Introduction | The What

The Last Empress of Joseon

Series Information

Original Title: 조선의 마지막 황후 (Joseon-ui Majimak Hwanghu)

Country: South Korea 🇰🇷

Genre(s): Historical, Fantasy, Romance, Political Thriller

Episode Count: 16 Episodes

Where to Watch: tvN, Netflix (Global)

Air Date: January 15, 2026

The Premise

Get ready for a mind-bending trip back in time! 🕰️ Dr. Park Eun-ah, a brilliant but cynical historian specializing in the late Joseon dynasty, gets into a freak accident at a museum exhibit. She wakes up to find she's been transported into the body of Queen Cheorin, a forgotten empress who was mysteriously poisoned just days before a massive political coup. Armed with her 21st-century knowledge, Eun-ah must navigate the treacherous royal court, outsmart scheming officials, and figure out who she can trust before history repeats itself and she's assassinated... again!

Why Jiejie is Excited

OMG, you guys! Where do I even begin?! 🤩 First, the CAST! We have the incredibly talented Kim Tae-ri (Mr. Sunshine, Twenty-Five Twenty-One) playing our historian-turned-queen, and you just KNOW she is going to absolutely crush this role with her amazing blend of strength and vulnerability. And playing the stoic, misunderstood King Cheoljong is the one and only Lee Do-hyun (The Glory, Youth of May)! Can you just IMAGINE the chemistry between these two?! 🔥 My heart is already fluttering! Plus, it's written by the same screenwriter who gave us The Red Sleeve, so we are basically guaranteed a story with tons of emotional depth and political intrigue. I am SO ready for this! 💖

What to Look For

Here's a fun question to think about while we watch! 🤔 The central conflict for Eun-ah will be what I call the "Historian's Dilemma." Will she use her future knowledge to simply survive and let history play out as she knows it? Or will she be tempted to interfere, to save people she knows are doomed and create a better future, even if it means completely erasing the history she dedicated her life to studying? It’s a classic "head versus heart" battle, and I can't wait to see which one wins!

Call to Action

Okay, spill the tea! 🍵 Are you as ridiculously excited for this as I am? What do you think of this amazing cast pairing? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below! 👇