"Haunted Palace" Kim Ji-yeon hints at 'perfect chemistry' with Yook Sung-jae.
On the night of April 18 at 9:50 p.m., the new SBS Friday-Saturday drama "Haunted Palace" (written by Yoon Soo-jung, directed by Yoon Sung-sik), which will air following "Buried Hearts," is a body-swapping fantasy rom-com where Yeo-ri, a shamaness who rejects the fate of a medium, and I-mugi Kang-cheol, trapped in the body of Yeo-ri's first love Yun-gab, confronts the eight-legged ghost with a grudge against the royal family, entangling their bodies and souls. The director Yoon Sung-sik, known for directing dramas such as "Mr. Queen," "Lee Soon Shin is the Best," "Bridal Mask," and "Dae Joyeong," collaborates with writer Yoon Soo-jung, who has penned "The King's Face" and "Cheer Up!" Meanwhile, a fresh acting combination of Yook Sung-jae (Yun-gab/Kang-cheol), Kim Ji-yeon (Yeo-ri), and Kim Ji-hoon (Lee Jeong) is expected to draw attention.
Kim Ji-yeon, who plays Yeo-ri, the only granddaughter of a famous shaman with exceptional spiritual abilities, rejects the fate of a medium and lives as a glasses craftsman. She is set to unfold an unprecedented body-swapping romance intertwined with I-mugi Kang-cheol, who is possessed by her first love Yun-gab (Yook Sung-jae).
Kim Ji-yeon noted, "The script was so interesting. The material about 'I-mugi and the shamaness' was unique and fresh, and I found it intriguing that it deals with ghosts from our culture. I have a strong desire to try this fantasy genre that I usually love, and I was grateful to start my first venture in this genre with a good script." She then explained her preparation for the character of shamaness Yeo-ri, saying, "Even though it’s a fantasy genre, I focused on expressing the shaman character realistically." She added, "I sought advice from shaman teachers. I had many discussions with them, watched rituals, and learned incantations and dances. In particular, while shooting the exorcism scenes, I practiced hard to read the incantations as naturally as possible," sparking anticipation for her acting transformation.
In addition, Kim Ji-yeon caught attention by appealing the unique charms of "Haunted Palace," which stands out from existing 'exorcism' genre dramas. She stated, "'Haunted Palace' has a much stronger fantasy element than previous exorcism-related works, so I believe viewers will find it fresh and enjoyable." She also remarked, "Especially in scenes like the ritual, we will incorporate elements of Korean dance, capturing an aesthetic that is even more mysterious and beautiful." Furthermore, she added, "The ghosts are not just scary; they each have their own stories, which is another fun point of 'Haunted Palace.' Many ghosts went through tough times due to special makeup, but I think it became a significant visual point since they were able to express their experiences realistically."
Above all, the romance intertwined with I-mugi Yook Sung-jae is what garners the most anticipation. Kim Ji-yeon expressed, "(Sung-jae and I) have been friends for a long time, so filming was comfortable. We actively shared ideas, and as a result, the process of creating the work was enjoyable." She continued, "Yun-gab and Kang-cheol have the same face, but they are two entirely different people, so I made sure not to confuse their emotional lines. At the same time, although their souls are different, since it's the face and body of a person in love, I tried to convey a heartfelt sentiment. I approached 'Yun-gab and Yeo-ri' as a pure melodrama, and 'Kang-cheol and Yeo-ri' as a rom-com," increasing interest. Additionally, Kim Ji-yeon hinted, "It seems that the moments filming the relationship between Kang-cheol and Yeo-ri were more comfortable and enjoyable," heightening expectations for the chemistry between I-mugi Yook Sung-jae and shamaness Kim Ji-yeon.
Regarding Kim Ji-hoon, who worked as a partner in the exorcism collaborative team against the eight-legged ghost, she recalled, "He was a reliable senior at the scene. He passionately provided a lot of opinions, and I learned a lot and received great help from his dedicated performance," reminiscing that the various personalities of Kang-cheol, Yeo-ri, and Lee Jeong allowed for the scenes they shot together to be depicted more interestingly.
Finally, she revealed, "Please pay attention to the tragic stories of the ghosts, the love triangle between Yun-gab, Yeo-ri, and Kang-cheol, and the tension-filled battles against the fearsome eight-legged ghost," before adding, "I hope everyone enjoys 'Haunted Palace,' which was diligently made by all, and I ask for your love and support, raising anticipation for the show's premiere.
Meanwhile, SBS, the drama kingdom, will uniquely present the fantasy sageuk rom-com 'Haunted Palace' on April 18, 2025, at 9:50 p.m.
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