Netflix’s The East Palace, Korean Occult Historical Dramas
Netflix’s original series The East Palace follows Gucheon (Nam Joo-hyuk), a man who can cross the boundary between the world of the living and the dead, and Saenggang (Roh Yoon-seo), a palace maid who hears the voices of spirits. Ordered by the king (Cho Seung-woo), they investigate a curse haunting the East Palace and uncover long-buried secrets hidden within the royal court. Blending Korean folklore, ghosts, action, fantasy, and palace intrigue, the series quickly climbed to No.1 on Netflix Korea and entered the Global Top 10 shortly after its release.
Why The East Palace Hits Different
What makes The East Palace stand out isn’t just the “historical drama meets horror” concept. Critics in both Korea and overseas have praised the series for reimagining Korean shamanistic beliefs and folklore through stunning cinematography and atmospheric world-building. The palace itself becomes a terrifying character, turning familiar historical settings into spaces filled with dread and mystery. Performances from Cho Seung-woo and Jang Young-nam have also been singled out as major highlights, bringing emotional weight and intensity to the story. While some reviewers felt the early episodes moved a bit slowly and that the later twists stretched believability, many agreed that The East Palace successfully introduced a distinctly Korean style of occult storytelling to a global audience.
The Chemistry, The Secrets, and That Wild Plot Twist
At the heart of the story is the unlikely partnership between Gucheon and Saenggang. Their constant bickering, growing trust, and undeniable chemistry give the series emotional depth alongside all the supernatural chaos. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Saenggang is far more than an ordinary palace maid, and the mystery surrounding her identity adds another layer of intrigue. The deeper the duo digs into the curse, the more they uncover shocking truths hidden within the royal family itself. By the later episodes, the secrets surrounding the crown prince and the palace’s dark past turn the story into an absolute binge-watch.
Everyone Loves Kkeomeoksari, and Honestly… Same
And if there’s one true scene-stealer in The East Palace, it’s definitely Kkeomeoksari. Kkeomeoksari is a type of gwimae-a spirit creature that feeds on human life energy-but its tiny size and irresistibly round appearance instantly won viewers over. Despite being introduced as a dangerous supernatural being, fans have affectionately nicknamed it “Joseon Groot,” “black sesame rice cake,” and even “the ultimate ghost pet.”
I personally stayed up all night watching all eight episodes for you, dear readers (strictly for review purposes, of course. Definitely not because I physically couldn’t stop watching. Trust me on this one). And out of all the incredible characters, Kkeomeoksari ended up being my absolute favorite. That tiny little wobbling walk? Completely unfair. It was so adorable that I kept forgetting it was technically supposed to be terrifying.
I’m willing to bet you’ll end up loving Kkeomeoksari just as much as I did. So why not give The East Palace a shot tonight? Anyone down for this Netflix and chill?
Image source: Screenshot from the Netflix drama Eastern Palace