According to Wikitree, the new SBS drama The Haunted Palace achieved its highest rating (viewership rate) of more than 10% in the first episode and quickly rose to No. 1 on Netflix Korea, loved in both the home and online broadcasting market.
The drama starring Bona (WJSN) and Yook Sung Jae (BTOB) is stirring up ratings competition and will likely be a Korean drama that changes the setting of weekend dramas in the first half of 2025.
Ghost Palace aired on April 18 and aired every Friday and Saturday night on SBS, following the previous hit Buried Hearts.
According to Nielsen Korea, the film was released with an average nationwide rating of 9.2%, peaking at 10.7% and taking the top spot in broadcast time. The drama also surpassed the first episode ratings of previous SBS dramas, such as Love Scout (5.2%) and Buried Hearts (6.1%), setting a new record for SBS dramas in 2025.
The rating of episode 2 decreased slightly to 8.3%, but it was still a high rating and maintained the leading position in broadcast time.
The average rating of 8.7% is an unusually high number that a 16-episode drama achieved in the first week of broadcasting. This is evidence that the work has attracted the attention of the audience from the beginning.
On the online platform, "Ghost Palace" is also creating a strong wave. After its release, the film rose to No. 1 on Netflix Korea's list of top tens of thousands of Korean dramas currently (updated daily), surpassing strong competitors such as Resident Playbook, Karma, When Life Gives You Tangerines, Weak Hero Class 1.
"Ghost Palace" is a romantic, fantasy comedy, revolving around Yeori (Bona), a magician who denies his fate as an exorcism province, and Kang Chul, an ancient imugi (swan-like creature) trapped in the body of Yeori's first love, Yoon gap (Yook Sung Jae).
Their lives are intertwined when they face a revenge ghost named Palcheokgui haunting the royal family.
The film brings a rich experience when combining many genres and themes of rebirth, possession, soul, plot in the palace...
In particular, the relationship between imugi and the phap su is not only a conflict between good and evil, but also a story of many emotions. The confrontation between these two characters both stimulates suspense and includes a romantic element, maximizing the curiosity of viewers.
The mysterious palace setting and the terrifying presence of evil spirits create a unique K-fantasy world.
Wikitree commented that these factors bring new tension and appeal to the weekend, while also creating a difference compared to current historical dramas or romantic comedies.
The director and screenwriter play an important role in the film's completion.
Director Yoon Sung Shik, famous for Mr. Queen, Bridal Mask, Dae Jo Yeong and Youre the Best!, first collaborated with screenwriter Yoon Soo Jung, who wrote for The Kings Face and Cheer Up!. Their collaboration creates a bold work, balancing tradition and novelty.
The main cast also shined with outstanding performances.
Yook Sung Jae once again proves his title as a popular fantasy actor, by flexibly transitioning between the roles of Yoon gap - a kind palace inspector, and Kang Chul - an imugi entering the human body.
bone (Kim Ji Yeon) perfectly portrayed the image of magician Yeori, who possesses strong divine power, with a calm but determined gaze.
