From 'Water Ghost Sister' to 'Cute Glow-in-the-Dark Ghost' 'The Haunted Palace' Gives the Thrill of Watching K-Ghosts

As 'The Haunted Palace' continues to smash various box office records, the ghosts within the drama are garnering attention for adding a delightful layer of entertainment.

The SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'The Haunted Palace' (written by Yoon Soo-jung, directed by Yoon Sung-sik) is a fantasy romantic comedy that unfolds as Yeori, a shaman who denies her fate, and Gangcheol, a serpent spirit trapped in the body of Yeori's first love Yoon Gap, confront the eight-foot-tall ghost harboring a grudge against the royal family, leading to a tangled web of bodies and souls. Not only has it consistently broken its own viewership records, reaching a peak rating of 11.3% (according to Nielsen Korea), but it has also swept the number one spot in its time slot for four consecutive weeks and ranked first among all mini-series broadcasted weekly. Additionally, on May 13, the integrated content ranking released by the OTT content search platform KinoLights showed 'The Haunted Palace' topping the charts across drama, film, and variety shows, continuing its winning streak.

As a fantasy historical drama, 'The Haunted Palace' has received widespread acclaim for its riveting premise of possession by a serpent spirit, alongside the inspired character portrayals by Yook Sung-jae (as both the serpent spirit Gangcheol and Yoon Gap), Kim Ji-yeon (as Yeori), and Kim Ji-hoon (as Lee Jung), the blossoming romance between Yook Sung-jae and Kim Ji-yeon, and the suspenseful royal court mystery surrounding the vengeful ghost, the eight-foot-tall ghost.

What sets 'The Haunted Palace' apart is its array of diverse K-ghost characters, becoming another highlight of the show. Beyond the main specter, the eight-foot-tall ghost, the drama introduces traditional Korean ghosts like the one-legged ghost, water ghost, and glow-in-the-dark ghost, offering a fresh take on the ghost story narrative. Rather than limiting these spirits to mere sources of tension and horror, the show imbues them with 'humanity,' a move that has been well-received.

In the drama, the water ghost Ok-im (played by Song Soo-yi), who resides in the well of the central palace garden, overcomes the deep-seated grudge stemming from the trauma inflicted by the reckless Prince Yeong-in (played by Kim Sun-bin) with Yeori's help, avoiding the fate of becoming an evil spirit. Notably, as Ok-im's resentment dissipates, she regains her beautiful complexion from her living days, adding a touch of humor to the show. This transformation has led viewers to affectionately nickname her 'Water Ghost Sister,' rooting for her spiritual enlightenment.

Moreover, the glow-in-the-dark ghost (played by Park Da-on), despite claiming to be a fearsome spirit, has won over a legion of 'aunt and uncle' fans with its adorable child-like appearance, stealing the spotlight. Another water ghost, Mak-dol (played by Kim Jun-won), who died trying to save his daughter, has also touched viewers' hearts with his profound paternal love.

Director Yoon Sung-sik shared before the airing of 'The Haunted Palace,' "We approached ghosts not as objects of fear or caution, but as beings deserving of empathy and liberation from their grudges. These spirits had lives and poignant stories before their deaths. We crafted the narrative to allow viewers to empathize more deeply with them, and we aimed to portray the ghosts based on real-life appearances, emphasizing that they were once human just like us." This approach has clearly resonated with the audience, highlighting the thoughtful engagement with the ghost characters in 'The Haunted Palace.'

With its unique perspective of 'warm-hearted ghosts,' 'The Haunted Palace' is breathing new life into the ghost fantasy genre. The future trajectory of this buzzworthy show is eagerly anticipated.

'The Haunted Palace' airs every Friday and Saturday night at 9:55 PM.

Kang Sun-ae sakang@sbs.co.kr 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)