Actor Kim Ji-hoon praised singer and actor Yook Sung-jae, with whom he collaborated, along with his thoughts on the conclusion of 'The Haunted Palace'.

On the afternoon of the 11th, an interview was held with actor Kim Ji-hoon regarding the conclusion of the SBS weekend drama 'The Haunted Palace' (written by Yoon Soo-jung, directed by Yoon Sung-sik) at a cafe in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam, Seoul.

Kim Ji-hoon captivated viewers by deeply digesting the complex aspects of his character, 'King Lee Jung,' who is a righteous monarch, a loving father, and a man harboring unrequited love for a woman. Notably, Kim Ji-hoon appeared in a historical drama for the first time in 16 years since 'The Great Queen Seondeok' in 2009 through 'The Haunted Palace', and he delivered a passionate performance in his first royal role since debuting.

On this day, Kim Ji-hoon opened up about his thoughts on the conclusion, saying, "Filming took a long time and was tough, but the broadcast always passes by quickly, leaving a sense of regret. I feel rewarded for the love received and am grateful for the good ratings."

Regarding the muscle pain mentioned at the earlier production presentation, he noted, "It has mostly healed. The injury lingered for a while. I am recovering a lot." He continued, "It’s not a serious injury, but since the performance of the 'Armless Ghost' was also the last for the schedule, and it involved acting with accumulated fatigue while expressing anger, it required a lot of strength. Although there are scenes that quickly pass on air, filming requires repeating them dozens of times over several hours, which puts a lot of strain on the body to maintain energy levels. It seems I pushed my muscles beyond pain. I’m taking the time to recover from that."

'The Haunted Palace' steadily won the viewers' love by ranking first in the weekly mini-series ratings after being number one in five countries on Netflix. When asked if he felt the popularity, Kim Ji-hoon said, "When I go out, it’s clear that people discuss and recognize it. Rather than simply hearing 'I’m a fan,' I often hear 'I’m watching The Haunted Palace,' so I feel it."

When asked if he is satisfied with such popularity, Kim Ji-hoon replied, "These days, drama ratings have dropped compared to earlier times, and people have entered an era where they don’t watch terrestrial broadcasts. Nevertheless, I felt thankful for the many viewers" and added, "It seems we are in an unpredictable era, making predictions increasingly difficult. I hope people watch it and that I can pour everything into it without leaving a trace of regret."

The actor Yook Sung-jae, with whom he collaborated, showcased two roles in one. When asked how he viewed Yook Sung-jae's performance, Kim Ji-hoon said, "He does really well; he’s great, and when he shows that strong appearance, his charm seems to double. There are some comical scenes, and his ability to bring those out is exceptional. I thought Yook Sung-jae not only sings well but also acts excellently."

Meanwhile, the SBS weekend drama 'The Haunted Palace,' in which Kim Ji-hoon appeared, concluded on the 7th.

[Photo] OSEN DB, drama stills, provided by the agency.

[OSEN]