Yook Sung-jae shared why he was drawn to 'The Haunted Palace.'
On the afternoon of the 17th, a press conference for the new Friday-Saturday drama 'The Haunted Palace' (written by Yoon Soo-jung, directed by Yoon Sung-sik) was held at the SBS headquarters in Mok-dong, Seoul. Director Yoon Sung-sik, along with actors Yook Sung-jae, Kim Ji-yeon, and Kim Ji-hoon, attended the event to discuss their hopes for the new drama.
'The Haunted Palace' is a fantasy romantic comedy drama about a shaman named Yeori (played by Kim Ji-yeon) who rejects her fate as a medium, and her first love, Yoon Gap (played by Yook Sung-jae), whose body is possessed by the vengeful spirit Imoogi, Kang Cheol (also played by Yook Sung-jae). The story unfolds as they encounter a vengeful spirit with a grudge against the royal family, leading to a tangled web of body and soul. Yook Sung-jae takes on the challenge of his first historical drama, playing dual roles as Yeori's first love and the possessed scribe Yoon Gap.
Yook Sung-jae explained his decision to join 'The Haunted Palace,' saying, "I've always wanted to try a historical drama. Plus, it combines fantasy, exorcism, romance, and even bromance, which are genres I love. The variety of genres in 'The Haunted Palace' made me want to be a part of it." He added, "Playing the contrasting characters of Yoon Gap and Kang Cheol by myself was an artistic challenge I couldn't resist. That's why I chose this project."
Director Yoon Sung-sik shared why he cast Yook Sung-jae, stating, "He's handled several fantasy genres and knows how to deliver comedic and entertaining performances. The dual roles of Yoon Gap and Kang Cheol required contrasting charms, and I believed Sung-jae, with his soft and cute appearance yet sharp and charismatic presence, could handle these roles well."
He continued, "Since it was Sung-jae's first time in a historical drama, I specifically advised him on vocal delivery during our first meeting. I was confident he would excel in the lively and cheeky portrayal of Kang Cheol. However, he also needed to embody the calm and composed traditional historical drama tone for Yoon Gap, so I offered him guidance and asked him to research." The director elaborated on the advice he gave Yook Sung-jae.
Director Yoon added, "From our first meeting, I thought he had the right look for the role, and as filming progressed, I became more convinced. I strongly felt, 'This project can really succeed, and Sung-jae will be at its center.'" He expressed his trust in Yook Sung-jae.
Reflecting on his first historical drama experience, Yook Sung-jae candidly shared, "It was incredibly challenging." However, he added, "I've mostly played mischievous and lively characters, but the genuine and weighty tone of historical dramas was appealing. Watching the drama, I realized, 'I can do this kind of acting too,' and those moments were captivating."
Yook Sung-jae expressed his hopes for his performance, saying, "I took on the challenge of a historical drama, and I want to hear that I did well, that my acting wasn't lacking. I put in a lot of effort." He looks forward to positive feedback on his historical drama acting.
Meanwhile, 'The Haunted Palace' is set to premiere on Friday, the 18th, at 9:50 PM, following 'Buried Hearts.'
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)