Shin Min Ah's luxury costumes in Disney+'s The Remarried Empress have sparked discussion after some Korean viewers criticized the dresses for looking cheap, only to discover that one of them reportedly costs approximately 18 million won (around $12,690).
The fantasy romance drama, which premiered on November 3, has received mixed reactions over its costumes, lighting, and overall visual presentation.
While some viewers praised the elaborate royal outfits, others felt that certain dresses did not look as luxurious on screen as expected.
The discussion gained attention when Korean online communities began sharing details about the designer brands and reported prices of the dresses worn by Shin Min Ah, who plays Empress Navier.
One of the most expensive outfits is a light mint-colored dress from Lebanese luxury fashion brand Georges Hobeika.
Featuring silver decorations, green embroidery, delicate tulle fabric, and a matching bolero, the dress reportedly has a retail price of $12,690, equivalent to approximately 18 million won.
Despite its high price, some viewers commented that the outfit appeared less expensive on screen.
Shin Min Ah also wore a light blue dress from British designer Jenny Packham, featuring sparkling beadwork, cape-style sleeves, and a tiara.
The dress reportedly costs $4,356, or around 6 million won.
Another black Jenny Packham dress, decorated with sheer fabric, silver beads, and a long cape, is reportedly priced at $3,784, or approximately 5 million won.
Interestingly, the red dress and white off-shoulder dress created by Korean bridal designer Choi Jae Hoon Dress received generally positive reactions, while some of the imported luxury outfits drew more divided opinions.
After learning the reported prices, several online users began questioning whether the issue was the dresses themselves or the drama's lighting and color editing.
One commenter wrote, "I thought the dresses looked cheap while watching, but they're actually expensive."
Another suggested, "Maybe dresses with beadwork need stronger lighting to look good on screen."
Some viewers defended the outfits, saying the designs were beautiful but that the lighting and filters did not fully highlight their details.
"The dresses looked expensive to me, but the lighting and filters weren't very good," one viewer commented.
Others continued to express disappointment with the overall visual presentation, comparing the costumes to those seen in other historical and fantasy productions.
The reactions remain subjective, and there has been no confirmation that lighting or editing caused the criticism.
Still, the reported prices have surprised viewers, especially as the drama's costumes were among the most discussed aspects of its premiere.
Meanwhile, The Remarried Empress stars Shin Min Ah, Lee Jong Suk, Ju Ji Hoon, and Lee Se Young in a fantasy romance about an empress facing an unexpected change in her royal marriage.
The Disney+ series consists of 10 episodes, with two new episodes released every Wednesday.
