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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.
The Review Geek
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
The Haunted Palace Season 1 Review – A low fantasy K-drama that hits just right
Season 1 Episode Guide Episode 1 -| Review Score – 3/5 Episode 2 -| Review Score – 4/5 Episode 3 -| Review Score – 4/5 Episode 4 -| Review Score – 4/5 Episode 5 -| Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 6 -| Review Score – 4/5 Episode 7 -| Review Score – 3/5 Episode 8 -| Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 9 -| Review Score – 4/5 Episode 10 -| Review Score – 4/5 Episode 11 -| Review Score – 4/5 Episode 12 -| Review Score – 4/5 Episode 13 -| Review Score – 4/5 Episode 14 -| Review Score – 4/5 Episode 15 -| Review Score – 4/5 Episode 16 -| Review Score – 4/5 It's been a while since K-dramaland gave us a good historical fantasy. Alchemy of Souls, Gyeongseong Creature, The Tale of Nine-Tailed 2 and Mr Queen are some of the very few that we can recall from this decade. Fortunately for fans of this genre, The Haunted Palace arrives just in time to fill that gap. The Haunted Palace is another exciting K-drama from SBS which is known for exciting fantasy shows like Moon Lovers, Lovers of the Red Sky and The Legend of the Blue Sea. Said to be a low fantasy rom-com, The Haunted Palace Season 1 has everything from supernatural possession and ghosts to first love and body swaps. The 16-episode K-drama 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. Safe to say, we knew the show was in good hands before it even aired. The K-drama follows three Joseon characters who come from different walks of life but are forced to work together to get rid of evil ghosts plaguing the capital and the royal family. Yoon Gap is a handsome and efficient official who gets possessed by Gangcheori (Kang Cheol), 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. The Haunted Palace Season 1 has quick, short mini-subplots every few episodes which keep viewers entertained while weaving in the big picture. It spaces out the exposition instead of dumping it all at the beginning of the show while also slowly introducing all the characters and their traits. Even then, the drama is packed with comedy, bromance, romance, angst, horror, action and every fun element and trope the show can think of. There is not a single dull moment over the 16 episodes. Even the minor characters like Gangcheori's brother, Yoon Gap's mother and Head Eunuch Kim get several moments to shine, whether as the comic relief or for some heartfelt bonding. Not to be outdone, we have complex main characters who fit the complex story about a victim-turned-villain targeting an ignorant king, a supernatural bully and a self-martyring shaman. But they are more than their archetypes in a story where nothing is so black and white. The writers carefully redeem the anti-heroes while giving deserving closures to those wronged. The character development is extremely satisfying and falls in line with how the leads react and learn from the situations they find themselves in. Yook Sung-jae is, without a doubt, the star of the show in his dual role as Yoon Gap and Gangcheori. One can identify which character he is playing even when there are no evident physical markers. Co-star Bona easily keeps pace as the multi-faceted Yeo-ri and has no issue getting down and dirty, literally, when the script asks for it. Idol actors often face scathing criticism for acting too one-note and pretty in fear of ruining the statuesque visuals expected of them (No Cha Eun-woos were harmed by this statement). But Sung-jae and Bona have nothing to fear as they embody their characters to the fullest. If anything, we are a little disappointed with Kim Ji-hoon's King Lee Sung who just flits around, mostly as a plot device. It is a shame as a particular sub-plot solidifies his position as an actor who excels in psychopathic roles and in the next breath, leaves viewers in stitches with his hilarious bromance with Sung-jae's Gangcheori. Some of the conflicts are also quite hastily wrapped up, particularly the ones involving two corrupt ministers and the final supernatural showdown. Despite these complaints, The Haunted Palace Season 1 hits all the right notes and makes us nostalgic for the good old 16-episode epic K-dramas of the 2010s. If anything, it proves that a show doesn't have to be perfect to be enjoyable, all it needs is heart, good actors and an entertaining story.
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
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!
The Review Geek
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
The Haunted Palace Episode 15 Preview: Release Date, Time & Where To Watch
The Haunted Palace Episode 15 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 period drama, it has everything from supernatural possession and mysteries to first love and comedy. 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. The cast includes 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. If you've been following this K-drama, you may be curious to find out when the episodes are releasing. Well, wonder no more! Here is everything you need to know about The Haunted Palace Episode 15, including the release date, time and where you can watch this show. Where Can I Watch The Haunted Palace? The Haunted Palace Season 1 will be shown on the SBS channel and airs at 9.50pm (KST). It is also available to stream on Viki and Netflix (in selected territories) for international fans. The Haunted Palace Episode 15 Release Date The Haunted Palace Episode 15 will release on Friday 6th June at approximately 12.50pm (GMT) / 8.50am (ET). English subtitles will be released immediately. The episodes are expected to be roughly 1 hour long each, which is consistent with the time frame for the usual SBS dramas. How Many Episodes Will The Haunted Palace Season 1 Have? The Haunted Palace is a 16-episode show. With 2 episodes dropping every Friday and Saturday, it will run its course till 7th June. Is There A Trailer For The Haunted Palace Season 1? There is indeed! You can find an exciting trailer for The Haunted Palace Season 1 below. What Happens in the Previous Episodes? We've covered the entire episodes with a lengthy recap that touched on all major plot points and discusses the chapter with an accompanying review. You can find that link below. Read More: The Haunted Palace Episode 13 Recap & Review What Happens in the Next Episodes? In next week's teaser, Gangcheori is able to touch the ghostbane stones. The royal guards confront Head Eunuch Kim. Pung-san is arrested for treason but he smiles as Gangcheori berates him. Yeo-ri realises that she may die while calling the reaper. Gangcheori and Yeo-ri go on a date but he is sad. The ghost taunts the King. The King demands the execution of Yeo-ri and Gangcheori. What do you hope to see as the series progresses? What's been your favourite moment of The Haunted Palace so far? Let us know in the comments below!
