Set to premiere on Friday, the 18th, SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'The Haunted Palace' (written by Yoon Soo-jung, directed by Yoon Sung-sik) is a fantasy romantic comedy about a shaman named Yeori who rejects her fate, a dragon spirit named Kang Chul trapped in the body of Yeori's first love, Yoon Gap, and their encounter with a vengeful spirit, Palcheokgui, that entangles their bodies and souls. Directed by Yoon Sung-sik, known for 'Mr. Queen,' 'You Are the Best!,' 'Bridal Mask,' and 'Dae Jo Yeong,' and written by Yoon Soo-jung, who penned 'The King's Face' and 'Cheer Up!,' the drama promises a fresh and dynamic cast including Yook Sung-jae (as Yoon Gap/Kang Chul), Kim Ji-yeon (as Yeori), and Kim Ji-hoon (as Lee Jeong).
Kim Ji-hoon takes on the role of the fictional king 'Lee Jeong,' who stands against the vengeful spirit Palcheokgui. He teams up with his trusted subject Yoon Gap (played by Yook Sung-jae) and Yeori (played by Kim Ji-yeon) to battle for the fate of the kingdom.
Kim Ji-hoon chose 'The Haunted Palace' as his comeback to historical dramas after 15 years, saying, "I had great trust in director Yoon Sung-sik after working with him on 'Babel.' I was eager to return to historical dramas and especially wanted to take on the challenge of playing a king."
Kim Ji-hoon has established himself as an irreplaceable actor with standout performances in 'Death's Game,' 'Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area,' and 'Evil Flower.' With high anticipation for his portrayal of 'Lee Jeong' in 'The Haunted Palace,' Kim Ji-hoon shared, "A righteous king who genuinely cares for his people might seem like a typical and dull role. However, 'Lee Jeong' spans a wide range of genres from comedy to action and romance, making him a more varied and multi-dimensional character than any I've played before."
To embody the character of 'Lee Jeong,' Kim Ji-hoon put in significant effort, stating, "It was my first time playing a king, so I was a bit worried, but I've been told it suits me well, which is satisfying. I focused on the tone and voice of the dialogue. I wanted to maintain a dignified and weighty presence while avoiding the overly traditional historical drama vibe, so I dedicated myself to acting practice and voice training." He added, "I couldn't afford to overlook any aspect of Lee Jeong's multifaceted character, from his lonely yet steadfast nature as a king to his sense of helplessness against the overwhelming fear of Palcheokgui, and his roles as a father and husband. I meticulously analyzed the script and practiced thoroughly." He also hinted at intense action scenes, saying, "There's a crucial action scene in the latter part of the drama where I gave everything emotionally and physically. It felt like I had internal injuries, and I couldn't recover my energy for over a month, with muscle pain all over my body," raising expectations for his passionate performance in 'The Haunted Palace.'
Regarding his chemistry with co-stars Yook Sung-jae and Kim Ji-yeon, who form an unprecedented alliance of dragon spirit, shaman, and king, Kim Ji-hoon said, "The chemistry between the two actors is so good that just watching them was delightful." He particularly highlighted his dynamic 'king-subject chemistry' with Yook Sung-jae, saying, "Yook Sung-jae has a great sense of comedy and is excellent at absorbing and making use of any advice given to him. As the drama progresses, a bromance that transcends social status develops between us. During rehearsals, we exchanged spontaneous ideas freely, creating chemistry that wasn't in the script. I hope viewers look forward to this king-subject bromance."
Finally, Kim Ji-hoon shared the key points to watch in 'The Haunted Palace,' saying, "While maintaining the gravitas of a traditional historical drama, it also has unexpected comedic moments that are charming. From the romance between Yoon Gap and Yeori to the thrilling exorcism story and exciting action, we've worked hard to bring out various emotions and genres in an entertaining way, so we hope for a lot of love. Following the emotions of the king I portrayed will also be a major point of interest." This statement has heightened anticipation for the premiere.
'The Haunted Palace' is set to air as the successor to 'Buried Hearts' on Friday, the 18th, at 9:50 PM.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)