Netflix’s latest original Kdrama, The East Palace, is blending period piece and horror. Set to premiere worldwide on July 17, 2026, the series was unveiled with an official announcement poster and trailer.
The project features a prominent creative team and a star-studded cast, including Nam Joo-hyuk, Roh Yoon-seo, and Cho Seung-woo, centering on a royal palace that intersects with a shadowy realm of restless spirits. The series is directed by Choi Jung-kyu of The Devil Judge and Children of Nobody fame, and written by the screenwriting duo, Kwon So-ra and Seo Jea-won, who also wrote Bulgasal: Immortal Souls.
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What is The East Palace about?
The East Palace’s official synopsis from Netflix:
The East Palace follows Gu-cheon, who moves between the realms of the living and the dead, and Saeng-gang, a lady of the court guarding a secret of her own. When the king calls on them to unravel the mysteries of the palace, they’re drawn into a world where power, hidden histories, and restless spirits are bound together by a dangerous curse.
Nam Joo-hyuk plays Gu-cheon, who investigates unnerving incidents at the palace with a blade that can cut down ghosts. Roh Yoon-seo plays Saeng-gang, whose ability to hear the voices of the dead aids Gu-cheon as they navigate the palace’s long-buried secrets. Quietly watching their every move from the throne is the king, played by Cho Seung-woo, whose motives are complex and hard to ascertain.
Watch the Trailer
The East Palace Cast:
- Nam Joo-hyuk as Gu-cheon: A man who possesses the unique ability to cross the border between the real world and the Realm of Gwi, cutting down spirits that stray too close to the human realm.
- Roh Yoon-seo as Saeng-gang: A court lady who is uniquely in tune with the spirit world.
- Cho Seung-woo as the King: The monarch who summons both Gu-cheon and Saeng-gang to the East Palace, adding weight and tension to the overarching story.
First Look Images
Where else can I watch the cast?
- Choi Jung-kyu directed The Devil Judge and Children of Nobody
- Kwon So-ra and Seo Jea-won wrote Bulgasal: Immortal Souls and The Guest
- Nam Joo-hyuk has starred in Twenty-Five Twenty-One, Start-Up, and The School Nurse Files
- Roh Yoon-seo has starred in Crash Course in Romance, 20th Century Girl, and Our Blues
- Cho Seung-woo has starred in Divorce Attorney Shin, Sisyphus, and Stranger
What is the release date?
The East Palace is set to release worldwide, exclusively on Netflix, on July 17, 2026.
