My Royal Nemesis

My Royal Nemesis (Korean: 멋진 신세계) is an ongoing South Korean romantic comedy fantasy television series written by Kang Hyun-joo, directed by Han Tae-seop, and starring Lim Ji-yeon, Heo Nam-jun, and Jang Seung-jo. The series tells the story of a legendary Joseon villainess whose soul transmigrates into the body of a nameless actress and her love-hate relationship with a modern ruthless tycoon. It premiered on SBS TV on May 8, 2026, and airs every Friday and Saturday at 21:50 (KST). It is also available for streaming on Netflix.

During the Joseon Dynasty, Kang Dan-shim gains notoriety at court for her cunning and ambition. Through manipulation and intellect, she ascends to the rank of royal concubine. Feared for her ruthlessness, she is eventually sentenced to death by poison.

However, her fate does not end with her death. Her soul awakens in 21st-century South Korea, inhabiting the body of Shin Seo-ri, an unknown actress who plays minor roles in historical dramas. In this unfamiliar era, Dan-shim gradually takes control of Seo-ri's life and, due to her unpredictable nature, quickly adapts to the modern world. She crosses paths with Cha Se-gye, the ruthless chaebol heir. The two develop a tense, conflict-driven relationship complicated by a love-hate dynamic.

Navigating the unfamiliar world, Kang Dan-shim realizes this twist of fate gives her a chance to escape her predetermined destiny and reshape her life.

The cast of My Royal Nemesis at the press conference, May 2026 (L to R): Kim Min-seok, Lim Ji-yeon, Heo Nam-jun, Jang Seung-jo, and Lee Se-hee

• Lim Ji-yeon as Shin Seo-ri / Kang Dan-shim

An aspiring actress, Shin Seo-ri, becomes possessed by the spirit of the Joseon-era villainess Kang Dan-shim and develops a vicious personality. Dan-shim is a ruthless and cunning concubine of the Joseon dynasty, known as the most reviled villainess in the court. She rose to the position of first-rank concubine without strong support, leveraging her sharp wit and manipulative tactics. Following her death by poisoning, she awakens 300 years later in 2026 and inhabits the body of Shin Seo-ri, who is filming a poison scene for a historical drama. In that new world, she crosses paths with Cha Se-gye, who may be her last chance to rewrite her fate.

• Heo Nam-jun as Cha Se-gye

The infamous third-generation chaebol. He is the heir to Chail Group, known as a ruthless business tycoon, but as he crosses paths with Seo-ri, who's possessed, he is confronted by her.

• Jang Seung-jo as Choi Moon-do

The president of Chail Construction and Se-gye's cousin. He made repeated efforts to gain the attention of his uncle, Dal-su. He also volunteered as a liver donor for his uncle, who was suffering from acute liver failure. After becoming President of Chail Construction, he deemed the role insufficient and continued to pursue his uncle's position, while perceiving Cha Se-gye as superior.

• Kim Min-seok as Baek Gwang-nam, Seo-ri's manager

• Lee Se-hee as Yoon Ji-hyo, a top star with 19 years of experience in the entertainment industry

• Kim Hae-sook as Nam Ok-soon, Seo-ri's grandmother

• Baek Ji-won as Hong Bu-seon, CEO of Doran Entertainment

• Oh Min-ae as Geum Bo-sal/Geum Jeong-ae, a shaman who knows that Seo-ri is a spirit from Joseon

• Park Jin-woo as Gu Pil-gyu, Seo-ri's Gosiwon manager

• Chae Seo-an as Mo Tae-hee, the precious daughter of Mo Chang Group, who is Se-gye's blind date

• Yoon Joo-sang as Cha Dal-su, Se-gye's grandfather, who is the Chairman of Chail Group

• Yoon Byung-hee as Son Jae-chan, Biojei. Chief of Staff, who is Se-gye's right-hand man

• Jung Young-joo as Cha Ju-ran, CEO of Chail Food and Se-gye's eldest aunt

• Baek Eun-hye as Cha Ju-mi, CEO of Chail Apparel and Se-gye's second aunt

• Jung Jae-kyung as Sunwoo Jung-hyun, Se-gye's friend, who is a psychiatrist

• Kim Gye-rim as Kwak Eun-ah, Seo-ri's fellow actress

• Oh Man-seok as Jang Seok-ho, a Biojei executive, who was once a founding member of the Chail Group

• Jeong Jae-hyeok as Seo Nam-jin (Secretary Seo), Moon-do's attendant

• Shin Jeong-won as Kim Hyun-hee (Secretary Kim), Se-gye's secretary, who is raising two children

• Kim Hyun as Kwon Jin-ok, the butler in charge of the affairs of Dal-su's mansion

Han Tae-seop, who helmed Cheer Up (2022) and Hot Stove League (2019–2020), was attached to direct the series, and the screenplay is written by Kang Hyun-joo. The production is handled by Studio S, Studio Dragon and Gill Pictures.

In June 2025, Artist Company confirmed that Lim Ji-yeon had received an offer to play the role of Shin Seo-ri and was considering it. The next month, Heo Nam-jun was offered to play the male lead. Lim and Heo's appearances were officially confirmed by October 2025, and Lee Se-hee, Chae Seo-an, Kim Min-seok, and Jang Seung-jo were reportedly cast.

Principal photography began in the second half of 2025.

My Royal Nemesis was reportedly scheduled to premiere on SBS TV in the first half of 2026, airing on a Friday–Saturday timeslot. The series' special teaser was unveiled at the 2025 SBS Drama Awards and confirmed for a May 2026 release. By April 2026, the series was confirmed to premiere on May 8, 2026. It is also available for streaming on Netflix.

Part 1

• Official website (in Korean)
• Production website at Studio Dragon (in English and Korean)
• My Royal Nemesis at IMDb
• My Royal Nemesis at HanCinema