In the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Haunted Palace,' Yook Sungjae threw himself into a terrifying trap created by a vengeful ghost to save Kim Jiyeon.
In the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Haunted Palace' (written by Yoon Soo-jung, directed by Yoon Sung-sik), Episode 7, which aired on Nov. 9, featured the characters Gangcheol (played by Yook Sungjae), Yeori (played by Kim Jiyeon), and Wang Leejeong (played by Kim Jihoon) struggling spectacularly to uncover the black forces targeting the queen's unborn child using the shaman's talisman (played by Kim Junwon). Additionally, Episode 7 of 'Haunted Palace' recorded the highest viewership rating of 10.9%, with 9.8% nationwide, 9.6% in the metropolitan area, and 2.8% among viewers aged 20-49, breaking its own record once again as it continued to rise steadily. It also ranked first in the same time slot for five consecutive weeks and held the top spot for weekly mini-series, showcasing its undisputed dominance as a weekend powerhouse.
Gangcheol managed to repel the shaman with an all-out fight, but the problem was that Yeori had been injured. Concerned about Yeori, Gangcheol took the opportunity of her lost shoes to carry her, causing Yeori's heart to start racing at that moment. Yeori exclaimed, "It’s natural for my heart to flutter when the person I've missed for 13 years is right in front of me, moving so close and brushing against me. I'm a person, and I'm a woman too," showing her frustration. Seeing Yeori's likeness to someone from a while ago, Gangcheol smiled subtly and teased, "I'm not that guy's Yun Gapnari, so why do I keep feeling unnecessary emotions?" A flustered Yeori imposed a 'no approach within 10 steps' mandate, while secretly nurturing a soft pink excitement.
Wang Leejeong (played by Kim Jihoon) convened a meeting to find the person who placed a cursed skull under the queen's pillow. The culprit was the maid Cherry (played by Han Dasol), who had been colluding with the queen mother (played by Han Suyeon). The black forces deeply infiltrated the palace continued their brutal acts to silence Cherry by poisoning her, and outraged by the brazen evidence destruction within the palace, Leejeong entrusted the investigation of Cherry to his trusted Prime Minister Kim Bongin (played by Son Byeongho).
At the same time, the queen mother reprimanded Poongsan (played by Kim Sangho) for the events that took place in the main palace. Poongsan, who claimed that 'the king summoned a shaman to kill Yeongin-daegun (played by Kim Seonbin),' insinuated that the current incident was also for the queen mother's benefit, using his cunning tongue. Although the queen mother was suspicious of Poongsan's words and actions, she thought there might be some basis for his claims, further fueling her animosity toward Leejeong. Meanwhile, as Poongsan exited the queen mother's quarters, he sensed the presence of Yeori, Gangcheol, and Bibi (played by Jo Hankyul) inside the palace, intrigued by the tension, saying, "One shaman and two dragons."
On the other hand, Yeori found herself at a deadlock as she had no way to uncover the identity of the shaman. She realized that there was a ghost called 'Yagwang-ghost (played by Park Daon)' who stole shoes within the palace and devised a plan to find the person who summoned the vengeful ghosts using talismans. Successfully capturing the innocent little ghost, Yeori asked, "Please tell me who put the talisman on Yeongin-daegun's quarters," gaining the clue that the person who placed the talisman was 'a courtier whose eyes were scary and fingers were black.'
Meanwhile, the queen mother's ominous plans extended a tense grip over Yeori. Believing that Yeori had killed Yeongin-daegun, the queen mother called Yeori out under the pretense of a pair of spectacles, revealing her animosity. At the same time, as the queen suffered from her wounds, Leejeong searched for Yeori, but she couldn't reach the main palace due to being trapped in the queen mother's quarters. Fed up with waiting, Leejeong rushed to the queen mother's quarters to call Yeori out and managed to return to the main palace with her after an intense battle of wits.
However, Yeori, who had been hurt just like the queen, also rapidly deteriorated and fainted. It became evident that they needed to capture the shaman to save both Yeori and the queen's lives. As Yeori's condition worsened, Gangcheol, unable to afford an unnecessary delay, suggested using the king as bait to lure out the escaped shaman. The king, furious at Gangcheol's impudence, ultimately decided to participate in the risky plan.
Upon reaching the riverside, where the shaman's hideout was, the conflict between Gangcheol and Leejeong escalated greatly. They even grappled, but saving Yeori and the queen was their priority, and spending the night together waiting for the shaman led to a subtle camaraderie blooming between them. Additionally, it was revealed that Gangcheol's disdain for the king stemmed from a karmic connection related to Yeori and the royal family, and questions about the death of Yeori's maternal grandmother, Neobdeok (played by Gil Haeyun), also emerged, hinting at its relationship with the royal family.
In the final moments of the episode, it was revealed that Gangcheol and Leejeong had fallen into a trap, delivering a shock to viewers. In critical condition, Yeori awoke after witnessing Gangcheol being attacked by the shaman, repeatedly thinking to herself, "Gangcheol, no! It's a trap, please!" She ran with all her might toward the riverside. At the same time, with dawn breaking and unable to wait any longer, Leejeong stood up, cut his hand with a knife, and let his blood flow into the river. Along with this, the shaman finally revealed himself, grabbing Leejeong's ankle and pulling him into the water, providing a shocking conclusion that ramped up the tension. Hence, the fates of the trapped Gangcheol and Leejeong, along with the wounded Yeori and the queen, are of keen interest for future developments.
[Photo] SBS 'Haunted Palace' broadcast capture
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