Series Details
Air Dates: July 17, 2026
Episodes: 8
Where to Watch: Netflix
Genre: Historical Supernatural
Starring: Nam Joo Hyuk and Roh Yoon Seo
The Story
After the palace is overrun by evil spirits and deadly misfortune, the king calls on a mysterious stranger to restore order and save the crown prince by entering the spirit realm and slaying the ghost. Once he enters the palace, he meets a court lady who can hear and talk to spirits. Now they will work together to expose the dark secrets hidden within the walls of the palace and confront those who brought the evil there in the first place.
Should I Watch
'The East Palace' is a spooky historical action thriller about ghostly battles and human evil. It's short and fast paced. The cast is great, and it's so nice to see Nam Joo Hyuk back on the screen. This drama excels at creating a stunning visual landscape and incorporating traditional ghost stories from Shamanism, Buddhism, and confucianism.
But the idea of a ghostly other realm feels remarkably similar to the popular American series, 'Stranger Things'. Even the subtle use of color changes between the two worlds seems borrowed. At only 8 episodes, the drama doesn't get a lot of time to develop the characters or their backstories. But I loved the exploration of supernatural lore and the gorgeous cinematography. I give 'The East Palace' a 5 out of 5 ramen.
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Lead Bios
Nam Joo Hyuk
Nam Joo Hyuk debuted in 2014 with a supporting role in the fantasy rom-com 'Surplus Princess'. His first starring role was in the 2015 romantic drama 'Who Are You: School 2015'. Other popular dramas he has starred in include the 2023 action thriller 'Vigilante' and the 2022 romantic drama 'Twenty Five Twenty One'. Look for him to star in the upcoming action thriller 'Code' set to premiere some time next year.
Roh Yoon Seo
Roh Yoon Seo debuted in 2022 with a starring role in the romantic drama 'Our Blues'. Other popular dramas she has appeared in include the 2023 action sci-fi drama 'Black Knight' and the 2023 romantic drama ' Crash Course in Romance'. Look for her to star in the upcoming fantasy romance 'Naega Jukgilo Gyeolsimhan Geoteun' scheduled to air some time next year.