The East Palace


The East Palace is an upcoming 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 is scheduled for release on Netflix in 2026.

Synopsis

Set in a fictional historical era, the King recruits Gu-cheon, an arrogant and formidable ghost-slayer who possesses the ability to transform into a ghost himself, allowing him to slay spirits with his sword, and Saeng-gang, a court lady with the ability to hear and communicate with the dead. Together, they investigate the origins of the hauntings and uncover secrets hidden within the royal walls of the East Palace while dealing with spirits from the spectral world.

Cast and characters

  • Nam Joo-hyuk as Gu-cheon
  • Roh Yoon-seo as Saeng-gang
  • Cho Seung-woo as the King

    Production

Development

The dark fantasy period drama series is directed by Choi Jung-kyu, who helmed The Devil Judge, screenwriter duo Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won, who both penned The Guest and Bulgasal: Immortal Souls, served as writers, and produced jointly by Showrunners and Imaginus.

Casting

and Roh Yoon-seo were cast to star in the series. This project marks Nam first acting role following his military discharge in September 2025, and Roh's first venture into the dark fantasy genre. Cho Seung-woo reportedly join the cast, marking his first appearance in a series produced specifically for a global streaming platform. Netflix confirmed the casting of Cho, Nam, and Roh.

Filming

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 unveiled as part of Netflix's massive slate of scripted series, reality shows, live events and sports on its 2026 "Next on Netflix" release.