SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'The Haunted Palace' (written by Yoon Soo-jung, directed by Yoon Sung-sik) made a strong impression with its premiere, delivering double-digit ratings.
According to Nielsen Korea, episode 1 aired on April 18 and recorded a 9.2% nationwide viewership rating, peaking at 10.7%—the highest debut rating for an SBS drama this year.
🐉 Fantasy Meets Folklore
The story begins with a twist on a Korean legend. After a thousand years of training, a mystical creature called an imoogi—Kang Chul (special appearance by Kim Young-kwang)—fails to ascend as a dragon and instead turns into a vengeful spirit.
Kim Ji-yeon plays Yeori, the granddaughter of a famous village shaman, Neopdeok (Gil Hae-yeon). Kang Chul tries to follow Yeori, hoping to borrow her spiritual powers to achieve his transformation. But Yeori pushes him away using a ghost-repelling stone called Gyeong-gwi-seok.
👓 A Shaman Who Just Wants a Normal Life
Now an adult, Yeori rejects her fate as a shaman and instead lives quietly as an artisan who makes eyeglasses. Enter Yoon Gap (played by Yook Sung-jae)—a loyal royal subject sent on a secret mission to bring Yeori to the palace. His mission: to use her spiritual abilities to cure the king's son, who is tormented by supernatural visions.
💀 A Body Swap, A Twist of Fate
As Yoon Gap escorts Yeori to the palace, tragedy strikes. Left alone, he's attacked by a government official and fatally wounded. In that moment, Kang Chul seizes the opportunity and possesses Yoon Gap's body.
Now trapped in a human form, Kang Chul claims Yeori as his own:
"Yeori, you belong to me now."
But his plan backfires—he can't leave Yoon Gap's body. As Yeori and the possessed Yoon Gap struggle, they tumble off a cliff together.
🌀 A Spellbinding Start with a Unique World
From its first episode, The Ghost Palace captivated viewers with its fresh premise, mythological depth, and mystical romance. The dynamic between the cursed imoogi and the reluctant shaman is already sparking curiosity.
The Haunted Palace airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM KST on SBS.
[Photo Credit: SBS]
