The Cast of “The Haunted Palace” Shares Why They Joined the Drama: Boring At First… But I Gave It My All

On April 17, the main cast of SBS’s new Friday-Saturday drama “The Haunted Palace” gathered at SBS headquarters in Mokdong, Seoul, for a press conference, where they opened up about what drew them to the unique project.

Lead actor Yook Sung-jae shared his long-held desire to take on a historical drama. “It’s mixed with fantasy, which I love, and also includes elements of exorcism, romance, and bromance. I was really drawn to the idea of playing both Yoon-gap and Kang Cheol—two completely different characters—in one project. That challenge made me want to take it on,” he explained.

Co-star Kim Ji-yeon also expressed her enthusiasm for the genre. “I usually enjoy fantasy stories, and the script was so fun to read. I was curious to see how all of it—imugi, shamans, and traditional Korean ghosts—would unfold on screen. I’ve never done comedic acting before, so I thought it would be a fun challenge and a good learning opportunity. I also really liked the director’s previous works.”

Kim Ji-hoon, who plays a king in the series, admitted he initially had doubts. “When I first read the synopsis, I thought it might be boring. But once I read the full script, the character turned out to be extremely compelling—though also one of the hardest I’ve ever done. It’s no exaggeration to say I poured everything from my acting career into it. It was so physically intense that I’m still going to an oriental medicine clinic for muscle pain.”

“The Haunted Palace” follows Yeo-ri, a shaman who rejects her destiny as a spirit medium, and Kang Cheol, an imugi (mythical serpent) trapped inside the body of Yeo-ri’s first love, Yoon-gap. As they come face to face with Palcheok-gwi, an eight-foot ghost bearing a grudge against the royal family, their souls and bodies become dangerously entangled in a supernatural, body-swapping romance.

Directed by Yoon Sung-sik (Mr. Queen, Bridal Mask) and written by Yoon Soo-jung (The King’s Face, Cheer Up!), “The Haunted Palace” premieres April 18 at 9:50 PM (KST), taking over the time slot from “Treasure Island.”