As 'Haunted Palace' breaks various box office records and gains popularity day by day, the ghosts in the drama are receiving attention for their delightful fun in enjoying the drama.

SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Haunted Palace' (written by Yoon Soo-jung, directed by Yoon Sung-sik) features a fantasy romantic comedy where the shaman Yeori, who rejects the fate of a spirit medium, and Kim Cheol, an Imugi trapped in the body of Yeori's first love, Yoon Gap, face the vengeful ghost, Palcheokwi, with a deep hatred for the royal family, leading to a complicated struggle between body and soul. With a maximum viewer rating of 11.3% (based on Nielsen Korea), it not only sets its own record every episode but also has ranked first in viewership for four consecutive weeks during the same time slot, sweeping the rankings for all mini-series broadcasted in the week. Furthermore, on the 13th, 'Haunted Palace' ranked first in the overall content ranking, which includes dramas, films, and entertainment, for the second week of May released by the OTT content integrated search platform Kino Lights, continuing to enjoy success.

'Haunted Palace,' the only fantasy historical drama presented by SBS in 2025, starts with the intriguing theme of an Imugi's possession and features powerful character play by actors including Yook Sung-jae (Kim Cheol/Yoon Gap), Kim Ji-yeon (Yeori), and Kim Ji-hoon (Lee Jeong). The romance narrative between Yook Sung-jae and Kim Ji-yeon continues to build excitement, while the gripping palace mystery surrounding the vengeful spirit Palcheokwi has also received positive reviews.

Alongside this, the diverse K-ghost characters presented in 'Haunted Palace' have also established themselves as another popular element. 'Haunted Palace' showcases not only the main spirit, 'Palcheokwi,' but also traditional Korean ghosts such as 'Waidasuri,' 'Susalkwi,' and 'Yagwangwi,' providing a unique sense of fun. Above all, it has received praise for handling ghost stories from a perspective distinct from existing occult genres by not limiting ghosts to mere creepy entities that add tension and fear to the drama but rather attributing 'humanism' to them.

In the story, Susalkwi Ok-im (played by Song Soo-yi), who lives in a well in the Junggungjeon courtyard, has a sad story of taking her own life due to the shock of being assaulted by the reckless Prince Yeong-in (played by Kim Seon-bin). With Yeori's help, she has freed herself from a deep-rooted grievance and avoided becoming an evil spirit. Notably, as her grudges are alleviated, Ok-im is returning to her beautiful complexion in life, which offers subtle humor; viewers affectionately call her 'Sister Susalkwi' and wish for her 'spiritual salvation.' Additionally, Yagwangwi (played by Park Da-on) claims to be a fearsome ghost, yet her charming youthful appearance has garnered her many aunt and uncle fans, making her a scene stealer. Furthermore, another Susalkwi, Mak-dol (played by Kim Jun-won), who drowned while trying to save his daughter, has stirred viewers' emotions with his fierce paternal love.

Director Yoon Sung-sik revealed before the broadcast of 'Haunted Palace' that he approached ghosts not as objects of fear or dread but as beings deserving of compassion and resolution of their grievances. He mentioned that ghosts had lives before they died and were individuals with poignant stories. The narrative was crafted to allow viewers to empathize more with them, and the portrayal of the ghosts pursued a realistic base. He wanted to express that they, too, are the same as people. This clearly indicates that the audience’s positive response to the ghosts in 'Haunted Palace' has not come without reason. Through the unprecedented perspective of 'heartwarming ghosts,' 'Haunted Palace,' a hot topic that is introducing a fresh wind to the 'spirit fantasy genre,' is garnering attention for the future trajectory of its record-breaking journey.

[Photo] Provided by SBS

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