KOR
On June 25, Netflix unveiled three character posters capturing the powerful presence of the lead actors of 'The East Palace': Nam Joohyuk, Roh Yoon-seo, and Cho Seung-woo.
'The East Palace' is a mystery thriller that follows Gu-cheon (played by Nam Joohyuk), who possesses the ability to freely traverse the realm of ghosts, and Saeng-gang (played by Roh Yoon-seo), a court lady harboring a deep secret. Summoned by the King (played by Cho Seung-woo), they work together to uncover the truth behind a curse haunting the East Palace. The series is highly anticipated for its unique world-building, gripping narrative, and the dynamic chemistry among the cast.
The newly released character posters sensuously capture the bizarre and eerie atmosphere surrounding the three characters. First, Nam Joohyuk, playing Gu-cheon, "the one who traverses the realm of ghosts," exudes intense charisma within a blood-red spirit world. Holding a unique sword engraved with red characters, his appearance heightens curiosity about the dark underbelly and secrets of the palace they are set to confront.
Roh Yoon-seo's visual transformation into Saeng-gang, "the one who hears the sounds of the ghost world," is equally captivating. With red blood smeared on her forehead, Saeng-gang is shown listening intently to mysterious sounds echoing from the darkness, raising the tension. Meanwhile, Cho Seung-woo, portraying the "King who chases ghosts in the abyss," shines with a sharp gaze while half of his face is shrouded in deep shadow, maximizing curiosity about the truth of the curse surrounding the East Palace with his heavy aura.
The actors' deep contemplation of their characters also draws attention. Nam Joohyuk shared his extraordinary efforts, noting that he focused on acting alongside unseen, mysterious ghosts. "I constantly imagined and acted out scenes with invisible ghosts and the unknown 'realm of ghosts.' Every moment of filming, I pondered how to deliver this vividly to the viewers without making it feel out of place," he said.
Roh Yoon-seo emphasized the strength of 'The East Palace's solid storyline. Expressing her confidence, she said, "Because the narrative and storyline unfold in such an interesting way, I don't think it's just a scary or visually flashy piece. With bizarre entities, refreshing action, and the characters' personal stories all woven together, viewers won't have a single dull moment." Regarding her approach to acting, she shared, "They say that when studying a character, you should look at the people around them. I tried to think deeply about what kind of person the King is, what kind of person Gu-cheon is, how Saeng-gang acts differently in front of each of them, and what emotions she holds toward them."
Cho Seung-woo, who transforms into an unreadable monarch, teased an exceptionally multi-dimensional character. "It was not an easy task to put multiple layers of masks on the King so that his thoughts remain completely unreadable," he confessed. He added, "The main characters of the drama—Gu-cheon, Saeng-gang, and the King—each have their own deep backstories. The way their emotions swirl, explode, and resolve alongside the incidents within the palace is what makes this project so appealing."
The Netflix original series 'The East Palace' will be released worldwide on Netflix on Friday, July 17.
[Photo= Netflix]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)