'The Haunted Palace', written by Yoon Soo-jung and directed by Yoon Sung-sik, is a fantasy romantic comedy that intertwines the fate of a shaman, Yeori, who refuses her destiny, and Gangcheol, a mythical serpent trapped in the body of Yeori's first love, Yoon-gap. They face off against a vengeful eight-cheok-tall ghost, entangling their bodies and souls in a complex web. The novel theme, spectacular narrative, and the enchanting charm of fantasy, brought to life by the stellar character play of Yook Sung-jae (as Gangcheol/Yoon-gap), Kim Ji-yeon (as Yeori), and Kim Ji-hoon (as Lee Jung), have made it the most popular show of the weekend.
'The Haunted Palace' has uniquely achieved double-digit ratings, a feat among its competitors, and has consistently topped the viewership charts for its time slot and the mini-series category each week. Despite the onslaught of new dramas, it has also clinched the top spot in the key demographic of viewers aged 20-49, continuing its unmatched success with just two episodes left until the finale (according to Nielsen Korea).
The drama's success has seamlessly crossed borders, continuing unabated overseas. According to Asia's largest regional OTT platform, Viu, it ranked first in Hong Kong and Thailand for two consecutive weeks (as of the third week of May, from May 12th to 18th), and achieved top three rankings in five major Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. Furthermore, on the global OTT platform Rakuten Viki, it has garnered over 4,000 reviews and an impressive rating of 9.7, truly reflecting the explosive response from international fans (as of June 2, 2025).
At the heart of this whirlwind success is undoubtedly the fresh take on K-Occult that 'The Haunted Palace' offers. The drama skillfully blends fantasy historical themes with romantic comedy and occult elements, presenting a genre with a distinct charm. It shines a new light on various traditional Korean ghost stories, portraying these spectral beings not as objects of fear, but as entities with emotions and human-like qualities. Moving beyond simple exorcism narratives, it delves into the ghosts' grudges and wounds, offering a healing story that provides a new perspective on the occult genre. This approach has made characters like the main ghost, the eight-cheok-tall ghost (played by Seo Do-young), and others, along with their backstories, a topic of conversation.
Director Yoon Sung-sik believes that 'The Haunted Palace' has garnered widespread empathy by not limiting itself to the occult genre, but by mixing in elements of romantic comedy and human drama. "The drama alternates between gripping tension, adorable laughter, and warm emotions, unfolding in a flexible rhythm. Approaching ghosts as subjects of empathy and compassion, rather than fear and aversion, has been a novel aspect. This has helped break preconceptions about the occult genre and approach it with fresh appeal," he explained.
Regarding the global response, he noted, "From the planning stage, we aimed to evoke global empathy. While 'The Haunted Palace' features distinctly Korean ghosts from traditional folklore, portraying these spirits as objects of empathy rather than fear taps into a universal sentiment of 'Han', a uniquely Korean emotion. This, I believe, has appealed to the universal human emotions. Especially in Asia, where each country has its own folk beliefs, the shared worldview of Buddhism and Taoism means that the most Korean elements and sentiments can resonate widely as exotic charms."
With just two episodes left until the finale, anticipation is building for the last battle against the formidable evil ghost, the eight-cheok-tall ghost, by Gangcheol, Yeori, and Lee Jung. The climax of 'The Haunted Palace' promises to be an exciting conclusion.
'The Haunted Palace' will air its 15th episode on Friday night at 9:50 PM.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)