Nam Joo Hyuk returns with supernatural action in Netflix's 'The East Palace'

08 Jul 2026, 18:57 by K-Soul · allkpop

"We've packed the series with spine-tingling horror and spectacular action!" Nam Joo Hyuk said.

Actors Nam Joo Hyuk, Roh Yoon Seo, and Cho Seung Woo have joined forces for the upcoming occult historical drama. In the series, Nam Joo Hyuk and Roh Yoon Seo set out to hunt the ghosts haunting the royal palace, while Cho Seung Woo plays the king, issuing orders to protect the kingdom from the growing supernatural threat.

The trio's approach to tracking ghosts is anything but ordinary. Roh Yoon Seo's character can hear the voices of spirits, allowing her to uncover their traces, while Nam Joo Hyuk's character crosses into the spirit realm to confront the ghosts directly.

Their supernatural abilities are matched by intense action sequences. The characters risk their lives to survive the blazing spirit world and fight desperately to avoid being consumed by evil spirits, promising viewers an adrenaline-filled experience perfect for the summer season.

Netflix held a production presentation for its original series 'The East Palace' on July 8 at Fairmont Ambassador Seoul in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. Director Choi Jung Gyu attended alongside stars Nam Joo Hyuk, Roh Yoon Seo, and Cho Seung Woo.

'The East Palace' is a dark fantasy series that follows a man with supernatural powers and a palace maid harboring a secret as they uncover a curse haunting the royal palace. Summoned by the king, the pair must track down a pond-dwelling ghost that threatens the royal bloodline.

Nam Joo Hyuk plays Gu Cheon, a mysterious man capable of traveling between the human world and the realm of spirits. After losing his mother at a young age, Gu Cheon shut himself off emotionally, becoming wary of others and struggling to express his feelings.

The series marks Nam Joo Hyuk's first project since completing his military service.

"When I read the script, the mysterious events unfolding inside the palace played out vividly in my mind. I was determined to give everything I had to bring Gu Cheon to life," he said.

The actor revealed he spared no effort during filming, even shooting water scenes in both the freezing winter and scorching summer. "Getting into the water during winter wasn't easy, but I never gave up because I wanted the scenes to be as convincing as possible."

Nam Joo Hyuk also teased the drama's elaborate action choreography. He shared, "I trained extensively at an action school. The fight scene with the 13 palace maids is especially memorable. I think audiences will see action unlike anything they've seen before."

Roh Yoon Seo plays Saeng Kang, a palace maid with the rare ability to hear ghosts. Ordered by the king to keep watch over Gu Cheon, she gradually becomes his ally, assisting him whenever he ventures into the spirit realm.

The actress said 'The East Palace' marks her first time taking on the occult genre. She shared, "I was fascinated because the story really stimulated my imagination. I also loved Saeng Kang's proactive and determined personality. I knew I wanted to play her."

It is also her first historical drama. She explained, "At first, it was difficult finding the right expressions and vocal delivery for a period piece, but I carefully studied the elegant posture and speech expected of a palace maid."

Cho Seung Woo portrays the king. He explained, "I was struck by the fact that the script simply identified my character as 'King' without giving him a personal name. The way occult, action, and fantasy blended together so naturally convinced me to take the role."

He said his focus was on portraying the king's emotional burden. He explained, "The king is an incredibly lonely person. Even while facing the possibility of losing his youngest and last remaining son, he still has to govern the nation. I wanted to capture that inner conflict."

One of the series' biggest highlights is the evolving relationship between Gu Cheon and Saeng Kang. Initially unable to understand each other's vastly different backgrounds and personalities, they gradually grow closer as they investigate the palace's curse together.

Roh Yoon Seo explained, "They constantly find themselves in dangerous situations where they can't survive without each other. Through those experiences, they come to realize just how much they need one another. I hope viewers look forward to seeing where their relationship ultimately ends."

Director Choi Jung Gyu also emphasized the visual contrast between the spirit world and reality. He shared, "We filmed the same locations during both winter and summer, and even built two separate versions of the same sets to clearly distinguish the two worlds."

The production team also invested heavily in designing the ghosts. The director explained, "Many different spirits and ghostly creatures appear throughout the series. We wanted to preserve the characteristics of traditional Korean folklore while creating designs that audiences around the world could connect with."

The cast singled out one ghostly creature, Kkeomeoksari, as their favorite.

Roh Yoon Seo laughed as she said, "Unlike the other spirits, this one has an adorable and unexpected charm. I honestly think it could become a mascot loved around the world."

Before wrapping up the event, Cho Seung Woo teased viewers with one final hint. He shared, "There's a pond in the series. It may look calm on the surface, but hidden beneath it is the eye of a storm. Audiences are going to experience incredible thrills."

Roh Yoon Seo added, "It was an honor to work not only with Cho Seung Woo and Nam Joo Hyuk, but also with so many veteran actors known for their incredible performances. I hope viewers will look forward to the cast's acting as well."

Nam Joo Hyuk concluded by reassuring viewers who found the trailer frightening. He shared, "I've seen people say the trailer looked so scary that they weren't sure they could watch it. But the horror is grounded and convincing, so there's no need to worry too much. Beyond the scares, there's a spectacular visual experience waiting, so I hope everyone watches until the very end."

Netflix's 'The East Palace' premieres on July 17.

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