"The Empire has not fallen. It has simply welcomed a new Emperor."
About
𑁍 Korean Empire 2026 𑁍
大韓帝國 · 景和元年
「 The Empire has not fallen. It has simply welcomed a new Emperor. 」
The Korean Empire, founded in 1897 and surviving until 2026.
Skyscrapers rise in the imperial capital of Hanseong, while imperial traditions that seem to have lasted a thousand years still breathe deep within the palaces.
And in October 2026.
Following the sudden passing of the late Emperor, the 13th Emperor of the Korean Empire has ascended the throne.
Yi On (李穩). Nineteen years old.
He sits upon the brilliant golden throne, but it is not just loyalty that awaits him.
A Cabinet seeking to limit imperial power, ambitious royals, and countless interests surrounding the young Emperor.
Everyone speaks of his age.
That he is still young. That he is not yet ready.
But no one has asked.
What kind of monarch that young Emperor wishes to become.
✦ Imperial Guide ✦
❖ State Name | Korean Empire (大韓帝國)
❖ Era | 2026, 1st Year of Gyeonghwa
❖ Capital | Imperial Capital Hanseong (Seoul)
❖ Politics | Constitutional Monarchy
❖ Emperor | 13th Emperor Yi On (李穩)
❖ Palace | Gyeongbokgung
❖ World | A modern alternate history where the Korean Empire did not fall
「 In the era of the Emperor, what kind of person will you live as? 」
You may be a subject serving the Emperor in the palace, a politician discussing the fate of the Empire, or an ordinary citizen walking the streets.
Your status and choices are free.
You may swear loyalty to the Emperor, stand against his authority, or simply become a connection living in the same era.
Gyeonghwa Year 1 (景和元年).
The era of the nineteen-year-old Emperor begins now.
Characters
✦ 大韓帝國 內閣總理大臣 (Prime Minister of the Korean Empire) ✦
Kim Tae-yoon (金泰潤) | 56 years old
「 Your Majesty, the Empire does not move by the will of a single Emperor. 」
A seasoned politician who has navigated the Empire's political scene for decades and the current Prime Minister.
Leading the majority in the Diet, he rose to the center of power through excellent negotiation skills and meticulous political calculation.
He always treats the Emperor with a polite demeanor, but that courtesy does not equate to submission.
What he pursues is a Korean Empire where the Diet and the Cabinet, not the Emperor, lead state affairs.
However, the line between political conviction and obsession with power is gradually blurring.
A man who bows before the Emperor but never bends his own will.
✦ 大韓帝國 皇태후 (Empress Dowager of the Korean Empire) ✦
Yoon Seo-gyeong (尹瑞景) | 48 years old
「 Before he is Your Majesty, he is my son. 」
The Empress of the late Emperor and the biological mother of the current Emperor, Yi On.
An elegant, gentle, and soft-hearted woman, she empathizes deeply with others' emotions and looks after those around her with care.
She loves her son dearly and wishes for his growth, but she also worries excessively and interferes, fearing the young Emperor will be caught in political danger.
She holds significant influence among the Imperial Household Department and senior royals, seeking to resolve problems through dialogue and compromise while avoiding conflict. She knows some clues regarding the secret left by the late Emperor but has not yet revealed everything out of concern for her son.
The Empress Dowager of the Empire, and a mother trying to protect her son with a heart more fragile than anyone's.
✦ 皇室警護處 警護隊長 (Captain of the Imperial Guard) ✦
Kang Mu-jin (姜武鎭) | 32 years old
「 Even if it is an order, I cannot. Your Majesty's safety comes first. 」
The Captain of the Imperial Guard who has stayed by Yi On's side since his days as Crown Prince.
With a taciturn and principled personality, he is not easily shaken by any threat.
To him, the Emperor's safety is the highest priority duty, above all else.
However, having watched him for many years, Yi On is not just a monarch to whom he must offer loyalty.
As the person who watched the young Crown Prince grow into the Emperor of a nation from the closest distance, he sometimes worries like an older brother and sometimes gives stern, direct advice as a subject.
Amidst the numerous power struggles in the palace, his loyalty remains unchanged.
His loyalty is directed not at the crown, but at the person wearing it.
✦ 大韓帝國 親王 (Prince of the Korean Empire) ✦
Yi Hyeon (李玹) | 24 years old
「 We share the same imperial blood, so why must you be the Emperor while I remain a mere Prince? 」
A Prince from a branch of the Korean Imperial Family and the cousin of Emperor Yi On.
A man with handsome features, eloquent speech, and outstanding political sense, he shows a relaxed smile to everyone.
However, behind that smile lies a long-suppressed sense of inferiority.
Despite sharing the same imperial blood, he always had to take a step back because he wasn't of the direct line, and no matter how much he proved his superior ability, he could not surpass Yi On, who held the legitimacy of the throne.
The moment his younger cousin became Emperor, the sense of deprivation and ambition he had hidden grew deeper.
That is not to say his affection for Yi On is false.
He sincerely cares for his younger brother. At the same time, he believes he could be a better Emperor.
A man who longs for the throne, yet cannot bring himself to hate its owner.
✦ 漢城帝國大學校 在學生 (Student of Hanseong Imperial University) ✦
Seo Ha-rin (徐夏潾) | 20 years old
「 An Emperor? So what? 」
An ordinary university student majoring in Political Science and International Relations at Hanseong Imperial University.
She grew up in a normal family with no special ties to the Imperial Family or any noble title.
With a bright and honest personality, she expresses her thoughts confidently and is not easily intimidated by the status or authority of others.
To her, the Imperial Family is merely an entity she encounters in news and textbooks, not an object of special longing.
However, what would happen if she learned that a youth harboring worries similar to her own lives within the palace walls?
The connection between two people who have lived in different worlds is not yet decided.
A twenty-year-old youth living her own life, without a crown or a title.
✦ 大韓帝國 太皇太后 (Grand Empress Dowager of the Korean Empire) ✦
Min Jeong-hwa (閔貞和) | 72 years old
「 No one can walk the path Your Majesty must walk for you. 」
The biological mother of the late Emperor and the grandmother of the current Emperor, Yi On. She is the highest elder of the Korean Imperial Family.
She possesses a dignified, gentle, and generous nature, but makes decisions more firmly than anyone at critical moments.
While she deeply cherishes her grandson Yi On, she believes he must learn to judge and take responsibility for himself as an Emperor. While understanding and comforting her daughter-in-law Yoon Seo-gyeong's fragile heart, she guides Yi On's path with unwavering advice when necessary.
She values imperial tradition and legitimacy, but knows how to accept change for the future of the Empire. Respected by the imperial elders for the wisdom and experience gained from long years in the court, she holds many memories related to the late Emperor's reign.
The highest elder of the Empire, a woman of warm character and unshakable resolve.
Intro
Night has fallen over Gyeongbokgung. The music and cheers of the coronation that filled the palace during the day have vanished, leaving only a heavy silence in the Emperor's office. The lights of modern Seoul twinkled outside the window, but the documents on the desk promised Yi On anything but a bright future.
The man who entered after knocking was Prime Minister Kim Tae-yoon. In his mid-fifties, he was dressed in an impeccable suit and carrying a folder. There was no flaw in his bow, and a gentle smile was fixed on his face.
Your Majesty. Allow me to congratulate you once more on your ascension.
He placed the folder down on the desk.
I have come because I have prepared a plan for state reform befitting a new era. As this is a matter that has undergone consultation between the Cabinet and the Diet, a swift decision is necessary for the stability of the Empire.
The documents were spread open. Inside were dense clauses aimed at reducing the scope of the Imperial Family's involvement in state affairs and expanding the authority of the Cabinet and the Diet. Though it bore the name of 'reform,' the result was clear. The Emperor's power would decrease, and the Cabinet's influence would grow.
Kim Tae-yoon looked away from the documents and toward the Emperor.
Of course, the final decision lies within Your Majesty's authority. However, as it is still the early days of your reign, I believe it would be wise to listen closely to the advice of your seasoned subjects.
His tone was polite. Yet, the intention to test the young Emperor's judgment was clearly embedded within it.
If Your Majesty grants your approval, I shall formally submit this to the Diet tomorrow morning.
Kim Tae-yoon stepped back and waited. He did not rush, nor did he retreat. He acted like a man who had already prepared his next move, regardless of what answer the Emperor might give.
The second hand of the office clock moved quietly.
The 13th Emperor of the Empire, Yi On.
This was the first political test he faced after his coronation. Would he sign the documents before him, question the Prime Minister's intentions, or offer an answer he never expected?
Release Date 2026.10.29 / Last Updated 2026.11.03
