SBS’s ‘The Ghost Palace’ Reigns as Global Fantasy Drama Sensation
SBS’s Friday-Saturday Drama ‘The Ghost Palace’ is gaining international acclaim as a top-tier K-fantasy thriller, blending palace mystery with supernatural horror and romantic comedy in a compelling plot.
Centered on a shaman named Yeori who rejects her spiritual fate, and a millennia-old Imoogi named Kang Cheol-yi trapped in the body of her first love Yoon-gap, the drama intertwines royal revenge schemes and powerful spirits like the monstrous Palcheok-Gwi in a high-stakes soul-swapping fantasy. With intense storytelling and spine-chilling visuals, the Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) series has captivated audiences week after week.
Already for three consecutive weeks, the drama holds #1 viewership in its timeslot and tops Saturday mini-series ratings in Korea, showcasing its domestic strength. Globally, it’s making waves across multiple streaming platforms, ranking first in major Asian markets:
- Lemino (Japan / NTT Docomo): #1 in Asian Genre
- Hami Video (Taiwan): #1 in Drama
- VieON & FPT Play (Vietnam): #1 Overall
- Vidio (Indonesia): #1 in K-Drama Genre
On IMDb, it boasts a notable 8.6/10 rating as of May 7, 2025, the highest among concurrent K-dramas. On top of that, Rakuten Viki users awarded an overwhelming 9.7 rating, with the show ranking #1 in 89 countries including the US, UK, France, and Australia.
Media outlets are also praising the drama. South China Morning Post‘s journalist Pierce Conran noted, “The Ghost Palace skillfully blends hybrid genres with a dense yet cohesive plot, under masterful direction by Yoon Sung-sik.” Meanwhile, film site Leisurebyte wrote, “The playful dynamic between a thousand-year-old Imoogi and a human evokes warmth and laughter amid chaotic exorcisms.”
International drama lovers shared praise on platforms like MyDramaList and Reddit, calling it “The fantasy drama I’ve been waiting for” and raving about its “unique romance, folklore-based exorcism rituals, and gripping palace mystery.”
Episode 6 ends on a cliffhanger with Kang Cheol-yi (played by Yook Sung-jae) and Yeori (played by Kim Ji-yeon) teaming with Crown Prince Lee Jeong (played by Kim Ji-hoon) to subdue Palcheok-Gwi. However, a deeper threat looms as the blind royal investigator Pung-san (played by Kim Sang-ho) conspires using the demon Mok-dol (Kim Jun-won) to endanger the unborn child of the Empress (played by Han So-eun).
As Kang Cheol-yi realizes his love for Yeori, tragedy strikes in a final scene, escalating tensions and curiosity for Episode 7, airing this Friday at 9:55 PM.
