SBS weekend drama 'Haunted Palace' Lee Seong-jae has finally found the shrine of the eight-footed ghost, only to be attacked by the possessed Kim Sang-ho, shocking viewers.
On the 17th (Saturday), episode 10 of SBS weekend drama 'Haunted Palace' (written by Yoon Soo-jung/directed by Yoon Seong-sik) aired, featuring Kang-cheol (played by Lee Seong-jae) and Yeori (played by Kim Ji-yeon) starting a mutual romance that brought excitement to viewers, while also discovering that the ghost master Poongsan (played by Kim Sang-ho) is behind the eight-footed ghost. In the midst of this, Poongsan kidnaps Yeori, and Kang-cheol, who chased after her, successfully finds the shrine of the eight-footed ghost, but a chilling turn occurs as the ghost possesses Poongsan, raising tension to its peak. Consequently, 'Haunted Palace' recorded a peak rating of 11.6%, nationwide 9.8%, metropolitan area 9.1%, and a 2.6% rating among viewers aged 20 to 49, securing the number one spot in viewership ratings for the same time slot nationwide and in the metropolitan area for five consecutive weeks, proving its status as a guaranteed hit by sweeping the top spot for weekend mini-series as well as weekly broadcasts (Nielsen Korea).
After their first kiss confirming their feelings for each other, Kang-cheol and Yeori were unable to contain their excitement, eliciting laughter. Noticing this, Yeonggeum said, "Living isn't anything special. So, holding hands with the one you love and sharing your hearts is the best thing of all," expressing a genuine wish for them to lead a normal life, which complicated Kang-cheol's feelings, who had only wished to ascend as a dragon. While Bi-bi (played by Jo Han-gyeol) disapproved of their relationship, worried that Kang-cheol might get hurt, Kang-cheol found himself disarmed by the love he discovered for the first time in a millennium, desperately trying to hold Yeori's hand, and saying, "Don't ever leave my side," while also displaying his romantic side by causing early spring flowers to bloom on the street for Yeori.
Meanwhile, the two decided to work together again with King Lee Jeong (played by Kim Ji-hoon). Yeori pointed out that the eight-footed ghost is a vengeful spirit and emphasized that they must reveal its identity and resolve its resentment to solve the situation. At this, the King's bodyguard Kim Geun-hu (played by Kim Dong-hyeok) mentioned the swordsmanship exhibited by Lee Jeong when he was possessed by the eight-footed ghost, leading to doubts about whether the ghost was originally a martial artist. At this point, Yeori stated that the one who called her before she was kidnapped was Prime Minister Kim Bong-in (played by Son Byeong-ho), but Lee Jeong, who has great trust in his maternal grandfather Kim Bong-in, considered the possibility of impersonation.
At the same time, Kim Bong-in and Poongsan concocted another scheme, heightening the tension. Kim Bong-in involved the fifth descendant of Prince Hopyeong, Lee Hwa-seong (played by Choi Gyu-jin), who has been away from the borders, while Poongsan purposefully made Lee Hwa-seong noticeable to the attention of Han Soo-yeon (played by Han Soo-yeon) to manipulate him into becoming an adopted son, raising questions about his true intentions. Alongside this, Lee Jeong noticed something suspicious regarding the royal genealogy after seeing Lee Hwa-seong in the palace, sparking curiosity about whether a clue to unraveling the mystery of the eight-footed ghost and the royal family will emerge.
On the other hand, Kang-cheol properly punished the Minister of Defense Gwak Sang-chung (played by Yoon Seung) who killed Yoon-gap (played by Lee Seong-jae). Kang-cheol secretly took Yeori's talisman with the power to nullify the charms and hid in Gwak Sang-chung's house, rendering the 'talisman chasing the Imugi' he carried useless and tossing it to Bi-bi as bait.
Meanwhile, as time passed, Kang-cheol's emotions toward humans deepened. He spent three months' worth of salary on gifts for Yeori and Yeonggeum, and he recalled a god that Yeori had long admired and presented it to her, revealing his feelings without reservation. Yeori also felt this love fully and expressed, "Even without a body, you will still be Kang-cheol, and I will serve you diligently as your earthly vessel. This is not only a response to how you have protected me for a long time but also my heartfelt affection toward you," clearly confessing that it is not Yoon-gap's outer form she loves, but Kang-cheol, leaving a poignant aftertaste.
At the same time, a new truth surrounding the identity of the eight-footed ghost has been unveiled, amplifying curiosity. Yeori learned from the monk Gaseop (played by Lee Won-jong), who came to deliver the lost Gyeong-gwi-seok (stone for chasing away ghosts), that 13 years ago, her maternal grandmother Neopdeok (played by Gil Hae-yeon) and Gaseop fought against the eight-footed ghost, and that he had hidden this fact for her sake, which renewed her resolve. Kang-cheol also learned from Bi-bi that it was Poongsan who created the talisman that chases the Imugi, and even obtained clues from Lee Jeong regarding royal bloodlines that were not killed by the eight-footed ghost, giving him hope that he could finally track down the real person connected to the ghost's resentment.
At that moment, an unforeseen and urgent development that threatened their lives occurred, exploding the tension. While Kang-cheol briefly left his place, Poongsan's servant Se-won (played by Han Seung-bin) kidnapped Yeori. In search of Yeori, Kang-cheol discovered her purgatory sand (sand used for grinding crystal balls) fallen below the palace wall and recalled Bi-bi's words about sensing a strong presence from Poongsan, realizing it was his doing. Kang-cheol headed straight to Poongsan's office and found the secretly hidden shrine of the eight-footed ghost, delivering a thrilling shock. However, at that moment, Poongsan possessed himself with the eight-footed ghost and attacked Kang-cheol, ominously stating, "Your enemy is not me. It is those royal bloodlines. How can you attack me?" These chilling words concluded the episode, raising shock and concern about what the identity of the eight-footed ghost, who harbors a terrible grudge against the royal family, might be, and how the fate of Kang-cheol and Yeori, who had just realized their love, would unfold in this life-and-death crisis.
SBS weekend drama 'Haunted Palace' is a fantasy romantic comedy where Yeori, a shaman who rejects her fate, and Kang-cheol, who is trapped in the body of Yeong-gap, face the eight-footed ghost that harbors a grudge against the royal family, leading to a conflict of bodies and souls. Episodes 11 and 12 will air on Friday at 10 p.m. and Saturday at 9:50 p.m.
[Photo] 'Haunted Palace'
[OSEN]