The Haunted Palace, SBS's Friday-Saturday drama, has seen its character Yoon-gab's spirit, played by Yook Sung-jae, exit the body of the eight-legged ghost.
In the 12th episode of The Haunted Palace, aired on the 24th, Kang-cheol (played by Yook Sung-jae), Yeori (played by Kim Ji-yeon), and Lee Jeong (played by Kim Ji-hoon) were depicted as obtaining the "Gwangammun Collection," which contains the essence of the eight-legged ghost's grudge against the royal family and records of a war from a century ago. Alongside this, the shocking scene of the eight-legged ghost expelling the spirit of Yoon-gab (played by Yook Sung-jae) decorated the ending, captivating viewers with unpredictable developments. The Haunted Palace garnered a highest viewership of 10.6%, a nationwide rating of 9.7%, a metropolitan area rating of 9.1%, and a 2.5% rating among audiences aged 2049, maintaining the top spot in the same time slot and the mini-series category aired throughout the week.
Kang-cheol fell into deep sorrow due to the death of his brother Bibi (played by Jo Han-gyeol), a dragon who sacrificed himself to save him. His desperate monologue, "Yeori, it hurts. My chest, my heart, it hurts so much. If I tear at this heart, will the pain stop?" conveyed Kang-cheol's grief, provoking sympathy among viewers. Kang-cheol's self-isolation and loss of energy worried not only Yeong-geum (played by Cha Cheong-hwa) but also Lee Jeong and the court official Eung-soon (played by Kim In-kwon).
Meanwhile, Poongsan (played by Kim Sang-ho) expressed sinister intentions and displayed twisted madness when he revealed to Kim Bong-in (played by Son Byeong-ho) that he sought to understand why he spared Kang-cheol and Yeori. In contrast, Lee Jeong (played by Kim Ji-hoon) steadfastly refused to abandon his faith in his maternal grandfather despite Yeori's words that Kim Bong-in was behind the eight-legged ghost and Poongsan. However, when Daebi (played by Han Su-yeon) disclosed that it was Kim Bong-in who recommended Poongsan to her, and even the military officer Seo Jae-il (played by Han Min) witnessed Kim Bong-in's bodyguard conspiring with Poongsan's servant Se-won (played by Han Seung-bin), Lee Jeong ultimately had no choice but to acknowledge the reality of his grandfather.
Eventually, Lee Jeong summoned Kim Bong-in to the royal court to question the sequence of events. Believing it was just the two of them, Kim Bong-in showed extreme audacity in justifying his sins, and his cold excuses sent chills down not only Lee Jeong but also the viewers. However, this was a trap set by Lee Jeong. Thanks to the presence of all the court officials beyond the door, all of Kim Bong-in's words became a confession, and while punishing his grandfather, Lee Jeong broke down in tears upon facing the horrifying reality of his beloved kin. While en route to his place of exile, Kim Bong-in succeeded in escaping and immediately sought Poongsan, commanding him to eradicate the royal family and its bloodline, revealing his cold ambitions until the end. Yet, possessed by the eight-legged ghost, Poongsan executed Kim Bong-in in one decisive blow, providing a shocking plot twist.
In the midst of this, Kang-cheol, Yeori, and Lee Jeong visited Yongdam Valley. They headed straight for the home of Choi Won-woo (played by Ahn Nae-sang) to inquire about the books authored by his ancestor, Choi Gil-sang, but Choi Won-woo dismissed their questions, claiming such a book did not exist. Meanwhile, Eung-soon discovered a book about a war from a century ago in the government office's archives and learned of the story that King Yeonjong took refuge in Yongdam Valley during that time, amplifying the suspicions.
Just then, Choi Won-woo's daughter, Choi In-seon (played by Shin Seul-ki), was possessed again by the one-legged ghost (played by Lee Tae-geum), wreaking havoc around her. Choi Won-woo confessed that a disaster had occurred while punishing the book merchant (a dealer who mediates the sale of books) who had stolen the family's heirlooms five years ago, but Kang-cheol still could not shake off his suspicion that Choi Won-woo was hiding something.
At the end of the drama, a series of plot twists surrounding the eight-legged ghost heightened the immersion. To save In-seon, Yeori conducted a summoning ceremony for the one-legged ghost, resulting in her learning that Choi Won-woo fears the existence of a book containing significant secrets about the royal family. Yeori attempted to ascertain the whereabouts of the book, but Choi Won-woo ultimately remained tight-lipped. However, later that night, Choi Won-woo was spotted rummaging through a warehouse alone, unveiling a shocking past in which the book merchant had blackmailed him with the "Gwangammun Collection" five years earlier, leading to the murder of the merchant in the warehouse by Choi Won-woo. Eventually, after Kang-cheol prevented Choi Won-woo from burning the "Gwangammun Collection," he obtained the book and escalated the tension by stating, "All the answers are in this book. It reveals how the eight-legged ghost was born."
At the same time, the terrifying sight of the eight-legged ghost expelling Yoon-gab's spirit adorned the ending, shocking viewers. As Poongsan expressed reverence to the eight-legged ghost by exclaiming, "Oh, Lord of Heaven and Earth!" and the expressions of a confused Yoon-gab were interwoven with the solemn face of the eight-legged ghost, curiosity heightened about what terrible plan the ghost was concocting. Furthermore, with the return of Yoon-gab's spirit, the fate of Kang-cheol, who was entwined with Yoon-gab's body, becomes uncertain, and the truth from a century ago contained within the "Gwangammun Collection" which Kang-cheol, Yeori, and Lee Jeong will confront is awaited with bated breath, as the developments in The Haunted Palace build excitement.
Meanwhile, The Haunted Palace is broadcast every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 p.m., depicting the story of Yeori, a shaman who rejects the fate of a medium, and Kang-cheol, a dragon trapped in the body of his first love, Yoon-gab, as they confront the eight-legged ghost harboring a grudge against the royal family, entangling their bodies and souls in a struggle for possession in this fantasy romantic comedy.
[Photo] The Haunted Palace
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