The Haunted Palace, which continues the undefeated myth of SBS's Friday-Saturday dramas, beautifully concluded the unprecedented story of the iimugi through a brilliant and touching happy ending. Additionally, the final episode of The Haunted Palace achieved its highest ratings ever: 12.3% for peak viewership, 11.0% nationwide, and 10.1% in the metropolitan area, maintaining its rank as number one in the same time slot and overall first place among Saturday mini-series. The 2049 ratings also recorded 2.7%, marking first place among all Saturday mini-series with its heated popularity, achieving a perfect finale.
In the final episode of The Haunted Palace, which aired on the 7th, Kang-cheol (played by Yook Sung-jae) and Yeori (played by Kim Ji-yeon) faced off in the final battle against Ijeong, who was possessed by Palcheok-gi (played by Seo Do-young), delivering a climax that could not be taken eyes off for a moment. In the process, Yeori risked her life to summon the 'Hwadeok Chasa' (the grim reaper who brings the souls of burned ghosts), and Kang-cheol swallowed the petals of the golden marigold flower to save her, exhausting all of his glowing jewels without a trace. Ultimately, the Palcheok-gi that escaped from Ijeong released its deep-rooted grudge through Yeori's Cheondojaje and Ijeong's heartfelt apology, transforming back into its pre-death form as Cheon Geum-hwi (played by Seo Do-young) alongside the villagers of Yongdamgol, crossing the Samdo River and causing viewers to feel emotional. Additionally, Kang-cheol, whom we thought had vanished, dramatically revived, chose to lead a life with Yeori rather than ascending as a dragon, leaving behind rabbit-like children and ending the drama with a heartwarming and pleasant aftertaste for the audiences.
Thus, The Haunted Palace, which uniquely debuted as a fantasy historical drama from SBS, known as the 'drama kingdom' in 2025, garnered overwhelming support from viewers throughout its broadcast even amidst fierce competition among major productions, securing its place as a definitive hit following the undefeated saga of SBS's Friday-Saturday dramas. Here, we look back at the footsteps left by The Haunted Palace, showcasing the power of K-mystical fantasy.
# A love story of an iimugi trapped in a human body and a shaman, the power of fresh material
The Haunted Palace presented a unique romance between an iimugi, which occupies the body of a human, and a shaman who lost her first love to him, showcasing the strength of its fresh material. As the protagonist is a divine being known as an 'iimugi', the narrative and characters offered a variety of unseen experiences and flawless entertainment. The iimugi, Kang-cheol, who learns about human emotions for the first time, elicited humorous laughter, while the process of the iimugi and shaman, whose bodies and souls tangled, developing a true love for each other melted hearts. Additionally, the confrontation with the vengeful spirit Palcheok-gi, which harbored deep-rooted grievances against the royal family, contained a sweet yet thrilling romantic tension that truly captivated viewers.
# From Yook Sung-jae, reborn as a 'fantasy genius', to Kim Ji-yeon and Kim Ji-hoon, who have reshaped their characters!
In the drama, Yook Sung-jae portrays Kang-cheol, the iimugi trapped in the body of Yeori's first love, Yoon-gap, flawlessly delivering a dual performance of a half-human, half-divine character and continuing the legacy of fantasy supremacy. Particularly, from his newborn-like appearance feeling human emotions for the first time, to the charisma of a deity who understands the world's principles, and finally, the passionate gaze of a man in love with a human woman, Yook Sung-jae truly unleashed a millennium of charm, successfully claiming the title of 'fantasy genius.'
Kim Ji-yeon took on the role of Yeori, who defies her fate as a shaman and lives as an artisan in eyeglass making, garnering praise for her deepened acting skills. Particularly as a healer who calms the grudges and souls of vengeful spirits, Kim Ji-yeon emanated both delicacy and strength, creating a new character that breaks the stereotype of existing shaman roles. Additionally, Kim Ji-hoon, who portrayed King Ijeong, facing the vengeful spirit Palcheok-gi, showcased a multifaceted charm from being a benevolent king who cares for his people to a pure-hearted man who loves his mother, and in the latter part of the drama, after being possessed by Palcheok-gi, revealed a seductive and decadent appeal, leading to reactions that indicated he had rewritten his life character.
Additionally, actors, including Kim Sang-ho (as Poongsan), who caught attention for his extremely cruel acting, along with Ahn Nae-sang (as Choi Won-woo), Gil Hae-yeon (as Neopdeok), Kim In-kwon (as Kim Eung-soon), Cha Cheong-hwa (as Yeong-geum), Son Byeong-ho (as Kim Bong-in), Han Soo-yeon (as the Empress Dowager), Han So-eun (as Queen Park), Shin Seul-ki (as Choi In-seon), Seo Do-young (as Palcheok-gi/Cheon Geum-hwi), Lee Won-jong (as Gaseob monk), and Jo Han-gyeol (as Bibi) performed mesmerizing character plays, enriching The Haunted Palace.
# Birth of a ghost drama with a different approach! The new origin of the occult genre!
The Haunted Palace captured the audience with a unique perspective that differentiated it from existing occult genres featuring ghosts. The drama presented not only the main ghost, Palcheok-gi, but also traditional Korean ghosts like the 'one-legged ghost', 'susalgwi', and 'glowing ghost', offering a unique experience. Unlike other occult genre works that present ghosts as objects of fear, this drama highlights these spirits as beings with human-like emotions and offers a sense of humanism. The process of exorcism is portrayed not merely as a battle between good and evil, but focuses on the stories behind the ghosts before their deaths, exploring their grudges and wounds, thus establishing a new grammar for occult dramas that has never existed before.
# The power of K-mystical fantasy that has shaken global fans and foreign media!
The popularity of The Haunted Palace, filled with the charm of traditional Korean culture and sentiments, has swept beyond Korea to overseas. In its first week of broadcasting, it dominated the TV series category across five Asian countries, including South Korea, according to Netflix (FlixPatrol, 2025.4.22), firing the starting signal for global success. The drama excelled with an overwhelming score of 9.7 on the global OTT platform Rakuten Viki, taking first place in 89 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia (based on the third week of airing). Moreover, it secured the top position in Hong Kong and Thailand based on Asia's largest regional OTT platform Viu, maintaining its place in the top three in major Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia from May 12 to 18, marking it as a certain global hit.
International media reviews have followed suit. Pierce Conran, a journalist from Hong Kong's prominent outlet, South China Morning Post, praised the drama, noting, 'The strength of this drama lies in its ability to interestingly blend various genres and perfectly combine the densely-packed plot. Director Yoon Sung-sik, with his extensive experience in historical dramas, has skillfully built these elements.' Moreover, international film and romance media Leisurebyte mentioned, 'The interplay between the millennia-old iimugi and humans brings laughter and warmth simultaneously. Even amidst the chaotic developments where bodies change and ghosts appear, it offers perfect entertainment,' further elevating the global status of K-mystical fantasy.
[Photo] Capture from the broadcast of The Haunted Palace
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