The wait is finally over. Netflix’s highly anticipated original series ‘The East Palace,’ starring Nam Joo Hyuk, Roh Yoon Seo, and Cho Seung Woo, premiered on July 17.
‘The East Palace’ follows Gu Cheon, a man with the ability to travel between the human and spirit worlds, and Saeng Kang, a palace maid harboring a hidden secret. Summoned by the king, the two enter the royal palace to uncover the curse haunting the Eastern Palace. Blending traditional Korean royal aesthetics with occult fantasy, the series generated significant anticipation ahead of its release.
The drama consisted of eight episodes and was released on Netflix at 5 PM KST on Friday.
The Ancient Curse Haunting the Eastern Palace
A curse surrounds the Eastern Palace. Crown princes in the palace began dying one after another, their bodies discovered under mysterious circumstances. Rumors quickly spread that the curse of the “Pond Ghost,” a spirit targeting the royal bloodline, had returned.
Although the king initially dismissed the rumors as mere superstition, everything changed when his last remaining son, Prince Yeongan, also collapsed. Left with no choice, the king secretly summoned Gu Cheon, a man known for traveling between the world of spirits and the living to eliminate ghosts.
Assigned to assist him was Saeng Kang, a palace inspector maid capable of hearing the voices of ghosts. Their mission was clear: destroy the Pond Ghost and lift the curse that had engulfed the Eastern Palace.
However, Gu Cheon could only leave the palace alive if he completed the mission, while Saenggang was secretly ordered by the king to keep watch over him. Unable to fully trust one another, the pair embarked on an uneasy partnership that gradually led them toward the dark secret hidden beneath the palace pond.
Star Power: The Cast Bringing ‘The East Palace’ to Life
One of the drama’s biggest highlights was the chemistry between its three central characters.
Nam Joo Hyuk portrayed Gu Cheon, who survived a childhood drowning accident that claimed the life of his shaman mother. Since then, he gained the ability not only to see ghosts but also to freely cross into the spirit world and destroy them with his sword.
“I constantly imagined the invisible ghosts and the unknown spirit world while filming,” Nam Joo Hyuk said. “I kept thinking about how to portray them as vividly and naturally as possible without making viewers feel disconnected.”
Roh Yoon Seo transformed into Saeng Kang, a palace maid cursed with the ability to hear ghosts. While helping Gu Cheon uncover the truth behind the curse, she also secretly carried out the king’s order to monitor him.
The actress said she focused on portraying the different emotions and attitudes Saenggang displayed depending on whether she was interacting with the king or Gu Cheon.
Cho Seung Woo played the king who recruited the pair to break the palace curse. To portray the mysterious ruler, he explained that he deliberately layered “multiple masks” over the character to keep his true thoughts hidden.
The supporting cast, including Kwak Dong Yeon, Jang Young Nam, Tae In Ho, Hwang Young Hee, Hong Seo Joon, and Lee Hong Nae, also added depth to the series.
A Unique Dive into Korean Occult Fantasy
Another major attraction of ‘The East Palace’ was its distinctly Korean take on the occult genre.
The spirit world that Gu Cheon traversed existed alongside reality. It was inhabited by Won-gwi, vengeful spirits of those who died harboring resentment, and Gwi-mae, supernatural entities formed when negative energy accumulated in a single location.
The writers drew inspiration from Korean folklore and traditional legends.
Writers Kwon So Ra and Seo Jae Won explained, “There are countless Gwi-mae in Korean folklore and oral traditions. We selected those whose abilities best suited the story and adapted certain elements to fit the series.”
By layering the eerie spirit realm over the familiar setting of a royal palace, ‘The East Palace’ created an atmosphere distinct from both conventional historical dramas and Western-style occult series.
The action sequences featuring Gu Cheon’s battles against ghosts, as well as Saenggang’s use of ghostly voices to uncover clues, served as key highlights.
Behind the Magic: The Visionary Production Team
The creative team behind the series also raised expectations.
Director Choi Jung Kyu, known for ‘The Devil Judge’ and ‘Children of Nobody,’ helmed the project, while writers Kwon So Ra and Seo Jae Won—recognized for ‘The Guest’ and ‘Bulgasal: Immortal Souls’—crafted the screenplay.
Director Choi explained that he visually distinguished the real world from the spirit world through different color palettes and backgrounds.
The production emphasized the contrast between the restrained elegance of Korea’s royal palace and the unsettling atmosphere of the supernatural realm, combining traditional Korean aesthetics with fantasy visuals.
Enhanced with extensive VFX, dynamic camera work, and stylized editing, the series aimed to deliver visually immersive action alongside its supernatural mystery.
Nam Joo Hyuk’s Highly Anticipated Return
Donggung also marked Nam Joo Hyuk’s first major project in nearly three years following his military discharge.
“I began filming immediately after completing my service, and now the release day has finally arrived,” he said. “I felt an enormous sense of responsibility and told myself that I had to work as hard as possible so I wouldn’t let the project down.”
Director Choi recalled, “From our very first meeting, I felt he was Gu Cheon. I trusted him immediately, and he showed tremendous determination.”
Before enlisting in 2022, Nam Joo Hyuk became embroiled in school bullying allegations, which his agency denied and pursued through legal action. The individual who made the accusations later received a summary fine of 7 million KRW for defamation based on false claims. As Donggung marked his first major project following the legal proceedings, public attention toward his comeback remained divided.
Even before its premiere, interest in the series was strong. Within four days of its release, the pre-release preview video surpassed 520,000 views, with fans praising Cho Seung Woo’s commanding presence, Nam Joo Hyuk’s intense performance, and the drama’s dark, immersive atmosphere.
Combining Korean royal occult storytelling, a star-studded cast, and high-end production values, ‘The East Palace’ now sets its sights on captivating audiences around the world.
Netflix’s ‘The East Palace’ premiered on July 17 with a total of eight episodes, released simultaneously at 5 PM KST.
