The SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'The Haunted Palace', written by Yoon Soo-jung and directed by Yoon Sung-sik, is a fantasy romantic comedy that intertwines the fate of Yeori, a shaman who refuses her destiny as a medium, and Kang Cheol, a serpent spirit trapped in the body of Yeori's first love, Yoon-gap. They face off against an eight-legged ghost harboring a grudge against the royal family, leading to a complex entanglement of bodies and souls. Achieving a peak viewership rating of 11.3% (according to Nielsen Korea), the show has consistently broken its own records, dominating its time slot for four consecutive weeks and sweeping the top spot across all mini-series broadcasted weekly. Additionally, 'The Haunted Palace' has climbed to the top of the integrated content ranking across dramas, movies, and shows for the second week of May, as revealed by the OTT content search platform KinoLights, continuing its winning streak. (As of May 13, 2025)
In the latest episode, the shocking revelation that the sinister events shaking the palace were orchestrated by King Lee Jung's (played by Kim Ji-hoon) grandfather and Prime Minister Kim Bong-in (played by Son Byong-ho) captivated viewers. Amidst these developments, Kang Cheol (played by Yook Sung-jae) finally confesses his feelings for Yeori (played by Kim Ji-yeon), who seems to be wavering in her feelings towards him, amplifying the audience's curiosity. Furthermore, the death of Yeori's grandmother, Neobdeok (played by Gil Hae-yeon), is revealed to be the work of the eight-legged ghost, not Kang Cheol, unraveling deep-seated misunderstandings and sparking interest in whether this will pave the way for a mutual romance.
Ahead of episode 9, 'The Haunted Palace' has released stills showcasing a love triangle (?) filled with jealousy between Kang Cheol and Yeori, capturing the audience's attention.
The released stills show Kang Cheol and Yeori caught in a tense atmosphere due to the unexpected visit of Inseon (played by Shin Seul-gi). Kang Cheol is seen enjoying a variety of sweet treats and snacks brought by Inseon as gifts. His fascination with the array of snacks, different from his favorite pumpkin candy, brings laughter. However, his expression suggests he's sneakily checking Yeori's reaction while indulging in his beloved snacks.
Yeori, on the other hand, watches Kang Cheol and Inseon, who boldly takes the seat next to him, with a wary eye. Especially when Inseon attempts to feed Kang Cheol snacks with a playful smile, sparks fly from Yeori's eyes. Despite previously denying her feelings for Kang Cheol, Yeori's unconscious jealousy brings a smile to viewers' faces. This jealousy may lead Yeori to realize her own feelings, making the upcoming broadcast of 'The Haunted Palace' highly anticipated.
'The Haunted Palace' Episode 9 airs on May 16th at 9:55 PM.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)