The Last Empress: Review, Story, Cast, Episodes, Release Date, Budget & More

The Last Empress

“The Last Empress” is a 2018-2019 South Korean television series starring Jang Na-ra, Choi Jin-hyuk, Shin Sung-rok, Lee Elijah, and Shin Eun-kyung. It aired on SBS from November 2018 to February 2019, originally planned for 48 episodes but extended to 52 due to overwhelming popularity. Set in an alternate universe where modern Korea maintains a constitutional monarchy, this wild makjang drama became the highest-rated weekday mini-series of 2018, reaching 17.9% viewership on its 24th episode. Available on Netflix and Viki, the series delivers an absolutely bonkers mix of revenge, political intrigue, romance, and murder set within palace walls filled with corruption and secrets. What makes it remarkable is that everyone involved, cast, crew, and viewers, fully embraced its completely over-the-top nature. This isn’t subtle drama; it’s a gloriously addictive soap opera that keeps throwing shocking twists every episode, making it impossible to stop watching once you start.

The Last Empress (2021): Release Date, Story, Plot, Episodes, Cast, Actors Salary, Actors Net Worth, Budget, OTT Response, Trailer, Songs, Awards, Review, Ratings & More

InfoThe Last Empress
GenreMystery
Thriller
Action
Romance
Comedy
LanguageKorean
Directed byJoo Dong-min
Star CastJang Na-ra
Choi Jin-hyuk
Shin Sung-rok
Lee Elijah
Shin Eun-kyung
ProducerLee Hee-soo
Production
companies
SM Life Design Group
Written byKim Soon-ok
CinematographyArtur Zurawski
CountrySouth Korea
Original networkSBS TV
Original release21 November 2018 – 21 February 2019
Running time35 minutes

The Last Empress Storyline

Oh Sunny is a cheerful musical actress whose Cinderella dreams come true when she marries Emperor Lee Hyuk, becoming Korea’s empress overnight. However, behind the palace’s glamorous facade lies a nightmare of treachery, power-hungry schemers, and dark secrets. When the Grand Empress Dowager mysteriously dies, Sunny realizes her charming husband isn’t who he seems, and the ruthless Empress Dowager Kang controls everything through manipulation and murder. Determined to survive and expose the truth, Sunny teams up with Na Wang-shik, a mysterious imperial bodyguard who’s actually seeking revenge against the royal family for his mother’s death. Together, they navigate deadly palace politics while uncovering conspiracies that threaten the entire monarchy.

The Last Empress Cast, Crew, Role, Salary, Remuneration & Net Worth

Here are the complete details of actors and actresses names in the Web Series.

1.Jang Na-ra as Oh Sunny

Jang Na-ra as Oh Sunny
InfoOh Sunny
Real NameJang Na-ra
Salary Per Web SeriesNot Known
Net Worth$5 million

2.Tae Hang-ho as Na Wang-sik

Tae Hang-ho as Na Wang-sik
InfoNa Wang-sik
Real NameTae Hang-ho 
Salary Per Web SeriesNot Known
Net WorthNot Known

3.Shin Sung-rok as Emperor Lee Hyuk

Shin Sung-rok as Emperor Lee Hyuk
InfoEmperor Lee Hyuk
Real NameShin Sung-rok
Salary Per Web SeriesNot Known
Net Worth$1 million to $5 million

4.Lee Elijah as Min Yoo-ra

Lee Elijah as Min Yoo-ra
InfoMin Yoo-ra
Real NameLee Elijah
Salary Per Web SeriesNot Known
Net WorthNot Known

5.Shin Eun-kyung as Empress Dowager Kang

Shin Eun-kyung as Empress Dowager Kang
InfoEmpress Dowager Kang
Real NameShin Eun-kyung
Salary Per Web SeriesNot Known
Net WorthNot Known

6.Oh Seung-yoon as Crown Prince Lee Yoon / Vincent Lee

Oh Seung-yoon as Crown Prince Lee Yoon / Vincent Lee
InfoCrown Prince Lee Yoon / Vincent Lee
Real NameOh Seung-yoon
Salary Per Web SeriesNot Known
Net WorthNot Known

7.Yoon So-yi as Seo Kang-hee

Yoon So-yi as Seo Kang-hee
InfoSeo Kang-hee
Real NameYoon So-yi 
Salary Per Web SeriesNot Known
Net WorthNot Known

8.Oh Ah-rin as Ah-ri

Oh Ah-rin as Ah-ri
InfoAh-ri
Real NameOh Ah-rin
Salary Per Web SeriesNot Known
Net WorthNot Known

9.Park Won-sook as Grand Empress Dowager Jo

Park Won-sook as Grand Empress Dowager Jo
InfoGrand Empress Dowager Jo
Real NamePark Won-sook 
Salary Per Web SeriesNot Known
Net WorthNot Known

10.Lee Hee-jin as Princess So-jin

Lee Hee-jin as Princess So-jin
InfoPrincess So-jin
Real NameLee Hee-jin
Salary Per Web SeriesNot Known
Net WorthNot Known

The Last Empress Web Series Awards

AwardsCategoryRecipients
NANANA

The Last Empress Review

“The Last Empress” is gloriously ridiculous, crack-addictive television that requires you to check logic at the door and just enjoy the wild ride. Jang Na-ra shines as Sunny’s transformation from naive bride to fierce empress, while Shin Sung-rok delivers an absolutely insane performance as the psychotic yet somehow sympathetic Emperor—his character development alone makes this worth watching. The plot moves at breakneck speed with jaw-dropping twists every episode that’ll have you screaming at your screen. Yes, it’s absurd with characters making frustratingly dumb decisions and plot holes everywhere, but that’s precisely the point. The ending disappointed many viewers feeling rushed and incomplete, particularly since Choi Jin-hyuk couldn’t participate in the extended episodes due to scheduling conflicts. Despite flaws, if you embrace the makjang madness and over-the-top melodrama, you’ll find yourself binge-watching all 52 episodes in record time. It’s soap opera perfection, completely unbelievable yet utterly addictive.

Disclaimer: The Data is collected from various sources and some from our own research. These data can be estimated and Primes World does not make any claims about the authenticity of the data.