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Time of India
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The Haunted Palace ending explained: Everything felt complete, but fans still want season 2 of Yook Sung Jae, Kim Ji Yeon's drama
SBS's The Haunted Palace wrapped up its 16-episode run on June 7 with a finale that brought in the show's highest viewership rating to date. Blending fantasy, history, and romance, the drama starred Yook Sung Jae, Kim Ji Yeon (Bona), and Kim Ji Hoon in a story that captivated viewers both in Korea and internationally via Viki. Its final episode pulled in a nationwide average rating of 11.0 percent, according to Nielsen Korea, clinching the top spot in its time slot. The drama stood out not just for its unique take on Korean folklore and shamanism but for its emotional depth, well-crafted character arcs, and sharp performances, especially in its latter half. With a satisfying ending that still left the door open for more, fans are now eagerly asking, Will there be a season 2? What is The Haunted Palace about? At its core, The Haunted Palace is the story of Yeo Ri, a modern-day shaman who wants nothing to do with her fate. She becomes entangled with Gang Cheol, a thousand-year-old serpent spirit (imugi) who ends up possessing the body of her first love, Yoon Gap. As they team up to confront Palcheok Gwi, a vengeful ghost haunting the royal palace, things quickly spiral beyond a simple exorcism. The show explores themes like reincarnation, fate, guilt, and the pain of forgotten souls. But it also mixes in romance, politics, and humour, especially in the funny arguments between Gangcheori and the Emperor. As spirits and humans clash, the story shows that both good and bad exist in everyone, and every ghost and person has a story to tell. The Haunted Palace ending explained: Who lived, who died, and who returned The Haunted Palace episode 16 kicks off with chaos, as Gangcheori and the possessed King face off in a last-ditch attempt to stop the evil spirit from taking full control. After a dramatic series of fights, betrayals, and emotional goodbyes, Gangcheori unleashes his full power and sacrifices himself to destroy the ghost once and for all. The King and Yeo-ri wake up, but Gangcheori doesn't—at least not right away. In a touching twist, Gangcheori later returns, explaining that the Heavenly Sovereign gave him a choice between ascending or returning to Earth. He chose Earth, naturally, 'for Yeo-ri,' though he jokes about it. Life moves on: Yeo-ri's business flourishes, the King pushes forward with reforms, and Gangcheori becomes a slightly grumpy dad to their daughter, Ga-won, who inherited his lightning powers. The final scene shows the family setting off on another ghost-hunting job, hinting that the supernatural world still has unfinished business. It's a full-circle ending, filled with closure, but not without possibility for more. Why are fans calling for season 2? Despite its neatly wrapped conclusion, fans aren't ready to say goodbye. The Reddit thread for episodes 15 and 16 is filled with passionate posts asking for a second season. One viewer wrote, "I want Season Two and more of the bromance between the Emperor and Gangcheol!" Another praised Yook Sung-jae's performance, saying his portrayal of both Yoon Gap and Gangcheori showed just how far he's come as an actor. Kim Ji Hoon also earned widespread praise for his role as the complex and tormented king. Fans cited his performance as award-worthy, with one saying, "He really deserves to win one of those year-end acting awards." Others appreciated how the story managed to stay emotionally grounded despite its fantasy elements. "I was skeptical at first, thinking the ending might be tragic," one user said, "but I love how everything ended." Many also noted that the finale wasn't just good—it was one of the best they'd seen in a long time. As one comment put it, 'This show outperformed my expectations. The ending was one of the best K-drama endings I've ever seen.' "I hadn't watched any dramas in a couple of months and was debating cancelling my Viki subscription last weekend, but I watched the first episode of this on a whim and was immediately hooked. I'm now caught up for the last two episodes and wish I'd been watching from the start," wrote another user. Check out more comments in the Reddit thread below: For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
The Review Geek
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
The Haunted Palace – K-drama Episode 16 Recap, Review & Ending Explained
Episode 16 Episode 16 of The Haunted Palace begins with the clash between Gangcheori and the possessed King. Gangcheori runs off after weakening the possessed King with talismans. Everyone regroups in a safe house. The Crown Prince is worried and Gangcheori cheers him up with the promise that he will personally save the King. This upsets Yeo-ri as she knows it means he will sacrifice himself. Her dream is to live an ordinary life just for a few days before they face reality. Gangcheori gives in and she sends him to bring Mrs. Yoon to them. How is the 8-foot ghost defeated? Unfortunately, it is a ploy to get Gangcheori away. When he returns, Yeo-ri is gone and he goes after her. Mrs. Yoon is worried and begs him to return safely In the palace, Head Eunuch Kim smuggles in Yeo-ri. With the help of Royal Guard Kim, they subdue the possessed King's men, including Assassin Jung. Yeo-ri confronts the possessed King and we see that she has been possessed by the fire grim reaper. A fight ensues between the two as the 8-foot ghost refuses to leave with the reaper. Pung-san offers his power and with it, the ghost kicks out the reaper. Before the ghost can kill her, Gangcheori shows up and attacks. As they hurl insults at each other, we learn why the ghost hates Gangcheori too. On that fateful night, Cheon had begged the heavens to help. And while Gangcheori had the power to help, he only focused on his ascension. At present, the ghost heavily injures Gangcheori and starts strangling Yeo-ri. Gangcheori looks sad and activates his pearl. He apologises for not helping and promises to save the dead. He unleashes his pearl completely and the ghost disappears. Yeo-ri and the King wake up but Gangcheori doesn't. Later, Yeo-ri performs the last rites of the Yongdam villagers. They all show up, led by the ghost who has turned back into Cheon. The King bows and accepts his sin of ignorance. He promises never to forget and to ensure no one else is exploited the way they were. Cheon hates that all he needed was a sincere apology. But it is enough and all the ghosts cross to the afterlife. What happens to Gangcheori? Ga-seop realises that Gangcheori's purpose from the beginning was to save the nation. However, this doesn't comfort Mrs. Yoon who berates Heaven for taking away her son twice. The King misses Gangcheori as well, realising that he was his only true companion. Yeo-ri scolds the imugi for breaking his promise of never leaving her side. But when they get ready to bury him, Gangcheori suddenly wakes up. Delighted, he hugs Yeo-ri and Mrs. Yoon. While hanging out with the King, Gangcheori reveals that he met the Heavenly Sovereign, who took pity on him and gave him a choice – to ascend to Heaven or to return to Earth. Gangcheori chose Earth but jokes that it was only for Yeo-ri. Does everyone get closure? With the 8-foot ghost gone, the devoured souls are freed. The Queen visits the King and hopes he finds happiness again. When she crosses over, the King feels her for a moment. Neop-deok hugs Yeo-ri and urges her to stay strong before passing on. Se-won and Pung-san try to escape. They are cornered and Pung-san guilt-trips Se-won into acting as bait. The soldiers arrest Se-won. Pung-san is in the clear but he is suddenly struck by lightning. He realises it is Gangcheori's curse before he dies. Choi Won-u is appointed as the Chief State Councillor and works on anti-slave reforms with the King and the Crown Prince. The Queen Mother atones to Ok-im. However, the drowned ghost refuses to cross over because she has gotten fond of Yeo-ri. Yeo-ri's optician business flourishes as she makes glasses and sunglasses for Choi Won-u and the King. In-seon tries to make amends with her but is still slightly jealous on learning that Yeo-ri is engaged to Gangcheori. As a farewell, Yeo-ri gives her a love talisman. The King and Gangcheori bicker as usual as they observe the common man and work on how they can ease their struggles. A few years later, we see that Yeo-ri and Gangcheori have a daughter, Ga-won. She has lightning powers as well and Mrs. Yoon is the only one who can demand order when Ga-won and Gangcheori bicker. At the end of The Haunted Palace Episode 16, Head Eunuch Kim arrives with the news of a supernatural incident. Gangcheori wants to be paid to deal with it and Kim only agrees to haggle for Ga-won's sake. Yeo-ri and Mrs. Yoon put an end to it as the former heads out with Gangcheori. The Episode Review And with The Haunted Palace Episode 16, this fun K-drama comes to an end. The finale is packed with action, (mini) betrayals, regret, redemption, romance and camaraderie. Along with the male leads, Bona gets a chance to be badass as well when Yeo-ri summons the grim reaper. Mrs. Yoon caring for Gangcheori and hugging him when he came back from the dead was quite a heartfelt moment. Pung-san getting his comeuppance in the form of a lightning bolt was hilarious, given how often he looked down on Gangcheori's powers. Also, shout out to little Oh Eun-seo, who is pretty much the South Korean Mckenna Grace at this point. We completely forgot about Yeo-ri's vision of having a family with Yoon Gap but turns out she was predicting her marriage with Gangcheori. However, the actual showdown between the gang and the ghost felt rushed. The reaper's superpower and the stakes involving Yeo-ri's death were forgotten quite quickly to finish the ghost's storyline. We don't see the King try and fight off the possession either. The emotional charge is quite low compared to the previous episode. Seems like the show ran out of fuel after such an exciting, rollercoaster of a ride. Previous Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
International Business Times
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- International Business Times
The Haunted Palace Episode 15 Spoilers: Gang Cheol and Yeo Ri Struggle to Escape Deadly Danger
The Haunted Palace spoilers for episode 15 have teased trouble for Gang Cheol and Yeo Ri as the newly released stills show them struggling to escape deadly danger. There is anxiety, tension, and crisis in the upcoming episode of this historical fantasy thriller drama. The production team has teased suspenseful moments with hints about what the viewers can expect in the new episode. Gang Cheol and Yeo Ri would go through a life-threatening experience after a terrifying pursuer begins to chase them. It wouldn't be easy for the onscreen couple to escape from this deadly danger. The newly released stills show them looking tense and wary as they try to hide and escape from the imminent threat that is chasing them. The images teased a crisis for the two characters as they will experience in the upcoming episode. The Haunted Palace is sure to keep the viewers on the edge of their seats in the last two episodes. The producers asked viewers to watch the final episodes to see the last battle with the spirit. They promised an emotional journey between Gangcheori and Yeo Ri. It will share an exciting story that will leave a lasting impression in the viewers' minds. "In the final two episodes, the last battle with the Eight Feet Tall spirit will unfold. Along with an exciting story, the emotional journey between Gangcheori and Yeo Ri will leave a lasting impression. Please look forward to the thrilling conclusion," the production team shared. The Haunted Palace Preview The newly released stills show King Lee Jeong sitting on the throne with a vacant and chilling gaze. He has a burn scar on his face, signaling possession by the vengeful Eight Feet Tall spirit. He is surrounded by flames and wearing the red warrior's robe. The pictures show the Eight Feet Tall spirit's power as he manages to completely control the king's body after swallowing the Imugi's glowing pearl. Gangcheori and Yeo Ri can rescue the king by defeating the spirit. So, they will gear up for their final battle with the Eight Feet Tall spirit. The historical fantasy thriller will return with a new episode on SBS TV on Friday (June 6) at 9:55 PM KST. People in Korea can watch episode 15 on TV or stream it online. K-drama fans from countries like the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK can watch the mini-series with subtitles on various online streaming platforms, including Viki. Here are the International Air Timings of The Haunted Palace Episode 15: US - 7:55 AM Canada - 7:55 AM Australia - 11:25 PM New Zealand - 1:55 AM Japan - 9:55 PM Mexico - 6:55 AM Brazil - 9:55 AM Saudi Arabia - 3:55 PM India - 6:25 PM Indonesia - 7:55 PM Singapore - 8:55 PM China - 8:55 PM Europe - 1:55 PM France - 1:55 PM Spain - 1:55 PM UK - 12:55 PM South Africa - 2:55 PM Philippines - 8:55 PM The Haunted Palace, the ongoing historical fantasy thriller drama, premiered on SBS TV on Friday (April 18) at 9:55 PM KST. It tells the story of a Shamam after she becomes possessed by an Eight Feet Tall spirit. The mini-series focuses on the complicated relationship between the Shamam and an Imugi, an imaginary creature in Korean folklore. The creature can spend a millennium in water and transform into a dragon after acquiring Yeouiju, a magical jewel. Apart from Bona, the K-drama stars BTOB member Yook Sungjae, Kim Ji Hoon, Gil Hae Yeon, Kim In Kwon, Son Byung Ho, Han Soo Yeon, Han So Eun, Shin Seul Ki, Lee Won Jong, and Cho Han Gyul. Screenwriter Yoon Soo Jung wrote the script, and Yoon Sung Sik directed it.
The Review Geek
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
The Haunted Palace – K-drama Episode 14 Recap & Review
Episode 14 Episode 14 of The Haunted Palace begins with Yoon Gap reuniting with a delighted Mrs. Yoon and a wary Yeo-ri. On their way to work, Yeo-ri accepts Gap's apology as he confesses to tricking her. However, she flinches when he reaches for her and he gives her back Gangcheori's bracelet. The palace is pleasantly surprised by Gap's return. The King hugs him but the ghostbane stone hurts Yoon Gap. Yeo-ri and the King deduce that the stone is reacting to Gap's corpse. Pung-san is eavesdropping via Yoon Gap's soul and realises that the ghostbane stone is their secret weapon. The inner circle gets back to work on the anti-slave reforms. The King finds Gap's enthusiasm refreshing but he also recalls how Gangcheori had cheered him when he had doubted his role as a benevolent king. Gap realises that the King misses Gangcheori. Surprisingly, even Head Eunuch Kim misses Gangcheori's impudence. Suddenly, Gap is in pain and Pung-san 'helps' him. The shaman needs Gap to destroy the King's ghostbane stone, and then the body will be permanently his. All he needs to do is pour 'alcohol' over the stone. However, the loyal Gap refuses. Meanwhile, Yeo-ri and Ga-seop search for Gangcheori. She prays for him, upset that he broke his promise of not letting her go. Surprisingly, he wakes up in Gap's body as well. Chaos ensues as Gap and Gangcheori tussle over the body's dominance. Soon, we see that it is Pung-san helping Gap suppress Gangcheori. He keeps reminding Gap of all the things Gangcheori has taken from him. The next morning, Gap is gone early and Yeo-ri has a vision of him eyeing the ghostbane stone. She rushes after him. In the palace, the King constantly praises Gap and works on the reforms. The ghostbane stone is on his table and Gap decides to pour the 'alcohol' over it. Gangcheori screams no and he throws the liquor and slips. Gap is ejected and he runs off. Both Gangcheori and Yeo-ri find him and he is disappointed in himself. Gangcheori points out that it was Gap who threw away the liquor in the end. However, Gap is afraid of what he might become and begs Yeo-ri to help him cross over to the afterlife. They arrive home and Mrs. Yoon realises that Gangcheori has returned. She cries for Gap and is in shock when she learns that he is dead. The shamans perform the last rites and Gap bids farewell to his mother and Yeo-ri. The King cries as he holds his own ritual for Gap in the palace. Gangcheori knows Gap has feelings for Yeo-ri and wonders why he never confessed. Gap refuses to hurt her as she would never be able to accept his feelings. Gangcheori is impressed and as farewell, agrees to take care of Mrs. Yoon and Yeo-ri. With Gap gone, Pung-san convinces Minister Ahn to destroy the ghostbane stones by tempting him with the Chief State Councillor position. Gangcheori and Yeo-ri move out while Mrs. Yoon mourns Gap. They head to a tavern and are forced to share the only available room. Ah, the classic only-one-bed trope! As they turn in for the night, Yeo-ri is still determined to resolve the ghost conflict for the sake of the ghost, the villagers and her grandmother. She also teases Gangcheori who is awkward about sharing a room. He 'jokingly' makes a proposition but Mrs. Yoon interrupts. She has been searching for them all night and takes them home. It cuts to D-Day as the inner circle gets ready for the ghost's 100th death anniversary. Kwak's officer/assassin, Jung worms his way into the security detail. The King gives his ghostbane stone to his pregnant Queen. Yeo-ri remembers her grandmother mentioning how a shaman can die if the reaper method fails. The caragana finally blooms and Gangcheori drinks its tea as he realises it may be time to sacrifice himself. The ritual begins but the ghost possesses Assassin Jung. He easily fends everyone off, including Gangcheori, and smiles at the King. At the end of The Haunted Palace Episode 14, he stabs the Queen in the stomach. The Episode Review The penultimate week ends with a shocking cliffhanger and while we are surprised by the route they took with Yoon Gap's storyline, The Haunted Palace Episode 14 is still pretty satisfactory. We almost wish the K-drama hadn't included the teaser for the finale since it explains how the possessed Assassin Jung is able to stab the Queen, who has the ghostbane stone. Mrs. Yoon shines as she quickly understands the situation surrounding Gangcheori and accepts him back after mourning her son. And while we'd expected the typical love triangle trope where Yoon Gap goes evil to make Yeo-ri his, his sacrifice fits his backstory as the kind-hearted little boy who stood up for her when she was an outcast. However, the King is a confusing little fellow with the writers taking way too much liberty with his character. The beginning of the show barely gives him any screentime before they make it up by having him work with Yeo-ri and Gangcheori. But his overaffection and PDA for Yoon Gap feel odd, especially when he and his court constantly insist on decorum with Gangcheori. Sure, the hug is a plot device to reveal the ghostbane stone but the King has not shown his own wife or son that much affection as he does to a loyal and like-minded but mere court examiner. The K-drama does highlight that the King is an emotional person with the way he mourns his evil grandfather and cries for the wronged Yongdam villagers. But it is not enough to fall in line for his character to break hierarchy and decorum with the way he does with Yoon Gap. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
The Review Geek
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
The Haunted Palace – K-drama Episode 12 Recap & Review
Episode 12 Episode 12 of The Haunted Palace begins with Gangcheori mourning his brother. Yeo-ri comforts him and blames herself for Bibi's death. Unfortunately, Kim Bong-in arrests them for trespassing. The King defends them and has them freed. Throughout the whole ordeal, Gangcheori is listless. It falls on Yeo-ri to tell the King about Kim being the mastermind. Shocked, the King gives Kim the benefit of the doubt and has Royal Guard Seo follow him. Kim confronts Pung-san for letting Gangcheori and Yeo-ri leave. However, Pung-san doesn't care as the 8-foot ghost has become much stronger after devouring Bibi's pearl. Yeo-ri brings Ga-seop to the palace to protect the Queen and Crown Prince while the gang travels to Yongdam Village to question Choi Won-u. However, everyone notices Gangcheori hurting and they worry for him. Even Head Eunuch Kim sends yugwa candy for him. As for Mrs. Yoon, she sneaks him snacks when Gangcheori has no appetite. He looks touched and promises to eat later. Back to the familial betrayal, the Queen Mother visits the King. From her own investigation, she has learned that Kim threatened Yeong-in's nanny into introducing Pung-san to the Queen Mother. She regrets everything and apologises for indirectly hurting the King's unborn child. On top of that, Seo confirms that Kim met with Pung-san's assistant, Se-wan. The King looks sad as he calls for Kim. After the previous king had died, a teary-eyed Kim had cleaned his bloody tonggae, his bow and arrow case, and offered it to the current king. The King believed it was a sign of Kim's protection. The King cries as he accuses Kim of treason. However, Kim smirks and claims the King is to blame with his absurd anti-slavery and anti-corruption reforms. Kim only backed him as long as he didn't change the 'natural order' of the nation. He is further gleeful that the King has no proof and he will have to arrest Yeo-ri, an illegal shaman should she procure one. However, the King has been hiding the court who all hear Kim's confession. Kim is exiled for treason but his assassins easily free him. He storms over to the shrine and threatens the ghost to kill the King. The ghost doesn't take kindly to threats and reveals he doesn't need the minister anymore. He possesses Pung-san and kills Kim. Gangcheori is back in commission as he assures Yeo-ri that he doesn't hate her. He only blames the ghost and is ready to destroy him. The gang arrive at Yongdam and so as not to spook Choi Won-u, they claim it is a retreat. Gangcheori wonders about In-seon's whereabouts and Yeo-ri is jealous. Head Eunuch Kim finds out that it has been 100 years since a king (King Yeon-jong) visited the village. While Choi hosts them, the gang share an inner joke as the King jests about Gangcheori's 'perfect manners.' Gangcheori finally tries the yugwa candy and even shares it with Head Eunuch Kim. The eunuch talks about how he too lost a sibling, hinting that he knows Gangcheori is mourning someone important to him. The King's plan is thwarted from the beginning when Choi Won-u shuts down on the mention of his 100-year-old ancestor, Choi Gil-sang. Then they are interrupted by In-seon who has again been possessed by the one-legged ghost. The King wants answers and Choi spins a tale that the ghost is Jang Eon-su, a book merchant who stole some important books 5 years ago. While punishing him, Choi accidentally killed Jang. Feeling guilty, he retired. Yeo-ri and Gangcheori exorcise the ghost and their usual antics follow. But this time, the ghost agrees to be captured, but with a condition. He wants a scandalous book about the Chois exposed; that has been his revenge plan all along. Yeo-ri tells Choi this, and also how Jang hid the book in the place where he died. Choi claims it is all lies. A flashback shows Choi Won-u actually selling all the books to Jang. It includes the scandalous 100-year-old book, The Anthology of Light and Darkness. It has royal state secrets and can ruin the reputation of the Chois. It also tells the story of King Yeon-jong and a military officer. Once Choi hears it, he offers to buy it back. Before the transaction, a greedy Jang hides it in Choi's granary and asks for more money. Enraged, Choi attacks Jang who falls on a rake, slicing up his leg. Choi hesitates before killing Jang. At present, he finds the book and is about to burn it when Gangcheori saves it. He tells the King that the book has the origin story of the ghost. At the end of The Haunted Palace Episode 12, the ghost seethes over the King's words. He expels Yoon Gap's soul and Pung-san laughs. The Episode Review With The Hauned Palace having such a strong run so far, it seems that Episode 12 has decided to mess things up a bit. It is primarily Kim Bong-in's character who is portrayed as this manipulative, scheming grandfather who has not an ounce of love or loyalty for his grandson. While we had grand ideas of why he may choose to betray his only family, the reality is quite disappointing. Had it been any other K-drama, we would have chalked off Kim as a secondary, flat character whose only purpose is to be the villain. But The Haunted Palace is abundant with three-dimensional grey characters such as Gangcheori, Yoon Gap, Bibi, the Queen Mother, Choi Won-u and the 8-foot ghost himself. Yep, even the main antagonist has a tragic backstory that hints that circumstances out of his control turned him into a malevolent spirit. Yet, here we have Kim Bong-in laughing while his grandson cries at his betrayal. It undermines Kim Ji-hoon's heartbreaking portrayal of the King in what is supposed to be a bitter reality check. It doesn't help that Kim decides to betray him and summon the ghost when the King is just a teenager and has yet to voice his 'unconventional' political ideals. The timeline doesn't back Kim's loathing for his own family. And like his weak characterization, he simply gets an unsatisfying off-screen death. This storyline overshadows an integral character development for Gangcheori in this chapter, as he bonds with humans, other than Yeo-ri, while mourning his brother. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
