Ju Ji-hoon’s ‘The Remarried Empress’ costume sparks Nazi medal controversy; production apologizes
A still from “The Remarried Empress” shows actor Ju Ji-hoon wearing a medal that viewers said resembles a Nazi-era decoration. Courtesy of Disney Plus
The upcoming Disney+ original series “The Remarried Empress” has drawn criticism after promotional stills revealed actor Ju Ji-hoon wearing a medal resembling a Nazi-era decoration, prompting the production company to issue a public apology.
Disney+ unveiled first-look images of the series during the “Disney Plus Original Preview 2025” event on Thursday. Soon after, online communities pointed out that the medal worn by Ju in the photos closely resembled the Third-Class Gold Service Medal awarded by the Nazi Party, raising concerns over historical insensitivity.
Online commenters shared side-by-side comparisons of the on-screen prop and the Nazi medal, questioning how such a symbol could slip through production review. Some expressed disappointment over the apparent oversight, citing growing frustration with the lack of attention to detail in high-profile productions.
Production company Studio N issued a statement acknowledging the criticism, saying the team “takes the issue very seriously” and will replace the images while implementing stricter review procedures to prevent recurrence.
Adapted from a popular web novel of the same name, “The Remarried Empress” follows Empress Navier (played by Shin Min-a), who secures a divorce from Emperor Sovieshu (Ju Ji-hoon) after he becomes involved with a slave named Rashta (Lee Se-young). She demands remarriage to Prince Heinrey (Lee Jong-suk) of the Western Kingdom as a term of separation. The romantic fantasy series is set to be released next year.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.