Haunted Palace Episode 5 Recap: Yook Sungjae and Kim Jiyeon Ignite a Spiritual Battle Against the Evil Spirit

SBS’s weekend fantasy drama, Haunted Palace, continues to fascinate viewers with its high-stakes supernatural plot and heart-pounding chemistry between characters. Episode 5, which aired on June 2nd, featured Yook Sungjae’s character Kang Cheol joining forces with shaman Yeori, played by Kim Jiyeon, to exorcise the vengeful spirit Palcheok-Gwi and save the soul of Yeori’s first love, Yoon Gab.

The episode wasn’t just spiritually charged — it also drew significant viewer attention, reaching a viewership rating of 9.4%, maintaining its spot as the No.1 miniseries drama of the week, according to Nielsen Korea. Despite the holiday weekend, the series held its ground and captivated its growing fan base.

Tragedy struck the royal palace as the corpse of Prince Youngin (played by Kim Seonbin) was discovered, releasing the same foul stench that accompanied Palcheok-Gwi’s earlier possessions. Suspicion quickly fell on the demonic entity. Queen Dowager, devastated by her son’s death, furiously blamed Pansoo Poongsan (Kim Sangho), the shaman previously in league with her. Poongsan manipulated events to avoid blame, hinting that another palace sorcerer was behind the incident—that revelation planted seeds of doubt in the Queen Dowager’s mind towards the King, portrayed by Kim Jihoon.

Meanwhile, Kang Cheol learns from Monk Gaseop (Lee Wonjong) that annihilating Palcheok-Gwi would require sacrificing the ‘Yagwangju’—a luminous spiritual orb housed within himself—before he could banish the vengeful spirit. Yeori, unaware of this high cost, retrieves sacred items from her grandmother and enthusiastically prepares for the exorcism, seeking to liberate Yoon Gab’s soul.

As Kang Cheol commits to his destiny as Yeori’s “Body-Deity,” the two partake in an official divine ritual, confirming their mystical bond. In an emotionally charged scene, Yeori presents him with a charm bracelet she crafted herself, while he returns the favor with a jade ring, stirring romantic tension between them.

Romantic undercurrents intensified as the duo, while escaping palace guards, found themselves hiding in a small palanquin. Trapped in close quarters, Kang Cheol kissed Yeori, prompting an emotional spark that was quickly noticed by their pursuers. The storyline deftly balanced intense spiritual conflict with emotional vulnerability.

The climax of Episode 5 gathered momentum as plans to trap Palcheok-Gwi in the royal archives begin. Using sacred barriers and ancient weapons, they lured the spirit into a trap. Kang Cheol, empowered by the Yagwangju and the cursed crescent blade, pierced the entity—but the demon’s immense aura knocked him down, reminding viewers of the monk’s haunting words: “Only by fully consuming the Yagwangju can the spirit be defeated.”

Beyond the drama’s central arc, viewers were introduced to the shadowy figure calling himself “Elder,” and suspicious political maneuvers by ex-Left State Councilor Choi Won-woo (Ahn Nae-sang) and the ominous ghost Eodari-Gwi. Meanwhile, various characters tangled in love, loyalty, and vengeance set up tension that promises further explosive revelations in coming episodes.

Dubbed a “must-watch cliffhanger paradise” by social media users, Episode 5 set the stage for an epic confrontation between human and spirit, with viewer comments like “A 15-minute finale that had my heart explode,” and “Chemistry between Kang Cheol and Yeori is off the charts.”

The 6th episode of Haunted Palace is set to air tonight at 9:55 PM KST.