The East Palace (Korean: 동궁) is a 2026 South Korean dark fantasy television series co-written by Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won, directed by Choi Jung-kyu, and starring Nam Joo-hyuk, Roh Yoon-seo, and Cho Seung-woo. The series follows individuals capable of sensing or slaying ghosts as they uncover hidden secrets within a cursed palace. It was released on Netflix on July 17, 2026.
Contents
Plot
In a fictional Joseon dynasty, the royal palace is haunted by wongwi residing in a mirror dimension known as the Realm of Gwi. For thirty years, the royal line of succession is plagued by unexplained deaths among the heirs. The King forcibly recruits Gu-cheon, a ghost-slayer capable of projecting his soul into the Realm of Gwi, to be the palace's feng shui master and eliminate the entities targeting the palace. Gu-cheon works alongside Saeng-gang, a low-ranking court lady who can communicate with the dead. Saeng-gang is secretly the King's estranged daughter, seeking to investigate her mother's past murder.
Following the poisoning of the Crown Prince, palace rumors attribute the death to a vengeful Pond Spirit—the ghost of an executed court lady. Gu-cheon and Saeng-gang track the entity into the Realm of Gwi, where Gu-cheon destroys it. However, the deaths continue with the illness and demise of Prince Yeongan, the King's remaining heir. During their investigation, they are occasionally aided by Ggeomeoksali, a spirit bound to Gu-cheon.
Saeng-gang's investigation reveals that the supernatural curse was fabricated to mask human intrigue. Consort Sukbin, the King's mother and Saeng-gang's grandmother, had used the legend of the spirit to poison successive heirs to secure the King's ascension to the throne. Saeng-gang discovers her mother was murdered after assisting in these actions. Furthermore, the late Crown Prince had learned of the plot and assassinated his brothers to ensure his own succession, leading the King to secretly execute him.
Upon his death, the Crown Prince's lingering resentment turns him into an akgwi in the Realm of Gwi, where he spreads a fatal disease throughout the palace. To gain the power necessary to fight the spirit, Gu-cheon seeks out the primordial entity known as the Supreme Gwimae. During the final confrontation, the King confesses his remorse to his son's spirit, weakening the Crown Prince's form and allowing Gu-cheon to destroy him.
In the aftermath, Consort Sukbin is banished from the palace, the Queen Dowager retreats to her private residence having lost her sanity, Prince Ik-sang faces investigation regarding his use of shamans, and the King remains on the throne, tormented by visions of the victims of his family's political maneuvers. Gu-cheon and Saeng-gang depart the palace together. As they leave, Ggeomeoksali observes that a spectral chain remains attached to Gu-cheon's wrist, indicating his bond to the Realm of Gwi is permanent.
Cast and characters
Main
Nam Joo-hyuk as Gu-cheon
Choi Ye-chan as young Gu-cheon
A spirit-slayer capable of projecting his soul into the Realm of Gwi. Gu-cheon acquired his supernatural abilities as a child after surviving a drowning accident that killed his mother. While living with who he called a "false monk", he is forcefully taken to the palace by King Ju-sang to be the palace's fung shui master and eliminate an entity haunting the royal family and lift a thirty-year curse under threat of execution should he fail while also not allowing him to leave the palace grounds. To enter the spirit world, he submerges himself into the palace pond with a rope tied around his neck. Though initially motivated only by his own survival, he grows invested in the mission after learning that his companion, Saeng-gang, is tied to the spirit's history. In the English dub, Gu-cheong is voiced by Cory Yee.
Roh Yoon-seo as Saeng-gang
Choi So-yul as young Saeng-gang
A court lady who possesses the ability to hear the voices of the dead. She is assigned by the King to serve as Gu-cheon's guide during the search for the pond spirit while secretly monitoring his actions. It would later be revealed that Saeng-gang is the King's estranged daughter. In the English dub, Saeng-gang is voiced by Jennifer Sun Bell.
Cho Seung-woo as the King
Moon Woo-jin as young King
The ruler of Joseon, born to a royal concubine. Publicly, he dismisses rumors regarding the supernatural deaths in the East Palace as mere superstition. Privately, he summons a ghost-slayer and a spirit-communicating court lady, who is also his estranged daughter, to investigate and lift the curse affecting his heirs. In the English dub, the King is voiced by Stephen Fu.
Supporting
Jang Young-nam as the Queen dowager
The late King's widow who holds royal legitimacy over the line of succession due to the King being born to a low-ranking concubine. Driven to preserve the royal bloodline and cover up past misdeeds, she attempts to appease the pond spirit while clashing with the King over the continuous deaths of the royal princes. In the English dub, the Queen dowager is voiced by Liz Brunette.
Hwang Young-hee as Consort Sukbin, the King's mother. In the English dub, Consort Sukbin is voiced by Page Leong.
Hong Seo-jun as Chief Eunuch Kim, the chief of the palace guards. In the English dub, Chief Eunuch Kim is voiced by Paul Kim Jr.
Tae In-ho as Prince Ik-sang, the King's cousin. In the English dub, Prince Ik-sang is voiced by Jason Jin.
Lee Hong-nae as Shaman Park-soo
Choi Hyuk-joo as Lady Jang, the boss of the King's court ladies. In the English dub, Lady Jang is voiced by Jeanne Sakata.
Choi Jae-rim as the royal guard
Park Su-yeon as the Queen consort
Shim Hye-rim as Royal Concubine Yoon
Noh I-jin as Royal Concubine Han
Park Ji-yul as young Han
Saeng-gang's deceased mother
Choi Bum-ho as a monk
Kim Hyun-joon as the Chief Royal Secretary
Min Eung-sik as the Second State Councilor
Special appearances
Kwak Dong-yeon as the Crown Prince, the son of the King who returns as a ghost. In the English dub, the Crown Prince is voiced by Paul Dateh.
Hong Su-zu as the favored court lady
Production
Development
The dark fantasy period drama series is directed by Choi Jung-kyu, who helmed The Devil Judge (2021), written by screenwriter duo Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won, who both penned The Guest (2018) and Bulgasal: Immortal Souls (2021–2022), and produced jointly by Showrunners and Imaginus.
Casting
In June 2024, SPOTV News reported that Nam Joo-hyuk and Roh Yoon-seo were cast to star in the series. This project marks Nam's first acting role following his military discharge in September 2024, and Roh's first venture into the dark fantasy genre. Three months later, Ilgan Sports reported that Cho Seung-woo had joined the cast, marking his first appearance in a series produced specifically for a global streaming platform. By December 2024, Netflix confirmed the appearances of the three actors.
Filming
Principal photography began in December 2024. On December 21, a major fire occurred at the series' filming location in Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, resulting in the total destruction of a 3,655-square-meter production facility. Although no casualties were reported, the blaze destroyed a primary set building and significant amounts of technical equipment, including specialized lighting gear. Police and fire officials launched an investigation immediately following the incident to determine the cause of the fire.
Release
The East Palace was first unveiled in January 2026, as part of Netflix's massive slate of scripted series, reality shows, live events and sports on its 2026 "Next on Netflix" release. Later that month, it was announced for a third quarter of 2026 release window. By June 2026, Netflix confirmed that the series is scheduled to premiere on July 17.
Reception
The series appeared in the top 10 list on Netflix in 69 countries, and accumulated 8.1 million viewing hours in two weeks. The series received positive reviews for its "dazzling visuals" and "unique worldview". The Kkeomeoksari creature that follows the protagonist around earned the nickname "Joseon Groot" among fans of the series. On the other hand, South China Morning Post criticised its "lack of originality" and "convoluted mythmaking". RogerEbert.com praises its "heightened, imaginative, animated energy", the solid CGI work, but notes that The East Palace starts losing luster mid-way, lacking logic in its surprise twists, and the pace becomes disrupted. Nevertheless, the critic concludes that the series "makes for a hauntingly fun binge".
