"Haunted Palace" raises expectations for the second act with its outstanding box office performance both domestically and internationally.
The drama kingdom SBS's unique fantasy historical drama, "Haunted Palace" (written by Yoon Soo-jung, directed by Yoon Sung-sik), features a shaman named Yeori who rejects the fate of a medium and an imugi named Gangcheol trapped in the body of Yeori's first love, Yoon Gap, as they confront Palcheokui, who harbors resentment against the royal family, creating a fantasy romantic comedy where bodies and souls become tightly intertwined.
In episodes 7 and 8, Gangcheol (Yook Sung-jae), Yeori (Kim Ji-yeon), and King Lee Jeong (Kim Ji-hoon) engage in a spectacular battle with Sukwi Makdol (Kim Jun-won) and discover the individuals behind the heinous incidents occurring in the palace, realizing that there is a figure named "Aguzhi." Additionally, the shocking twist reveals that the immense dark figure manipulating "Aguzhi" Poongsan (Kim Sang-ho) is in fact Kim Bong-in (Son Byung-ho), Lee Jeong's maternal grandfather and the Prime Minister, leaving viewers stunned. Moreover, it is revealed that Yeori's grandmother Neobdeok (Gil Hae-yeon) was not killed by Gangcheol, but by the actions of Palcheokui, causing a deep-rooted misunderstanding between Gangcheol and Yeori to be resolved, raising interest in the potential development of their romance.
Wrapping up the first act amid such spectacular developments, "Haunted Palace" recorded its highest rating of 11.3% (according to Nielsen Korea) and dominated the ratings in its time slot for four consecutive weeks, as well as claiming the top spot among all weekly mini-series. Furthermore, "Haunted Palace" ranked first for all content, including dramas, movies, and variety shows, in the combined content rankings released by the OTT content integration search platform Kino Lights for the second week of May, demonstrating its unparalleled box office power. (As of May 13, 2025)
Building on its overwhelming domestic success, "Haunted Palace" has also captivated global audiences. Previously, various foreign media outlets and overseas viewers noted, "It interestingly blends multiple genres and perfectly combines a densely packed plot" (South China Morning Post) and "Even amidst the chaotic development with body swapping and the emergence of mystical creatures, it delivers the best entertainment" (Leisurebyte). In its fourth week of airing, "Haunted Palace" ranked first in seven countries on Netflix, including Korea (according to FlixPatrol as of May 12), achieved the highest rank in the overall category on Japan's OTT platform Lemino (NTT Docomo), and recorded the number one spot in the entire drama category on Taiwan's OTT platform Hami Video, proving its ever-growing global popularity.
Thanks to its remarkable box office momentum, the team behind "Haunted Palace" enhances interest by revealing key points for viewing the latter half of the drama, as shared directly by director Yoon Sung-sik. Yoon stated, "The transformation of Gangcheol, who becomes aware of his love for Yeori, and the identity of Kim Bong-in, which comes to the surface, will unfold the second act. The developments of Gangcheol and Yeori's tumultuous romance and whether the peculiar cooperation among Gangcheol, Yeori, and Lee Jeong will succeed in confronting Palcheokui are major points to watch. Additionally, the fate of the dead spirit of Yoon Gap, whom Yeori longs for, as well as the situation of Gangcheol, who is inside Yoon Gap's body, are significant points of interest," he emphasized, adding, "Lastly, don't miss the genre-blending comedic synergy presented by actors Yook Sung-jae, Kim Ji-yeon, Kim Ji-hoon, Kim In-kwon, and Cha Cheong-hwa. The excitement of watching will be quite significant." This builds anticipation for the upcoming second act of "Haunted Palace" amid intense developments.
Meanwhile, the unbeaten box office momentum of SBS's weekend drama "Haunted Palace" continues to captivate viewers, with the 9th episode airing at 9:55 p.m. on the 16th.
[OSEN]