The Haunted Palace Cast & Plot & Filming Location & Plot K Drama 2025

The Haunted Palace has begun its tumultuous premiere with the lives of Yook Sung-jae and Kim Ji-young hanging in the balance. The drama The Haunted Palace (writer Yoon Soo-jung, director Yoon Sung-shik) is a fantasy loco of a physical struggle where bodies and souls become tightly entwined when Kang Ch-ri, a giant snake trapped in the body of Yeo-ri, a priestess who refuses the fate of a medium, and Yeo-ri’s first love Yoon Gap, face an eight-foot demon with a grudge against the royal family.

The Haunted Palace kdrama

귀궁 | 鬼宮
Genre Romantic comedy
Written by Yoon Soo-jung
Directed by Yoon Seong-sik
Starring Yook Sung-jae, Kim Ji-yeon, Kim Ji-hoon
Country of origin South Korea
Original language Korean
No. of episodes 16
Production SBS TV、SBS Plus、SBS funE、SBS LIFE、ENA、DRAMAcube
Original release Network SBS TV
network Wavve | NETFLIX

The Haunted Palace Cast

Actor Kim Ji Hoon will show off his charisma as King Lee Jung in this drama about a shaman Yori and Imgikang Chori’s exorcism against the eight-foot demon. Yoon Gab is Imugi who stayed for a thousand years, Eri’s first love and Eri’s iron enemy.

The Haunted Palace starring

Yoon Gab / Kang Chori CAST Yook Sung-jae

Yook Sungjae instagram

Yori CAST Kim Ji-yeon (Bona – WJSN)

Kim Ji Yeon instagram

Lee Jung CAST Kim Ji Hoon

Kim Ji-Hoon instagram

view cast details

Pungsan KIM Sang-ho

CHOI Won Woo Anne Nae Sang

Nop-deok Kil Hye-young

Kim Eun Soon Kim In Kwon

Young Geum Cha Chung Hwa

Kim Bong-in Song Byung-ho

Taebi Han Su-yeon

Jung Jung Mr. Park Han So Eun

Choi In-sung Shin Seul-gi

Kasopsunim Lee Won-jeong

Nosunim Woo Sang-jeong

Ahn Seok-joo Koh In-beom

Kwak Sang-chun Yoon Sun

Jung Sang Sun Park Joo Hyun

Lee Mugi Bibi Cho Hangyeol

Kim Gun-woo Ho Kim Dong-hyuk

Seo Jae-il Han Min

Yeon Yi Dae Jung Kim Sung Bin

Sewon Han Seung-bin

Mak Geum Ki Eun Soo

Oh Sang-geun Choi Jung-in

Han Sang-geun Kim Nayoon

Sanduk KIM Chano

Bang Jik Baek Jae Jin

Lee Kwang Park Jae-jung

Kim Sang-ho brings an eerie chill to the Awa Theatre as ‘Pungsan,’ a blind chef. In the play, Pungsan is a man who was originally a low-ranked warrior on the streets, but who came to be treated favorably when he served the eight-foot-eared as ‘Heaven and Earth General’ and was treated at the blind man’s meeting place, Jumcheong, because of his power. Kim Sang-ho plans to further enhance the eeriness of the court mystery with his sensual acting skills. How will the blood feud between Pungsan, Cheol-ui, Yori, and Lee Jung over the eight-foot ears unfold, and the eerie presence that Kim Sang-ho will display in the process, will be of great interest.

The Best Actress award goes to “Choi Won-woo,” the fifth aunt of Dae-dae and a former leftist councilor. Choi Won-woo is from a prestigious family that continues to wield powerful influence even after Ochiba’s death, and she is the one whom King Lee Jung is trying to win over to his side. The actor’s charisma is soft and his excellent slow and steady control of the situation gives viewers a sense of trust in him, and the expectations for his performance in “Guigu” are high.

In it, Gil Hye-young plays the role of “Nupdeuk,” a universal deity with excellent mediumship skills and Yori’s grandmother. Nupdeuk is a woman who worked hard all her life to fulfill her duty as a priestess and a grandmother who cherished her only daughter, Yori, who had the fate of a priestess on her shoulders. The actress, Kil Hye-yeon, who has been showing her irreplaceable aura in every film she has appeared in, has been attracting much attention for her strong performance as a priestess.

Kim Kwang-in plays the role of “Kim Eun-soon,” the king’s faithful inner servant, and shows her licorice-like performance. In particular, his 티키타카 with his vassal Yoon Gap, who behaves in a manner comparable to the king, will present the viewer with unexpected laughter. The seasoned character play, completed with Kim Kwang-in’s unique skillful acting and skilled comedic sense, will draw a lot of interest.

Meanwhile, Cha Chung-hwa will play the role of Yong-gum, Yoon-pap’s mother, and her performance will be a mixture of laughter and emotion. Yeong-geum, who has taken it upon herself to become a cowardly woman in order to raise her son Yoon-pap well after her husband’s death, adds emotional weight to the play with her simple and hilarious presence as well as her deep maternal love. Cha Chung-hwa, who has been increasing the immersion level of each film with her flawless, life-like performance, will be the focus of attention this time around, to see how she will captivate the viewers’ attention.

In addition, Song Byung-ho will play the role of “Kim Bong-in,” a member of the royal council and the king’s outer grandfather. Kim Bong-in is a veteran politician who is a reliable political supporter of King Lee Jung and a seemingly gentle old man who does not reveal his true feelings. With an aura that overwhelms the gaze and a skillful performance, Song Byung-ho is an eye-catching presence in the midst of the political dark battles in “Ki-gu”. Interest in the passionate performance of tension inducer Song Byung-ho is heightened.

Lastly, Lee Won-seong shows his unique presence as the high priest ‘Monk Gaseep’, a master of Gubyeongsik, a Buddhist ritual of exorcism, who helps Yori in her battle against the eight-foot ears. Lee Won-jeong, who is known for his skilled acting skills, is expected to play the role of ‘Monk Gaseep’ perfectly, with a profound charisma hidden beneath his mild and gentle impression, and to lead the fantasy worldview of “Gigong” well.

The Haunted Palace Demon list

Ogre ghost : By saying 8 Shaku demon, we mean a demon with a large stature of 8 feet (2m 40), which is not a traditional Korean demon, but a Japanese ghost taken from a Japanese demon. In the play, it appears as a ghost with enormous abilities.

One-Legged : Also called Dokkaku, this is a ghost with only one leg, and in Korea it is a demon that carries diseases and passes them on.

Water ghost : It is a “water demon” even though it can be confused by writing “bodhisattva. It is one of the most famous ghosts because it is an earthbound spirit in the water and draws people into the water to drown them.

luminous ghost : luminous ghost is a ghost who escapes from hell to the human world and is captured by the Great King Yara, who makes his body glow so that he can be seen everywhere and serves as a light to guide people through hell. In the play, he appears as a child.

The Haunted Palace filming location

Seo Dong Yeo Theme Park

Address: 616 Chungshin-ro, Chungwha-myeon, Buyeo-gun, Chungnam

Mungyeong Seje Open Set

Address: 84-2 Sanchori, Mungyeong-eup, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongbuk

Yeongju Sunbichon

Address：2796, Sobaek-ro, Sunheung-myeon, Yeongju-si, Gyeongbuk

Namwon Gwanghan Ruwan

Address : 187-1, Cheonju-dong, Namwon-si, Jeonbuk

Changdeokgung

Address : 99 Gugok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Gwanghwamun, Gyeongbokgung

Address : National Palace Museum, 12 Hyoja-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Namhansanseong Fortress

Address : 23 Sancheong-ri-san, Namhansanseong-myeon, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do

Suwon Hwasung

Address : 320-2, Eiga-dong, Jangan-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do

Haenam Dharma Sand Solam

Address : 87-1, Mabongri Mountain, Songjon, Jeonnam Haenam-gun

Other Filming Location

Yongin Daejanggeum Park

Address: 562, Yongcheon-ro, Baegam-myeon, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do

Mulundae

Address: 1234, Gasong-ri, Dosan-myeon, Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (Mulundae)

Baramui Hwawon Set (The Painter of the Wind Set)

Address: 451-1, Sinpyeong-ri, Bukha-myeon, Jangseong-gun, Jeollanam-do

Seodongyo Theme Park

Address: 41, Godo 9-ro, Geumma-myeon, Iksan-si, Jeollabuk-do

Gochang Mujang Guesthouse (Mujang Eupseong Fortress)

Address: 274, Seongnae-ri, Mujang-myeon, Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do (Mujang Eupseong)

Maseong Open Set

Address: 408-1, Oeo-ri, Maseong-myeon, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Seonyudong Valley

Address: Sucheol-ri, Punggi-eup, Yeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (Sobaeksan National Park)

Sosu Seowon

Address: 63, Sosuseowon-gil, Sunheung-myeon, Yeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Andong Byeongsan Seowon

Address: 386, Byeongsan-gil, Pungcheon-myeon, Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Yongchu Falls

Address: 506-6, Yongchu Valley-ro, Buk-sang-myeon, Geochang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do

Choi Champandaek (Choi’s Family House)

Address: 66, Pyeongsari-gil, Agyang-myeon, Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do

The Haunted Palace Plot summary

At the end of a thousand years of cultivation, the Imoogi Gangcheol is about to ascend to heaven but is discovered by a young girl, Yeori, causing him to fail his ascension and remain in the human world. Harboring resentment toward humans, Gangcheol wreaks havoc around Yeori and even causes the death of her grandmother, Neopdeok. Yeori rejects her fate as a shaman, but Gangcheol pursues her for 13 years, coveting her spiritual powers. Yeori protects herself with a spirit-repelling stone, but Gangcheol’s obsession persists.

Yeori’s first love, Yoon-gap, is killed in a political attack, and Gangcheol possesses Yoon-gap’s body. Yeori tries to find Yoon-gap’s spirit, but the vengeful ghost Ok-im tells her that Yoon-gap’s soul was devoured by the Eight-Footed Ghost (Palcheok-gwi). Meanwhile, Crown Prince Lee Gwang begins to show signs of madness, and the ominous energy of the Eight-Footed Ghost descends upon the palace. The true presence of the Eight-Footed Ghost is revealed.

Gangcheol and Yeori enter the palace, and strange symptoms appear in the Crown Prince. The terrifying ghost Palcheok-gwi was hiding in the prince’s body, and after consuming Yoon-gap’s soul, it takes over his flesh. Yeori tries to save Yoon-gap’s soul but fails, and Palcheok-gwi transfers to the king’s body. Yeori learns more about Palcheok-gwi from Ok-im.

With Palcheok-gwi possessing the king, the palace falls into crisis. The king tries to attack Yeori, but Gangcheol intervenes. The king realizes that Yoon-gap is not human, and Yeori seeks Gangcheol’s help to retrieve Yoon-gap’s soul. However, Yeori is suspected and expelled from the palace, deciding to seek out Monk Gaseop at Naebulsan. The episode ends with Prince Yeongin being possessed by Palcheok-gwi.

Yeori and Gangcheol move beyond a simple examiner-medium relationship to become master spirit and disciple. Internal palace conflicts intensify, and the two are expelled from the palace. Signs of Palcheok-gwi’s resurrection emerge, and a mysterious sorcerer appears, foreshadowing Palcheok-gwi’s return. The intertwined fates of Yeori and Gangcheol truly begin.

Yeori, Gangcheol, and King Lee Jeong join forces to temporarily repel Palcheok-gwi but cannot destroy it completely. Pungsan loses his power, and a new plot emerges to target the queen’s unborn child with another vengeful spirit. The palace falls into chaos again, and Yeori senses her deep connection to the palace. Gangcheol becomes aware of his feelings for Yeori.

Within the palace, suspicion toward Yeori grows, and the threat of the vengeful ghost targeting the queen and her unborn child intensifies. Gangcheol and King Lee Jeong form an alliance to lure out the vengeful ghost. Lee Jeong uses his own blood as bait to draw out the ghost, while Gangcheol tries to save Yeori. Yeori unleashes 13 years of pent-up emotion toward Gangcheol, causing a subtle change in their relationship. However, Yeori realizes the ghost’s scheme is more cunning than expected, and with her desperate cry, “It’s a trap!” the crisis peaks. Meanwhile, power struggles within the palace and conflicts involving Pungsan and the Queen Dowager deepen. The mastermind behind the vengeful ghost and the true identity of Palcheok-gwi begin to be revealed.

A fierce battle unfolds between the vengeful ghost and Lee Jeong. The ghost drags Lee Jeong underwater, putting him in grave danger, but Gangcheol appears dramatically to save him. The ghost is temporarily subdued but attacks again, and Gangcheol and Lee Jeong fight back together. Yeori interrogates the ghost to uncover its mastermind, and the ghost reveals, in exchange for having its last wish granted, that the real mastermind is the blind “Aguji.” The truth connecting Neopdeok’s death, Palcheok-gwi, and the previous king’s death is revealed. At the same time, Pungsan’s true identity and the real villain manipulating him, Kim Bong-in, are exposed, unveiling a massive conspiracy shaking the palace. The emotional dynamic between Yeori and Gangcheol also reaches a new turning point.

Yeori has dreamed only of revenge for 30 years, but Gangcheol’s shocking confession shakes the truth she believed in. It is revealed that Gangcheol is not the culprit, and Yeori’s emotions collapse. Yeori, Gangcheol, and Lee Jeong join forces to uncover the true identities of the vengeful ghost and Palcheok-gwi, as well as the root of the royal family’s curse. The confrontation with the ghost continues, past secrets of each character are revealed, and Yeori’s choices become a crucial turning point.

Gangcheol responds to Yeori’s confession with a kiss, bringing them closer together. Yeori, Gangcheol, and Lee Jeong realize that the only way to destroy Palcheok-gwi is to identify and resolve the root of its grudge, and they combine their strengths. During this process, Yeori realizes that Pungsan is “Aguji,” but is kidnapped by him. Consumed by rage, Gangcheol storms into Maengcheong to rescue Yeori and finds her in a hidden shrine.

Finally, Palcheok-gwi awakens, revealing, “I was born a hundred years ago,” and the true nature of the curse on the royal family and a new crisis begin. With Yeori’s abduction, Gangcheol’s fury, and Palcheok-gwi’s awakening, the story reaches its peak of tension.

Kangcheol rescues Yeori, who had been captured by the blind Bongsan. The royal family is now certain that Bongsan is actually Aguji. The Palchokgwi spirit begins to freely move through the body of Bongsan, actively involving itself in human affairs. Meanwhile, Bebi does something unexpected, and the story of Palchokgwi’s past is revealed.

Bongsan keeps Yeori alive to use her as bait. Currently, Bongsan is possessed by Palchokgwi but is then abandoned again. The king grows angry and demands that Palchokgwi reveal itself. Yeori is seen trying to stop Bebi from devouring human souls. She tells Kangcheol that it’s a problem for him to do such things in Yoon-gap’s body.

Kangcheol refuses to help prepare Bebi’s feast, and Bebi feels hurt by this. Bebi dislikes Yeori even more because she knows Kangcheol is willing to die for her. Yeori overhears this conversation and, deeply moved, confesses to Kangcheol, “You are my true treasure,” making it clear that it’s Kangcheol, not Yoon-gap, whom she loves.

General Palchokgwi, using the blind Bongsan’s body, takes control of the situation. He orders Kim Bong-in to prepare a place to rest. Palchokgwi consumes the Nightlight Pearl and grows stronger. Bongsan offers Bebi a deal: if she brings Yeori, he’ll feed her regularly (by capturing humans). Bebi accepts to protect Kangcheol, but in reality, Yeori is just bait, and the real target is the Nightlight Pearls of the imugi (lesser dragons).

When Bebi acts, she is tricked at the crucial moment and loses the Nightlight Pearl to protect Kangcheol, ultimately losing her life and disappearing.

The grudge of Palchokgwi is revealed to have begun 100 years ago, during a war in the reign of King Yeonjong. The king struggles to accept Yeori’s claim that his maternal grandfather, Kim Bong-in, is the final villain. To dispel suspicion, he assigns someone to watch his grandfather. The queen dowager also realizes she was deceived by Kim Bong-in and begins to confess her mistakes to the king.

The king personally interrogates Kim Bong-in, who reveals his true nature and mocks the king, saying he will never find the evidence. The king awakens and sentences Kim Bong-in to exile and confiscation of property, but, as family, he cannot execute him. However, Kim Bong-in is later killed by Palchokgwi for being useless. Yeori’s group visits Choi Won-woo’s house to learn more about Palchokgwi’s grudge.

They discover that 100 years ago, King Yeonjong fled to this area during a war against northern invaders. A book containing secrets from the past, “Gwangam Collection,” is found. Yeori’s group also tries to release the grudge of the ghost haunting the minister’s daughter. The ghost says its revenge is for the truth hidden in this house 100 years ago to be revealed.

After consuming the Nightlight Pearl, Palchokgwi gains the power to summon humans, and Kangcheol is summoned, trembling in fear. Palchokgwi’s true identity gradually becomes clear: it is a vengeful spirit formed from the collective resentment of the people of Yongdamgol village 100 years ago. Finally, Palchokgwi’s true form is revealed.

Palchokgwi’s core is the spirit of the former military officer, Cheon Geum-hwi. When the king faced hardship during his exile, Cheon Geum-hwi suggested his hometown, Yongdamgol, as a refuge. However, King Yeonjong used the village as bait, and while the enemies attacked, the king secretly fled elsewhere. Cheon Geum-hwi, who tried to protect the village, was abandoned by the king. Thus, Yongdamgol became a tragic battlefield.

Choi Won-woo’s great-grandfather recorded the royal family’s shameful deeds, allowing the truth to be revealed. Yeori feels the sorrow of the vengeful spirits and realizes that Palchokgwi is the combined grudge of the entire village and Cheon Geum-hwi. The king, unable to mourn Kim Bong-in’s death, focuses on resolving Palchokgwi’s grudge.

A ritual is held at Choi Won-woo’s house to send off the vengeful spirit. The blind Bongsan seeks out another wealthy noble to use as a shield, as he needs them to fulfill his ambitions. The dried centaury flower, crucial for Kangcheol in his fight against Palchokgwi, is carefully cultivated by Choi Won-woo’s daughter. On the day Palchokgwi reaches its 100th year, the flower blooms fully, and Kangcheol eats its petals.

Yoon-gap, temporarily freed from Palchokgwi, screams in despair when he sees Kangcheol living in his body. Bongsan watches this with satisfaction, planning to use Yoon-gap. Using a newly recruited noble, Bongsan summons Kangcheol so that the real Yoon-gap can return to his body. Behind the scenes, he listens to the conversation between the king and Yoon-gap.

Yoon-gap and Kangcheol share the same body, switching back and forth. Yoon-gap, afraid that he might fall for Bongsan’s tricks, asks Yeori to send him to the afterlife. Thus, Yoon-gap is also sent away in a ritual. With the help of Yeori, Kangcheol, and the monk, the palace briefly regains its peace.

Kangcheol subtly proposes marriage to Yeori, but when she is startled, he quickly takes it back, saying it was just a joke. The king orders a ritual to send Palchokgwi away, as it has been exactly 100 years since Palchokgwi appeared. Yeori and the monk Gaseop are to perform the ritual. However, during the ritual, a military officer possessed by Palchokgwi attacks the queen, who is fatally wounded and dies.

Yeori feels guilty, and the king is devastated by the queen’s death. Taking advantage of the king’s weakened state, Palchokgwi possesses him.

In the past, Palchokgwi was overcome with sorrow as he watched his hometown people die horribly. When his own family perished, he screamed in despair. In the end, facing the enemies alone, Palchokgwi was overwhelmed and died with a grudge against the king.

Now, Palchokgwi intends to take the lives of everyone around the king, just as his village was destroyed—even Kangcheol.

Kangcheol gives Yeori a gift to cheer her up. Yeori also makes a wish, which seems to be for Kangcheol’s safety.

Bongsan is sentenced to death, but the king, now possessed by Palchokgwi, cancels the execution and orders the execution of Kangcheol and Yeori instead.

The queen dowager, now fully aware, goes to the king and demands he snap out of it, but the king, possessed by Palchokgwi, calmly subdues her.

Yeori and Kangcheol are allowed to stay overnight at Choi Won-woo’s house. Kangcheol tells Inseon that he will use the dried centaury to protect someone.

The Haunted Palace Ending

That night, the king (possessed by Palchokgwi) approaches the crown prince threateningly. The queen dowager tries to protect the prince, who is entrusted to a military officer and escapes safely to Choi Won-woo’s house. Choi Won-woo goes out to delay the king for Yeori’s group, but is threatened by the king and ultimately faces Palchokgwi.

Yeori, having barely survived, tells Kangcheol that they should run away together. However, Yeori actually plans to face Palchokgwi alone. She returns to the palace and asks the old man Sangseon for help, which he readily gives. Palchokgwi will be faced alone.

When Kangcheol finds out, he follows her to the palace.

During Palchokgwi’s moment alone, Yeori, dressed like a grim reaper, begins the ritual to send Palchokgwi away. However, Palchokgwi is not willing to go quietly. The blind Bongsan is also present and begins chanting a counter-spell. Palchokgwi awakens completely!

Breaking free from the chains, it becomes an even greater monster. Yeori collapses, coughing up blood.

At the critical moment, Kangcheol appears and begins fighting Palchokgwi. Palchokgwi wields a deadly sword, using its fire attribute, while Kangcheol, trapped in a human body, cannot use his full power. Palchokgwi shouts that even Kangcheol pretended not to know about their suffering and attacks with fiery blows.

Kangcheol eats the dried centaury petals, risking his life to face Palchokgwi. Eating the petals means Kangcheol is staking his life. When Kangcheol uses the full power of the Nightlight Pearl, Palchokgwi disappears.

Kangcheol loses consciousness, and the king returns to his senses. The king and Yeori perform the ritual for Cheon Geum-hwi again. Cheon Geum-hwi and the people of Yongdamgol, dressed in white, appear before Yeori. The king kneels before them and sincerely apologizes, promising that such bloody grudges will never happen again.

Palchokgwi, moved by the king’s tears, lets go of its grudge and leaves this world with the villagers. Palchokgwi, who spent 100 years just to obtain a few tears, leaves behind words of futility.

Kangcheol remains unconscious. Yeori finally reunites with the spirit of her grandmother, the mudang. They embrace tearfully. Her grandmother thanks her for saving her and tells her to live bravely before leaving.

The despicable blind Bongsan is still alive, but when he tries to use his subordinate as bait, he is struck by lightning and dies, just as Kangcheol predicted.

After three days, when Kangcheol still hasn’t woken up and Yoon-gap’s body is about to be buried, Kangcheol opens his eyes. The king reforms the slavery system so that innocent people will not suffer, and the crown prince learns by his side. With everything settled, Yeori’s life improves, and she boasts to Inseon that she is soon to be married. In return, Yeori gives Inseon a talisman for a long, happy marriage.

The king shyly thanks Kangcheol, who says he came back to this world because of Yeori. After consulting with the Jade Emperor, he decided to stay. They have a beautiful daughter, who inherits Kangcheol’s powers, and they live happily together. The drama ends with Yeori and Kangcheol continuing to help the royal family through their hardships.