The East Palace: ghosts, kings and Netflix (trailer).
Netflix has released details of its upcoming Korean fantasy drama The East Palace, and if the ingredients list is anything to go by, viewers can expect a generous helping of ghosts, court intrigue, supernatural swordplay and enough haunted corridors to keep a candle-maker in business for generations. Arriving on July 17th, The East Palace drops us into a fictional kingdom where the royal residence has acquired an unfortunate pest problem. Not rats. Not cockroaches. Not even ambitious noblemen plotting over tea. Ghosts. Lots of them.
To deal with this spectral infestation, the King recruits an unusual pair of investigators. First there is Gu-cheon, a notoriously arrogant ghost-slayer played by Nam Joo-hyuk. He possesses the rather useful ability to transform into a ghost himself, allowing him to cross the boundary between the living and the dead and stab troublesome spirits with alarming efficiency. One imagines this makes social occasions somewhat awkward.
Alongside him is Saeng-gang, played by Roh Yoon-seo, a court lady blessed, or perhaps cursed, with the ability to hear and communicate with the dead. While Gu-cheon prefers solving problems with a sword, Saeng-gang appears more inclined towards conversation, investigation and discovering what exactly is causing the palace’s increasingly alarming paranormal activity.
Together they venture into the East Palace itself, uncovering secrets buried behind royal walls and delving into a spirit world that appears to have developed a rather unhealthy interest in the monarchy. Anyone familiar with recent Korean fantasy television will recognise some impressive pedigree behind the scenes. Director Choi Jung-kyu previously helmed The Devil Judge, while writers Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won worked on supernatural favourites The Guest and Bulgasal: Immortal Souls. In other words, this is not their first haunted rodeo.
The casting is also likely to attract attention. Nam Joo-hyuk’s appearance marks his first acting role following military service, while Roh Yoon-seo ventures into darker fantasy territory for the first time. Veteran actor Cho Seung-woo takes on the role of the King, presumably spending much of the series wondering why every room in his palace appears to be occupied by either ghosts or people chasing ghosts.
Production itself encountered a genuine real-world horror story when a major fire destroyed a large section of the purpose-built filming facility in December 2024. Thankfully no injuries were reported, although significant sets and equipment were lost. Given the scale of modern fantasy productions, it is a testament to the production team that the series continued on course for its 2026 release. What makes The East Palace particularly intriguing is its blend of genres. Korean television has become exceptionally adept at mixing historical settings with fantasy and horror elements, often creating worlds that feel both ancient and startlingly original. The premise suggests something part ghost story, part detective mystery, part political thriller and part supernatural action adventure.
At SFcrowsnest, we’re always partial to stories where dark secrets lurk beneath polished surfaces. Palaces, after all, are ideal locations for fantasy. Every corridor hides a secret. Every royal family has skeletons in the cupboard. In this case, some of those skeletons may have become fully operational ghosts.
The trailer hints at shadowy figures, elaborate period costumes, spectral encounters and enough atmospheric gloom to satisfy even the most demanding fan of supernatural drama. If the writers can balance the mystery elements with the fantasy action, Netflix may have another Korean genre hit on its hands.
Besides, any series featuring a hero who can become a ghost in order to hunt ghosts already starts with a certain advantage. It’s the sort of wonderfully mad concept that sounds like somebody lost a bet during a folklore seminar and accidentally created a television show.
We’ll find out whether the spirits of The East Palace are friendly, malevolent or merely misunderstood when the series arrives on Netflix this July. Either way, prospective visitors might want to avoid accepting overnight accommodation in the royal guest wing.
