SBS’s fantasy historical romance The Haunted Palace wrapped up its run on June 7 with a record-breaking finale, capping off an already successful series with its highest ratings yet. According to Nielsen Korea, the final episode scored an impressive 12.3% peak rating, alongside 11.0% nationwide and 10.1% in the Seoul metro area. It not only secured the top spot in its time slot, but also ranked No.1 among all Saturday mini-series, dominating the coveted 2049 demographic with a 2.7% rating.
A Thrilling Finale to a One-of-a-Kind Story
In its suspense-filled conclusion, fans were glued to their screens as Kang Cheol (Yook Sung-jae) and Yeori (Kim Ji Yeon) faced their ultimate challenge: battling the possessed Lee Jung (Kim Ji-hoon), now overtaken by the vengeful spirit Palcheok-gwi (Seo Do-young). The confrontation brought the emotional and supernatural stakes to their peak, delivering a finale that audiences described as “gripping” and “hauntingly beautiful.”
What made The Haunted Palace stand out wasn’t just its plot, but its genre-defying originality. As SBS’s only fantasy sageuk of 2025 and not based on a webtoon, it carved a unique space in the saturated drama market. The story of Yeori, a reluctant shaman, and Kang Cheol, an ancient serpent spirit trapped in the body of her first love, offered a blend of mysticism, romance, and political intrigue rarely seen in K-Dramas.
Global Recognition: A K-Drama Export Hit
From the start, The Haunted Palace captivated international audiences. Within its first week, it topped Netflix’s TV chart in five Asian countries, including South Korea (FlixPatrol, April 22, 2025). On Rakuten Viki, it scored a stellar 9.7 user rating and hit No.1 in 89 countries—including major markets like the U.S., U.K., France, and Australia by week three.
Additionally, on Viu, the series dominated Hong Kong and Thailand, while maintaining a Top 3 ranking in key Southeast Asian territories such as Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia (May 12–18 data).
With its original storytelling, powerful performances, and cinematic execution, The Haunted Palace has become one of 2025’s defining K-Drama successes. As the credits rolled on its finale, fans around the world were left not only satisfied, but already nostalgic for the haunting magic it brought every week.
