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 share their excitement for the upcoming series.
'The Haunted Palace' is a fantasy romantic comedy drama about Yeori (played by Kim Ji-yeon), a shaman who rejects her fate, and Kang Chul-yi (played by Yook Sung-jae), a dragon spirit trapped in the body of Yeori's first love, Yoon Gap (also played by Yook Sung-jae). They encounter a vengeful spirit, Palcheok-gwi, which has a grudge against the royal family, leading to a tangled mess of body and soul. Kim Ji-hoon takes on the role of a fictional king, Lee Jeong, who stands against Palcheok-gwi, marking his first time playing a king.
Director Yoon Sung-sik, who cast Kim Ji-hoon as King Lee Jeong, said, "This is my third project with Kim Ji-hoon. I've seen him grow in charisma and presence, especially in villain roles, and I thought the role of a king would suit him well."
He continued, "He's incredibly handsome, with a great voice and expressive eyes. If the king in this drama were just a reform-minded ruler, I might not have approached Ji-hoon. But our king has a unique charm and unexpected twists. The role requires a wide range, moving between good and evil. I believed Ji-hoon could handle it all, so I was determined to cast him."
In response, Kim Ji-hoon candidly shared, "When I first got the offer, I thought it might be boring. I wondered if playing a king would be dull. But after meeting with the director, I was convinced otherwise," drawing laughter from the audience.
Initially, Kim Ji-hoon found the character of King Lee Jeong uninteresting, but as the character developed, he became a captivating king. Kim Ji-hoon remarked, "Ultimately, it turned out to be a very appealing role, but also one of the most challenging I've ever played. It's not an exaggeration to say I poured my entire 20-year acting career into it."
Explaining why the role was so demanding, Kim Ji-hoon said, "I thought playing a king would be more relaxed, with less physical activity. But this king was different," describing the unusually active character.
He added, "As the story unfolds, the king's connection to the spirits' grudges is revealed, deepening his trials, conflicts, and inner turmoil. I had to balance the traditional image of a wise and benevolent king with the comedic aspects when he interacts with Yoon Gap, all while performing action scenes."
Kim Ji-hoon reflected, "I'm 45 now, and I think if I had taken on this role five years earlier, I wouldn't have been able to do it justice. My personal struggles and experiences have enriched my acting. If my career were five years shorter, I don't think I could have portrayed the king in 'The Haunted Palace' as well as I did."
He also shared, "It's been a month since I finished filming 'The Haunted Palace,' but I'm still dealing with muscle pain and visiting an acupuncturist regularly." Kim Ji-hoon expressed his anticipation for the audience's reaction, saying, "I gave it my all, and I'm both nervous and excited to see how people will respond to my performance."
Meanwhile, 'The Haunted Palace' is set to premiere on Friday, the 18th, at 9:50 PM, following the conclusion of 'Buried Hearts.'
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)