The East Palace
| The East Palace | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 동궁 |
| RR | Donggung |
| MR | Tonggung |
| Genre | |
| Written by |
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| Directed by | Choi Jung-kyu |
| Starring | |
| Music by |
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| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Original language | Korean |
| Production | |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
The East Palace (Korean: 동궁) 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 (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.[2]
Casting
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 of 2025, and Roh's first venture into the dark fantasy genre.[3][4] Cho Seung-woo reportedly join the cast, marking his first appearance in a series produced specifically for a global streaming platform.[5] Netflix confirmed the casting of Cho, Nam, and Roh.[6]
Filming
Principal photography began in December of 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.[7]
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.[8]
References
- ^ a b @j412rini; (January 8, 2026). "동궁" 첫 스틸 2026 넷플릭스 글로벌 기대작 ["The East Palace" (2026), a Globally Anticipated Netflix Series] (in Korean). South Korea. Retrieved January 31, 2026 – via Instagram.
- ^ Lee, Jong-gil (December 12, 2024). 귀신 잡는 조승우·남주혁·노윤서… 넷플릭스 '동궁'서 뭉친다 [Ghost-hunters Cho Seung-woo, Nam Joo-hyuk, and Roh Yoon-seo...to unite in Netflix's The East Palace]. The Asia Business Daily (in Korean). Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ^ Jang, Jin-ri (June 25, 2024). [단독]남주혁, 9월 전역 후 초고속 복귀...다크 판타지 '동궁' 도전 [[Exclusive] Nam Joo-hyuk to make a high-speed comeback after September discharge...taking on dark fantasy in The East Palace]. SPOTV News (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ^ Jang, Jin-ri (June 25, 2024). [단독]노윤서, 남주혁과 '동궁' 캐스팅...'특급 대세' 이어간다 [[Exclusive] Roh Yoon-seo cast in The East Palace alongside Nam Joo-hyuk...continuing her run as a 'top-tier trendsetter']. SPOTV News (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ^ Jang, Ju-yeon (September 11, 2024). [단독] 조승우, '동궁'으로 OTT 첫 도전...남주혁과 호흡 [[Exclusive] Cho Seung-woo to take on first OTT challenge with The East Palace...working alongside Nam Joo-hyuk]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ^ Kim, Ji-ye (December 12, 2024). "Actors Cho Seung-woo, Nam Joo-hyuk, Roh Yoon-seo to star in upcoming Netflix series". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ^ Park, Ro-sa (December 21, 2024). 남주혁·노윤서 '동궁' 연천 세트장 화재로 전소 [Nam Joo-hyuk and Roh Yoon-seo's The East Palace Yeoncheon set completely destroyed by fire]. Mydaily (in Korean). Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ^ White, Peter (January 7, 2026). "Netflix 2026 TV Slate: New Seasons Of The Gentlemen, Outer Banks & The Hunting Wives Plus 3 Shows From The Duffer Brothers". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 7, 2026. Retrieved January 8, 2026.