. I love that Korean dramas can have all sorts of different heroines. They can be bold and strong, or they can be quiet people-pleasers. There may be post-it girls in American dramas, but they never get to be heroine. But here, every once in a while, they do. It's awesome!
Also, Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara were electric together.
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thequiet1
October 30, 2018 at 11:22 PM
Amen to everything you said! Me and my mom absolutely love Fated to love you, just as much as I love Best Love.
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x6x
November 6, 2018 at 7:44 PM
I love it too bits as well and re-watched it for three times.
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KSKalways
October 31, 2018 at 7:19 AM
Fated to Love You is greeeeat!!!
.... until ep 13... and then it just...
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osmanthustea
November 1, 2018 at 10:22 AM
I loved Fated to Love You. It was the drama that got me really convinced about Jang Nara as she slowly built complexity to the main character. She was first portrayed as a pushover, but we're slowly shown that she's actually been consciously choosing to help her friends and colleagues, and that she's a real firecracker when it comes to standing up for things that matter. Jang Nara was wonderful in nailing that balance between sweetness and strength.
The plot was a bit trying in the middle, but overall I felt it was a good show and (mostly) showed a healthy relationship between the OTP, instead of the usual asshole chaebol and candy trope.
I felt Jang Hyuk was suited for this show, though I couldn't say the same about his other projects...
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osmanthustea
November 1, 2018 at 10:22 AM
Forgot to add: I loved Jang Nara even more in Hello Monster!
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3 신류지
October 30, 2018 at 11:33 AM
OMG tineybeanie why do you do this to me!! I completely forgot about the whole Fate to Love You until you mentioned it, now I'm getting the after-symptoms of second lead syndrome ㅠㅡㅠ
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4 ahn yoo na
October 30, 2018 at 5:41 PM
two deliciously deep velvety baritone voices in one drama? i'm totally in!
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5 A
October 30, 2018 at 6:03 PM
That "Looking For Kim Jong Kook" placard 😍
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6 Nessa (Bebe) 🌹
October 30, 2018 at 6:51 PM
She’s as adorable as ever and HE BETTER GET THE GIRL THIS TIME!!!!
Ahem.. *tries to compose self*
... Just sayin’
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thequiet1
October 30, 2018 at 11:30 PM
He got the girl in Devilish Joy, with lotsa kisses too!
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7 Violette
October 31, 2018 at 12:31 AM
Usually Jang Nara picks pretty good projects - I've enjoyed most of her shows so will look forward to this.
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8 Kurama
October 31, 2018 at 2:12 AM
For once, I would like to see Shin Sun Rok as a lead. I mean he's the husband and the emperor! To see a loving husband (even if he hiddes it) would change rather than the typical evil character he played until now.
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bjharm
October 31, 2018 at 2:54 AM
I can see the whole marriage thing as some kind of promotional stunt on the emperor's part and depending on more romance or more melo, he starts to fall for her?
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9 Chichaloca
October 31, 2018 at 3:28 AM
At first i heard song yuri will play the lead but turn out to be jang nara.i love both but i miss yuri in drama comeback
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bjharm
October 31, 2018 at 4:51 AM
thought it was the part of the female accountant or what ever she is, that she was offered. could be wrong
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10 pickledplumtree
October 31, 2018 at 1:02 PM
I'm diggin' it!
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11 Ces
October 31, 2018 at 8:22 PM
Waiting for this show because of leads, especially Choi Jin Hyuk whose latest show couldn't catch my attention (the melodrama and the female lead, maybe?)
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12 Cheshies
November 1, 2018 at 2:42 PM
though sun rok’s character may be evil, i am hoping that his character gets a turnaround and he ends up with jang nara. It may be only me but i kinda feel a chemistry between the two of them.
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13 RenOIshi
November 1, 2018 at 10:40 PM
Wait!? So the Empress of Korea will cheat on her husband the Emperor!?!?
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