Latest news with #TheHauntedPalace
South China Morning Post
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
The 10 best K-dramas of 2025 so far, from Squid Game 3 to When Life Gives You Tangerines
Just six months into the year and our ranking of the best 2025 K-dramas to date could compete with the full annual rankings for many other years. It has been a strong and diverse few months for K-dramas, and thankfully there appears to be much more to look forward to in the coming months as well. Below are our picks of the 10 best K-dramas so far this year. 10. The Haunted Palace Lead cast: Bona, Yook Sung-jae Final Nielsen rating: 11 per cent Play In this breezy and entertaining period mystery drama, a reluctant shaman and a seemingly malevolent dragon spirit in human form join forces as supernatural sleuths around the grounds of the royal palace. They face off with several colourful spirits, battling with them while trying to get to the bottom of the events that turned them into grudge spirits in the first place.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Malay Mail's Top 10 Picks: ‘Ejen Ali 2' dominate local cinemas for third week, new releases ‘Thug Life' and live action ‘How To Train Your Dragon' soar (VIDEO)
KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 — Since its premiere on May 22, Ejen Ali The Movie 2: Misi Satria has received an overwhelming response from a wide range of audiences — including families, teens and loyal fans of the franchise — and the hype continues this week as it dominates local cinemas for the third week in a row. Hot on its heels at No. 2 is the much-anticipated Tamil action flick Thug Life, starring none other than legendary Indian actor and filmmaker Kamal Haasan, while the live-action How to Train Your Dragon has finally taken flight not far behind. From Hollywood hits and animated movies to action-packed Tamil films, there's something for everyone at the cinemas this weekend; plus, with trending shows on Netflix and Viu, top chart music and great books to check out, your weekend is set — and as always, Malay Mail has you covered. Top 10 films in local cinemas (Domestic & International) (June 5 to June 8) Ejen Ali The Movie 2: Misi Satria Thug Life How To Train Your Dragon Karate Kid: Legends Lilo & Stitch Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning Ballerina Keluang Man Laknat Final Destination Bloodlines Source: and GSC Top 10 streaming on Netflix and Viu (June 2 to June 8) Netflix (Top 10 TV) TV Series Tastefully Yours: Limited Series Mercy For None: Limited Series Oh My Ghost Clients: Season 1 The Haunted Palace: Season 1 Ejen Ali: Season 1 Mad Unicorn: Limited Series Ejen Ali: Season 2 Our Unwritten Seoul: Limited Series Bet: Season 1 Black Out: Season 1 Source: Netflix Top 10 Viu (Top 10 shows) Lambaian Huda Sugar Daddy The Haunted Palace Pabila Dia Tersenyum Running Man (2025) Isteri Misteri Pump Up the Healthy Love Bidaah Second Shot at Love Oh My Ghost Clients Source: Viu Frontpage Top 10 songs of the week (Spotify) (June 4 to June 11) Jin — Don't Say You Love Me Fourtwnty — Mangu (w/ Charita Utami) Nadhif Basalamah — bergema sampai selamanya sombr — back to friends NIKI — You'll Be in My Heart yung kai — blue Billie Eilish — BIRDS OF A FEATHER Nadeera — Bukan Lagi Kita JENNIE — like JENNIE Billie Eilish — WILDFLOWER Top 10 Malay songs of the week (Spotify) (June 4 to June 11) Faris Adam — Stecu Stecu Ara Johari — Menjaga Jodoh Orang Lain Nadeera — Bukan Lagi Kita MikkyZia, F4dli — Aku Dah Lupa Nuh — Teruntuk Mia Tenxi — Garam & Madu (Sakit Dadaku) (w/ Jemsi, Naykilla) Imran Ajmain — Seribu Tahun Lagi NAKI, Fahimi — Masa Noh Salleh — Rahsia Tuhan Dayang Nurfaizah, Faizal Tahir, Tuju, Yonnyboii — X Missing U Source: Spotify Top Songs — Malaysia and Spotify Carta Malaysia 50 Top 10 books of the week (May 30 to June 5) Fiction King of Envy by Ana Huang (Bloom Books) Library of Lost Hearts by N.F. Afrina (N.F Afrina) As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh (Bloomsbury) Babel by R.F. Kuang (Harper Voyager) Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic Press) Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood (Berkley) Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum (Bloomsbury) Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (Picador) Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom (Warner) A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (Vintage) Non-Fiction Atomic Habits by James Clear (Penguin Books) Once Upon a Miao (Remastered): I Love My Hometown by Jian Goh (Space Voyager) Ikigai by Héctor García & Francesc Miralles (Penguin Life) I'm Not Lazy, I'm on Energy Saving Mode by Dancing Snail (apop books) Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson (St. Martin's Essentials) The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson (Harper) The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (Hay House LLC) I Decided to Live as Me by Kim Suhyun (Adarna House, Inc. Phillipines) I Want to Die but I still Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sehee (Penerbit Haru) When I Was a Kid by Cheeming Boey (Grey Pigeon) Mutiara Minda (Malay Novels) Rahsia Danny by Teme Abdullah (Iman Publication) Thariq Ridzuwan Commando's: His Treasure by Hudanajwa (Idea Kreatif) Rumah Untuk Alie by Lenn Liu (Nukilan biruni) Mi Veneno 2 by Hudanajwa (Idea Kreatif) Chef's Cuisine by Effalee (Manes Wordworks) Pesuruh by Ahadiat Akashah (Roket Kertas Produksi) Mi Veneno 1 by Hudanajwa (Idea Kreatif) Bukan Cinta Sempurna by Bellesa (Idea Kreatif) Diam-diam Suka Kamu by Aidil Ghazali (IMAN Publication) Mr. Headhunter by Ariaseva (Idea Kreatif) Source: MPH
South China Morning Post
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
K-drama The Haunted Palace review: supernatural period drama with Bona ends on a high note
This article contains spoilers. Advertisement 3.5/5 stars Lead cast: Bona, Yook Sung-jae, Kim Ji-hoon Latest Nielsen rating: 11 per cent With stories that bounce around palace walls, regal dramas set in the era of Korea's Joseon dynasty have a tendency to bite their own tails, but The Haunted Palace bucks that trend with a satisfying story that avoids such confines. Advertisement
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
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Has The Haunted Palace been renewed for Season 2? Here's what we know:
Summary The Haunted Palace is the latest K-drama from SBS. This historical K-drama has everything from comedy and possessions to evil grudges and first love. K-dramas usually have 1 season but this is changing due to global popularity like that of Penthouse, Taxi Driver and Squid Game. As of now, there's no news regarding the renewal of The Haunted Palace, but we look at the possibility of a Season 2. The Haunted Palace is another exciting K-drama from SBS which is known for fun sageuks like Moon Lovers, Lovers of the Red Sky and The Secret Romantic Guesthouse. Said to be a romantic fantasy drama, it has everything from supernatural possession and mysteries to first love and comedy. The 16-episode season stars Yook Sung-jae, Bona and Kim Ji-hoon among others. It is helmed by director Yoon Sung-shik who is known for iconic historical dramas like Hwarang and Mr Queen. With shocking revelations and plot twists, the season finale is bound to have viewers on the edge of their seats. If you're watching the first season and want to know if there will be a second, this article has all the details you're looking for. Here's everything we know: What is The Haunted Palace Season 1 about? The K-drama follows three Joseon characters who come from different walks of life but are forced to work together to get rid of dangerous spirits plaguing the capital and the royal family. Yoon Gap is a handsome and efficient official who gets possessed by an Imugi who had once stalked a shaman family. And guess who is brought in to exorcise spirits in the palace? Yeo-ri, the same shaman girl who was harassed by the Imugi and also happens to be Yoon Gap's first love. But they must put their differences aside and join hands with King Lee Sung to save the palace. A reformist who wants to create a strong nation, the king takes it upon himself to get rid of all corruption while refusing to believe that supernatural beings exist. We have ongoing coverage of The Haunted Palace on the site, including recaps for all episodes. You can find those HERE! Has The Haunted Palace Been Renewed for Season 2? At the time of writing, The Haunted Palace has not been renewed for season 2. While the K-drama industry is changing its format, we are yet to see multiple-season shows. Sure, dramas like Strong Girl Nam-soon, Doctor Romantic and Taxi Driver 2 appear to be an exception thanks to their roaring success. But it is unlikely that we will get The Haunted Palace season 2 at the moment, especially since SBS historical K-drama sequels are pretty rare. What do we know about The Haunted Palace Season 2? Not much is known about The Haunted Palace Season 2 at the moment given that it has not been greenlit. A prequel could explore Gangcheori's past, the previous King's rule or even the attack on Yongdam Village. There is also plenty of material for a sequel as the shamans go about resolving supernatural incidents around the country. If the K-drama does return, you can expect a season with approximately 16 episodes, each lasting around 50 minutes. However, nothing is confirmed yet, but we'll be sure to update this page as soon as any new information comes in. Would you like to see The Haunted Palace return for a second season? Or do you think the story has run its course? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
