SBS 'Haunted Palace' actor Kim Ji-hoon has thrown his hat into the ring with his first royal character since debut.
On the 18th (Friday) at 9:50 p.m., SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Haunted Palace' (written by Yoon Soo-jung/directed by Yoon Seong-sik), which will air as a follow-up to 'Buried Hearts', depicts a body-swapping fantasy romantic comedy in which Imugi Kang-cheol, who is trapped in the body of Yoon-gap, Yeori's first love, faces a cursed creature with a grudge against the royal family. Director Yoon Seong-sik, known for his well-received dramas like 'Mr. Queen', 'Lee Soon Shin is the Best', 'Bridal Mask', and 'Dae Joyeong', collaborates with writer Yoon Soo-jung, who penned 'The King's Face' and 'Cheer Up!'. The fresh acting combination of Yoo Seong-jae (Yoon-gap/Kang-cheol), Kim Ji-yeon (Yeori), and Kim Ji-hoon (Lee Jung) is highly anticipated.
In particular, Kim Ji-hoon plays the fictional king 'Lee Jung', who confronts the cursed creature with a grudge against the royal family. He will join hands with his favored subject Yoon-gap (Yoo Seong-jae) and the woman he brought, Yeori (played by Kim Ji-yeon), to battle the creature that holds the fate of the nation.
Regarding his choice of 'Haunted Palace' as his return to historical dramas after 15 years, Kim Ji-hoon noted, "I had a lot of trust in Director Yoon Seong-sik since we worked together on 'Babel'. I also had a strong desire to participate in a historical drama after a long time and especially wanted to challenge myself with a royal role."
In the past, Kim Ji-hoon has demonstrated an irreplaceable presence in works such as 'I Jae, Am Dying Soon', 'Money Heist: Joint Economic Area', and 'Flower of Evil'. Attention is focused on the character 'Lee Jung', which he will present through 'Haunted Palace', and Kim Ji-hoon stated, "A righteous king who genuinely cares for the people may come off as a clichéd and dull role. However, 'Lee Jung' will traverse a wide range of genres, from comedy to action to romance, making him potentially more varied and multifaceted than any character I have portrayed previously."
Kim Ji-hoon has put in a lot of effort to embody the character 'Lee Jung', saying, "This is my first royal role and I was a bit worried, but I've heard many compliments saying that I fit well. The most careful aspect for me has been the tone and voice of the dialogue. While maintaining a solemn and weighty presence, I focused on avoiding the overly old-fashioned historical drama atmosphere through acting practice and vocal training." He also revealed, "Given the multifaceted aspects of Lee Jung, such as his lonely yet resilient demeanor, feelings of helplessness against the overwhelming fear of the cursed creature, and his roles as a father and husband, I could not express any part carelessly, so I meticulously analyzed the script and practiced." Additionally, hinting at intense action scenes, he shared, "There are significant action sequences in the latter half of the drama, and I exerted myself to the limit in terms of emotion and stamina during filming. For over a month, I couldn't recover and experienced muscle soreness all over my body, as if I had sustained an injury."
Meanwhile, regarding the rare collaboration among the Imugi, the shaman, and the king, Kim Ji-hoon expressed, "First of all, the chemistry between the two actors is so good that just watching it brings joy." In particular, Kim Ji-hoon anticipates a unique 'military-bromance' with Yoo Seong-jae, who crosses the line in the drama, saying, "Yoo Seong-jae has great comedic timing, and he has an excellent ability to absorb any advice into his performance. As the story progresses, a bromance that transcends social status begins to bloom, and during rehearsals, we exchanged spontaneous ideas freely, creating chemistry that isn't in the script. I hope for viewers to look forward to the military-bromance as well."
Finally, regarding the key points of watching 'Haunted Palace', he said, "While retaining the weight of traditional historical dramas, the charm lies in the comedic elements that emerge when one might let their guard down. From the romance between Yoon-gap and Yeori to the chilling exorcism story and thrilling action, we have endeavored to present a variety of emotions and genres interestingly, so I ask for a lot of love for this drama. I also believe that following the emotions of the king I portray will be a significant source of enjoyment."
[Photo] 'Haunted Palace'
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