The new K-drama "The Remarriage Contract," starring Shin Min-a (신민아), Ju Ji-hoon (주지훈), Lee Jong-suk (이종석), and Lee Se-young (이세영), recently premiered, sparking discussions about lead actor Ju Ji-hoon's styling. In the series, he plays Emperor Sovieshu of the Eastern Empire. However, some viewers were not entirely pleased with his appearance, even comparing it to his role as Crown Prince Lee Shin in the classic K-drama "Princess Hours" (궁) 20 years ago, igniting a "royal character showdown."
"The Remarriage Contract" is adapted from a popular web novel and webtoon of the same name, garnering significant attention before its broadcast due to the original works' high popularity. After its official release on the 3rd, Ju Ji-hoon's portrayal of Emperor Sovieshu became a central topic of discussion.
Some viewers felt that Ju Ji-hoon's skin tone in the drama appeared darker and his overall complexion looked somewhat fatigued, especially when sharing the screen with other actors. Some netizens even commented that his face looked deeper and yellowish on screen, creating a discrepancy between his overall styling and the imagined appearance of the original character.
Many netizens left comments such as, "Who can put a reflector on Ju Ji-hoon's face?" "He looks darker than his original skin tone," "Only the emperor looks much older," and "The styling is different from the Sovieshu I imagined," expressing disappointment with his makeup, hair, and overall visual presentation.
However, a character's skin tone and complexion in a drama can be influenced by factors such as makeup, lighting, and post-production color grading. Therefore, netizens' comments on the visual presentation should not be directly equated with Ju Ji-hoon's real-life health condition.
The reason for this particular comparison is also linked to Ju Ji-hoon's past iconic roles. In 2006, he starred in the MBC K-drama "Princess Hours" as Crown Prince Lee Shin. At the time, his cool yet slightly youthful appearance, combined with his chemistry with Yoon Eun-hye (윤은혜), led to a surge in popularity, and he remains a classic royal character in the hearts of many viewers.
Approximately 20 years later, Ju Ji-hoon once again dons royal attire, but this time transforming from the young crown prince into Emperor Sovieshu, a character with a more composed and authoritative presence. Given the stark differences in character personality and the drama's atmosphere, many viewers naturally found themselves comparing his two different eras.
However, some viewers argued that simply comparing appearances is unfair, as Lee Shin from "Princess Hours" and Sovieshu from "The Remarriage Contract" are inherently different types of characters. Beyond his looks, Ju Ji-hoon's acting in this role has received considerable praise. He is lauded for skillfully portraying Sovieshu's arrogance, complex emotions, and internal conflicts with great depth, successfully anchoring the drama's overall presence.
Notably, Lee Jong-suk, who also takes on a royal role in "The Remarriage Contract," has received significant praise for his visual presentation. He plays Prince Heinrey of the Western Kingdom. In the drama, he not only sports lavish military uniforms and capes but also draws particular attention for his appearance due to the character's inherent identity as a "beautiful prince." To align the character more closely with the dreamy image from the original work, Lee Jong-suk even personally participated in the design of his costumes and accessories, meticulously selecting everything from earrings and necklaces to his overall attire. After the broadcast, he was widely considered to have successfully embodied the prince's opulent charm.
Especially when compared to Ju Ji-hoon's portrayal of Sovieshu, Lee Jong-suk's styling has received fewer criticisms of being "unlike the original work." Some netizens even compared their costumes, jokingly suggesting that "Ju Ji-hoon should have gone to the same costume designer."
One actor, who captivated countless fans 20 years ago as Crown Prince Lee Shin in "Princess Hours," now faces appearance controversy over his emperor styling in "The Remarriage Contract." The other, transforming into a dreamy prince, has garnered widespread praise. The stark contrast in their "royal stylings" after the drama's premiere has unexpectedly become a focal point of audience discussion.
