A mix of fantasy, romance, comedy, and exorcism, 'Haunted Palace' is coming.
On the 17th, a production presentation for the new SBS weekend drama 'Haunted Palace' was held in Mokdong. MC Park Kyung-rim moderated the event, which was attended by director Yoon Sung-sik, and actors Yook Sung-jae, Kim Ji-yeon, and Kim Ji-hoon.
The new SBS weekend drama 'Haunted Palace' (written by Yoon Soo-jung, directed by Yoon Sung-sik), which will air on April 18 (Friday) following 'Buried Hearts,' features a shaman named Yeo-ri, who rejects her destiny, and a dragon spirit named Gang-cheol, who is trapped in the body of Yeo-ri's first love, Yun-gab, provoking a fantasy struggle over physical bodies filled with entangled fates.
Director Yoon Sung-sik, who has directed dramas such as 'Mr. Queen,' 'Lee Soon Shin is the Best,' 'Bridal Mask,' and 'Dae Joyeong,' collaborates with writer Yoon Soo-jung, known for 'The King's Face' and 'Cheer Up!', along with actors Yook Sung-jae (Yun-gab/Gang-cheol), Kim Ji-yeon (Yeo-ri), and Kim Ji-hoon (Lee Jeong), creating expectations as a 'fresh acting combination.'
On that day, director Yoon noted regarding the casting behind the scenes, "First of all, I knew that Yook Sung-jae was capable of handling the fantasy genre multiple times. I think he is an actor who can deliver comic and enjoyable performances. The dual role in the drama required contrasting charm, and while Sung-jae has a soft and cute appearance, he also has a sharp and charismatic side. I thought he could definitely handle this role. As it was his first historical drama, I had requested voice training during our meeting, and I believed he could perform the energetic portrayal as Gang-cheol very well. However, he also needed to embody the calm and gentle traditional historical drama feel, so even though it was a minor part, I asked him to study and advised him on that. During our first meeting, I thought he had the eyes of an actor who could handle this role, and as we filmed, I became increasingly convinced that this project could really succeed, with Sung-jae at its center."
He continued, "I believe Kim Ji-yeon is an actress with Oriental beauty and allure. It's tough to look beautiful in historical dramas because there isn't much to decorate. It's especially unfortunate that Ji-yeon plays a commoner role. The shaman is of lower class due to the caste system. Therefore, she had fewer opportunities to wear beautiful clothes, which was a pity. So, in action scenes, we created elaborate costumes to display a variety of looks. I think she is an actress who embodies that Oriental beauty. I also enjoyed 'Pyramid Game,' where she performed charismatic acting, so I believed she could also handle the strong-willed shaman role well. Moreover, as there are many shamanistic scenes in the drama, a professional consulting team assisted Ji-yeon, allowing her to practice rituals, dance, martial arts, and invocation for a long time. This was well captured on screen, and watching Ji-yeon express the shamanistic scenes will be another highlight," he conveyed.
Additionally, he mentioned, "This is my third project with actor Kim Ji-hoon. I have known Ji-hoon since he was very young, and we've worked together since then. He was a grateful friend who shone in another project a few years ago. Recently, he has shown various performances, and I noticed he was developing charisma as a villain. I thought this king role would fit Ji-hoon very well. He has a very handsome appearance, with great voice and look. If this king's role only embodied a benevolent image of a reform-minded sovereign, it might have been challenging to reach out to Ji-hoon, but this king has hidden twists and charms. The role is broad in spectrum, needing to navigate between good and evil. I thought he was an actor who could cover even such roles, so I enthusiastically pursued him," he laughed.
He also discussed the directorial points of focus, stating, "When I watch fantasy works, I often find it unwatchable if there is even a slight awkwardness. The most important thing was that it had to feel natural. So, it was based on live-action. In the opening scene, the dragon spirit Gang-cheol's ascent is portrayed. Unfortunately, this couldn't be depicted live-action, so it was implemented in 3D, mixed with a sequence of battle scenes. Creating that scene correctly was the biggest challenge; if we couldn't do it right, I felt it wouldn't be watchable. However, there are indeed fantasy elements. But I tried to minimize them as much as possible, believing that if it were too exaggerated, viewers might feel burdened or reject it, so I aimed for a believable level of natural action," he emphasized.
Regarding the shaman consulting team, he stated, "It's a very famous advisory team made up of real shamans. They participated from the planning stage, providing specific ideas for ghost design, concepts, and the process of resolving Yeo-ri's grievances. They were involved from the script stage. They regularly attended prop design meetings, discussing sizes of talismans and items, and listened to all opinions. Of course, since it is fictional, there is an aesthetic aspect, and within the bounds of autonomy, I did recreate some things, but they were present throughout the filming. They had to oversee all processes. I believe that because of how we filmed it, no shaman would ever say, 'That doesn't make sense,'" showing confidence.
Yook Sung-jae plays Yun-gab, a male character possessed by the evil spirit Gang-cheol, who is trapped in Yun-gab's body as a dragon spirit. Regarding his involvement, Yook said, "First, I have wanted to challenge the historical drama genre for a long time. That was really significant for me. As expected, it mixes fantasy, exorcism, and romance that I wanted to show, as well as bromance, which I also wanted. Furthermore, having to fully embody the contrasting charms of Yun-gab and Gang-cheol has ignited a strong desire for acting. Also, because it is director Yoon, I automatically decided to follow along," he recalled.
He shared his feelings about challenging his first historical drama, stating, "There was a certain charm in the difficulties. Just like the director said, I acted with a somewhat playful and quirky image, but the tone of historical drama needed authenticity and a heavier sound, which made me feel attracted to that type of acting. There were moments when I thought, 'I can perform like that too' while watching the drama, which was appealing. I hope to receive feedback that my performance in the historical drama was up to par as it was a challenge. I believe I worked hard for it."
Kim Ji-yeon took on the role of Yeo-ri, a shaman and a master of eyeglasses. Regarding her joining, Kim Ji-yeon said, "I have always liked fantasy works. I wanted to try it at least once, and when I read the first script, I found it very interesting. It made me curious about how it would unfold on screen. The appearance of traditional ghosts also added to the interest. Director Yoon's previous works were enjoyable as well. Moreover, I have never performed in a comedy before. I thought that playing the character Yeo-ri, which involves various genres, could help me grow and would be interesting."
Continuing her career as an 'actress' following her time in WJSN, Kim Ji-yeon remarked, "When I was in the group, I was surrounded by members who did a lot for me, so I had a lot of trust. But when I perform alone, I feel I have a greater responsibility," she said with a smile, adding, "Through this project, I want to be known as an actress with a broad spectrum who can handle various genres."
Kim Ji-hoon plays Lee Jeong, a reform-minded king dreaming of a strong nation. He emphasized that he has poured over 20 years of acting experience into this project. Kim Ji-hoon stated, "Since I am playing a king, I found it relatively easygoing at times because there isn't much physicality involved. However, this was not an ordinary king. Especially as the story progresses, pivotal stories concerning the king's relationship with the ghosts and their grievances arise. During this, many trials and tribulations, existential crises, and conflicts deepen significantly. As an authentic historical figure, the king needs to embody wisdom and kindness while also balancing comedic elements with Yun-gab. It requires action and many lines. By the end of the drama, I realize that at 45 years old now, if I had taken this role five years earlier when I had less experience, I wouldn't have been able to perform it as well as I can now, as personal experiences of hardship often inspire acting. I think if my experience had been shorter, I wouldn't have handled this king role as well as I do now," he confessed.
He added, "I want to make viewers think, 'I would want a king or leader like that.' Personally, the king's image is one of the personas of 'Lee Jeong.' Just like a husband to the queen, a father to a child, and a friend to Yun-gab and Gang-cheol. I truly wanted to depict various aspects in a subtle, humane way. More than just the typical image of a king, I wanted to convey that 'even kings must have their struggles'... I often end up saying they had their difficulties," he laughed, expressing his desire to create an approachable character in this portrayal.
In closing, Kim Ji-yeon expressed, "I hope our 'Haunted Palace' becomes the work that comes to mind when one thinks of fantasy historical dramas." Meanwhile, Yook Sung-jae remarked, "Everyone here has worked really hard, including myself. I wish for this to become a work representing the Korean superhero genre. I hope it is acknowledged globally," expressing his aspiration.
Meanwhile, SBS's new weekend drama 'Haunted Palace', the unique fantasy historical drama romantic comedy, is set to premiere on April 18, 2025, at 9:50 p.m.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]