The Empire (South Korean TV series)

2022 South Korean television series

The Empire

Promotional poster

Hangul|

디 엠파이어: 법의 제국

Lit.| The Empire: Empire of Law
RR| Di empaieo: beobui jeguk
MR| Ti emp'aiŏ: pŏbŭi cheguk
Genre|

* Legal drama[1]
* Crime[1]

Created by| SLL[2]
Written by| Oh Ga-gyu[3]
Directed by| Yoo Hyeon-gi[3]
Starring|

* Kim Sun-a
* Ahn Jae-wook
* Lee Mi-sook

Music by|

* Park Seong-il (Studio Curiosity)
* Koo Seung-pil (Music Supervisor)

Country of origin| South Korea
Original language| Korean
No. of episodes| 16
Production
Executive producers|

* Park Soo-hwa
* Yoon Yoon-jin

Producers|

* Park Jae-sam
* Lee Seung-hee
* Hwang Ra-kyung

Production companies|

* Celltrion Entertainment[3]
* SLL[3]

Original release
Network| JTBC
Release| September 24 (2022-09-24) –
November 13, 2022 (2022-11-13)

The Empire[4] (Korean: 디 엠파이어: 법의 제국) is a South Korean television series starring Kim Sun-a, Ahn Jae-wook, and Lee Mi-sook. It premiered on JTBC on September 24, 2022, and aired every Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST).[5] It is also available for streaming on Viu in selected regions.[6]

## Synopsis

[edit]

A series that depicts the scandalous scandals of the nation's top law-abiding aristocrats dreaming of hereditary succession.

## Cast

[edit]

### Main

[edit]

* Kim Sun-a as Han Hye-ryul[7]

Head of the Special Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office. First daughter of Han Gun-do and Ham Kwang-jeon.

* Ahn Jae-wook as Na Geun-woo[8]

A law school professor, Han Gun-do's and Ham Kwang-jeon's son-in-law and Han Hye-ryul's husband.

* Lee Mi-sook as Ham Kwang-jeon[5]

Director of Minguk University Law School, daughter of Ham Min-heon, Han Gun-do's Wife.

* Song Young-chang as Han Gun-do[5]

Lawyer representing Ham & Lee's law firm, Ham Kwang-jeon's husband.

* Shin Goo as Ham Min-heon[5]

Ham Kwang-jeon's father, Lee Ae-heon's husband.

* Oh Hyun-kyung as Lee Ae-heon[5]

Ham Min-heon's wife.

### Supporting

[edit]

#### Han Hye-ryul's family

[edit]

* Kwon Ji-woo as Han Kang-baek[9]

Han Hye-ryul's son, Minguk University Law School's student.

* Kim Jung-woon as Han Moo-ryul[9]

The second daughter of Han Gun-do and Ham Kwang-jeon, a judge of the Central District Court.

* Choi Jung-woon as Han Kang-ye[10]

Na Geun-woo and Han Hye-ryul's daughter.

#### Minguk University Law School

[edit]

* Joo Se-bin as Hong Nan-hee[11]

Nan-hee, who dreams of saving the world and saving lives, is an engineer. After her father died, she attended Minguk University Law School. She seeks revenge against the Han Family for the death of her father.

* Jung Jae-oh as Jung Kyung-yoon[12]

He is well thought out, smart and capable, therefore, his grade was always at the top. The teacher liked it because of his bright and friendly personality.

* Lee Ga-eun as Jang Ji-yi[13]

Jang Il's only daughter, has interacted with Hye-ryul's family since childhood. She never doubted that one day she would marry Han Kang-baek.

* Bang Joo-hwan as Yoo Hyun[14]

He grew up in a single-mother family. He knew from the beginning that crying and being angry at what could not be helped was the opposite. Sometimes he felt that the judge was not suitable for his age.

* Kwon So-yi as Lee Ah-jeong[15]

Nan-hee's roommate with an undeniable shy personality and very suffocating because of observing others. It is most convenient to blame others and blame yourself.

* Kim Young-woong as Hwang Yong-ji[16]

Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Minguk University's fellow professor of Na Geun-woo who teaches criminal law and criminal procedural law.

* Kim Gyun-ha as Yoon Gu-ryung[17]

After conscription, he went to Minguk University Law School. His grades gradually declined, and he was eventually suspended from school for the second year. He had to study with his juniors.

#### Prosecutor's office

[edit]

* Lee Moon-sik as Jang Il[9]

Seoul Central District Attorney's Office. The position he was currently sitting in was not a place where skill and luck were sufficient, so Jang Il is someone with more alpha positive.

* Kim Hyung-mook as Go Won-kyung[9]

Seoul Central District Attorney's Office Department of Corruption Investigation. Hye-ryul's ex-husband and Kang-baek's biological father.

* Han Joon-woo as Oh Sung-hyun[18]

Anti-Corruption Investigation Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office.

#### Police station figures

[edit]

* Park Jin-woo as Ji Gu-won[19]

As a police officer under the supervision of the prosecution, have set a corner with the prosecutor in every case relegated, returned to Seoul with difficulty. He encountered a once-in-a-lifetime event.

* Woo Ji-hyun as Wang Jung-jin[20]

He's a pretty good detective and is Ji Gu-won's partner in various investigations.

#### Others

[edit]

* Kim Won-hae as Do-pil / Ji Joon-gi[21]

A person called 'Chief of the Branch'.

* Tae In-ho as Nam Soo-hyuk[21]

Gun-do's right arm, he believed in himself.

* Im Se-mi as Yoon Eun-mi[22]

SBC TV reporter. As a reporter, she is full of passion and passion, and although sometimes she crosses a dangerous line, she had unshakable faith.

* Choi Jung-woo as Senior Ahn / Ahn Soo-seok[9]

Senior Civil Affairs Officer at the Blue House.

### Extended

[edit]

* Kwon Oh-kyung as Prosecution investigation officer[23]
* Go Geon-han as Event Moderator
* Kim Hak-sun as Hong Nan-hee's father[24]

## Production

[edit]

### Development

[edit]

The series was written by Oh Ja-kyu and planned and produced by JTBC Studios (now known as SLL), with Celltrion Entertainment as producer.[3]

### Release

[edit]

On August 24, 2022, JTBC released the first footage of the series along with announcing the premiere date. The series was scheduled to be shown on September 24, 2022, as a follow-up to The Good Detective 2 on Saturday and Sunday.[5]

## Viewership

[edit]

The Empire : South Korea viewers per episode (thousands)

Season| Episode number| Average

|
|

1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6| 7| 8| 9| 10| 11| 12| 13| 14| 15| 16
| 1| 564| 650| 413| 775| 497| 849| 395| 655| 371| 691| 397| N/A| 608| 467| 600| 832| N/A

Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea.

Ep. | Original broadcast date  | Average audience share
(Nielsen Korea)[25]

|
|

Nationwide  | Seoul
1  | September 24, 2022  | 2.399% (4th) | 2.542% (2nd)
2  | September 25, 2022  | 3.003% (3rd) | 3.401% (2nd)
3  | October 1, 2022  | 1.885% (6th) | 2.042% (4th)
4  | October 2, 2022  | 3.414% (2nd) | 3.150% (2nd)
5  | October 8, 2022  | 2.120% (6th) | 2.195% (4th)
6  | October 9, 2022  | 3.883% (2nd) | 3.859% (2nd)
7  | October 15, 2022  | 2.146% (6th) | 1.803% (8th)
8  | October 16, 2022  | 2.917% (2nd) | 2.750% (2nd)
9  | October 22, 2022  | 1.695% (11th) | 1.562% (10th)
10  | October 23, 2022  | 3.062% (2nd) | 2.757% (4th)
11  | October 29, 2022  | 1.844% (9th) | N/A
12  | November 5, 2022[a] | 1.573% (13th)
13  | November 6, 2022  | 2.844% (2nd) | 2.702% (3rd)
14  | November 12, 2022  | 2.115% (9th) | N/A
15  | November 13, 2022[b] | 2.811% (4th) | 2.445% (4th)
16  | 4.036% (2nd) | 3.725% (2nd)
Average  | 2.609% | —[c]

* In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
* N/A denotes ratings that were not released.
* This drama airs on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC, and EBS).

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ On October 30, 2022, it was confirmed that the drama would not air. Due to the aftermath of the Itaewon Halloween crowd crush, a special news item was replaced.[26]
2. ^ On November 13, 2022, it will air two consecutive episodes, and episode 16 will end on November 13 as originally scheduled.[27]
3. ^ Due to some ratings not recorded, the exact average rating is unknown.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Lee, Gyu-lee (September 23, 2022). "Kim Sun-a returns to small screen as prosecutor in 'The Empire'". The Korea Times. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
2. ^ "SLL, "글로벌 레이블 구조+3조원 투자 더해 신 콘텐츠 비즈 완성할 것" (간담회 종합)". Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-08-06.
3. ^ a b c d e 김선아→오현경, JTBC '디 엠파이어: 법의 제국' 출연. Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-08-24.
4. ^ "The Empire [Title in the URL]". JTBC (in Korean). Retrieved September 20, 2022.
5. ^ a b c d e f 강, 애란. "JTBC 새 드라마 '디 엠파이어' 내달 첫선…김선아·안재욱 주연". Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-08-24.
6. ^ 최영주 (2 October 2022). "K-법정물 '디 엠파이어', 아시아 최대 OTT '뷰'타고 해외로". No Cut News (in Korean). Retrieved 18 July 2023.
7. ^ Ha, Kyung-heon (August 31, 2022). 김선아, JTBC 새 주말극 '디 엠파이어:법의 제국' 카리스마 스틸 첫 공개 [Kim Seon-ah, JTBC's new weekend drama 'The Empire: Empire of Law' charismatic stills released for the first time] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Retrieved September 4, 2022 - via Naver.
8. ^ Han, Hae-sun (September 9, 2021). 안재욱, '천공의 성채' 출연 확정..김선아·이미숙 만날까[공식] [Ahn Jae-wook confirmed to appear in 'Castle in the Sky'... Shall we meet Kim Seon-ah and Lee Mi-sook [Official]] (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved September 9, 2021 - via Naver.
9. ^ a b c d e Hong, Se-young (September 19, 2022). 김선아♥안재욱 부부 돼, 기 빨리는 인물관계도 (디 엠파이어) [Kim Seon-ah ♥ Ahn Jae-wook became a couple, and the character relationship is quick (The Empire)] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Retrieved September 19, 2022 - via Naver.
10. ^ Jang, Jin-ri (September 15, 2022). 최정운, '디 엠파이어: 법의 제국' 캐스팅…김선아-안재욱 막내딸 된다 [Choi Jung-woon, cast in 'The Empire: Empire of Law'... Kim Sun-ah and Ahn Jae-wook's youngest daughter] (in Korean). Sports TV News. Retrieved September 15, 2022 - via Naver.
11. ^ Choi, Hye-jin (September 8, 2022). 주세빈, '디 엠파이어: 법의 제국' 출연 확정…김선아 만난다 [Joo Se-bin confirmed to appear in 'The Empire: Empire of Law'... Meet Kim Seon-ah] (in Korean). MT Star News. Retrieved September 8, 2022 - via Naver.
12. ^ Park, Ah-reum (September 2, 2022). 정재오 '디 엠파이어: 법의 제국' 합류, 로스쿨생 된다[공식] [Jae-oh Jung joins 'The Empire: Empire of Law' and becomes a law school student [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved September 3, 2022 - via Naver.
13. ^ 유, 정민. 이가은, 달콤한 요거트같은 미소...남심 저격 '청순미'. Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-08-05.
14. ^ Ahn, Byung-gil (August 26, 2022). 방주환 '디 엠파이어:법의 제국' 뜬다 [Bang Joo-hwan's 'The Empire: Empire of Law] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Retrieved August 27, 2022 - via Naver.
15. ^ Jang, Woo-young (September 22, 2022). 권소이, '디 엠파이어' 캐스팅…김선아X안재욱과 호흡 [공식] [Kwon So-yi, cast in 'The Empire'... Breathing with Kim Seon-ah X Ahn Jae-wook [Official]] (in Korean). OSEN. Retrieved September 22, 2022 - via Naver.
16. ^ Park, Ah-reum (September 22, 2022). 김영웅 '디 엠파이어' 출연 "법복가족 철옹성 지켜보는 불청객"[공식] [Kim Young-woong Appeared in 'The Empire' "An uninvited guest watching the beopbok family" [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved September 22, 2022 - via Naver.
17. ^ Hyun, Jung-min (September 6, 2022). 김균하, '디 엠파이어 : 법의 제국' 출연…강렬한 활약 예고 [Kim Gyun-ha to appear in 'The Empire: Empire of Law' Strong performance forecast] (in Korean). Sports World. Retrieved September 6, 2022 - via Naver.
18. ^ Lee, Jun-hyun (September 26, 2022). 한준우, 환한 미소 뒤 반전 카리스마 눈빛… 몰입감 고조 ('디 엠파이어: 법의 제국') [Han Jun-woo, a bright smile and a reverse charismatic look... Increased immersion ('The Empire: Empire of Law')] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved September 26, 2022 - via Naver.
19. ^ Ha, Su-jeong (September 6, 2022). 박진우, JTBC '디 엠파이어' 형사 합류..안재욱x김선아와 호흡 [공식] [Park Jin-woo joins JTBC 'The Empire' detective.. Ahn Jae-wook x Kim Seon-ah [Official]] (in Korean). OSEN. Retrieved September 6, 2022 - via Naver.
20. ^ Park, Ah-reum (September 23, 2022). 우지현 '디 엠파이어' 합류, 투머치토커 형사 된다[공식] [Woo Ji-hyun joins 'The Empire', becomes a Two-Much Talker detective [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved September 26, 2022 - via Naver.
21. ^ a b Park, Jin-young (September 25, 2022). 디 엠파이어 법의 제국' 인물관계도…김선아 남편 안재욱·주세빈 불륜 [The relationship between the characters of 'The Empire of the Empire'... Kim Sun-ah's husband Ahn Jae-wook and Joo Se-bin's affair] (in Korean). JoyNews24. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
22. ^ Ha, Kyung-seon (September 22, 2022). 임세미, JTBC '디 엠파이어:법의 제국' 기자 역 합류 [Se-mi Lim joins JTBC's 'The Empire: Empire of Law' as reporter] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Retrieved September 22, 2022 - via Naver.
23. ^ 손, 진아. 권오경, '디엠파이어: 법의 제국' 출연 확정…김선아와 케미 기대. Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-08-05.
24. ^ Park, Ha-young (October 17, 2022). 주세빈, 송영창 계략에 父 잃고 '복수'..과거 드러났다 ('디 엠파이어')[Oh!쎈 종합] [Joo Se-bin, lost to Song Young-chang's scheme and 'revenge'..The past was revealed ('The Empire') [Oh!]] (in Korean). OSEN. Retrieved October 17, 2022 - via Naver.
25. ^ Nielsen Korea ratings:
* "Ep. 1". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). September 24, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
* "Ep. 2". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). September 25, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
* "Ep. 3". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
* "Ep. 4". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). October 2, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
* "Ep. 5". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). October 8, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
* "Ep. 6". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). October 9, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
* "Ep. 7". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). October 15, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
* "Ep. 8". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
* "Ep. 9". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). October 22, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
* "Ep. 10". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). October 23, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
* "Ep. 11". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). October 29, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
* "Ep. 13". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
* "Ep. 14". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
* "Ep. 15-16". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). November 13, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
26. ^ Jung, Jin-young (October 30, 2022). 뉴스특보 긴급 편성으로 지상파 프로그램 줄줄이 결방[종합] [Terrestrial programs canceled one after another due to urgent news special formation [Comprehensive]] (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Retrieved October 30, 2022 - via Naver.
27. ^ Park, Ah-reum (November 2, 2022). 송중기 '재벌집 막내아들' 첫방 차질없다 [Song Joong-ki's first episode of 'The Youngest Son of a Conglomerate' has no setbacks] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved November 2, 2022 - via Naver.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website (in Korean)
* The Empire at IMDb
* The Empire at HanCinema

* v
* t
* e

Works by SLL

* Cyber JoongAng -> Joins -> Jcube Interactive -> JTBC Content Hub -> JTBC Studios -> SLL

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