A Curse in the Palace, A Crossing into the Realm of Spirits: Netflix Unveils Main Trailer for ‘The East Palace’

Netflix has released the main trailer and posters for The East Palace, its new Korean period mystery set between the royal palace and a shadowy spirit realm known as the Realm of Gwi.

Starring Nam Joo-hyuk, Roh Yoon-seo and Cho Seung-woo, The East Palace follows a spirit-catcher, a court lady and a king bound together by a bloodstained curse that has haunted the palace for 30 years. The series premieres July 17, only on Netflix.

At the center of the story is Gu-cheon (Nam Joo-hyuk), a man who can move between the real world and the Realm of Gwi. Summoned to the palace by the king (Cho Seung-woo), he is paired with Saeng-gang (Roh Yoon-seo), a court lady who can hear the voices of spirits, to uncover the source of a deadly curse that has taken root in the East Palace. As the two travel between life and death under the king’s secret orders, they begin to peel back the layers of a haunting that reaches deep into the royal family’s past.

The series brings together director Choi Jung-kyu (The Devil Judge, Children of Nobody) with writers Kwon So-ra and Seo Jea-won (Bulgasal: Immortal Souls, The Guest), promising a large-scale supernatural world and an intricate palace mystery.

The main trailer pulls viewers into the world of The East Palace with a chilling mood. The palace looks beautiful, but silence hangs heavy over its grounds. A spirit’s voice shrieks into the king’s ear, vowing to erase all trace of the royal bloodline. Realizing that what happened 30 years ago is starting all over again, the king summons Gu-cheon to the palace and places Saeng-gang at his side to watch him closely.

From there, the pair begin working in secret, slipping back and forth between the real world and the Realm of Gwi. Each deadly clash with the spirits reveals more of the grudges and secrets hidden beneath the royal family, and as those truths surface, the palace descends into uncontrollable chaos.

The main poster shows Gu-cheon and Saeng-gang acting as a single team under the king’s command. Standing in the middle of the pond cast in the crimson aura of the Realm of Gwi, Gu-cheon is bound by a coarse rope, which Saeng-gang pulls with all her might. The poster hints at how they will work together to expose the palace’s secrets and face the spirits that lurk just beyond the border.

Fans are also looking forward to the dynamic and chemistry among Nam Joo-hyuk, Roh Yoon-seo and Cho Seung-woo, who have immersed themselves in their roles.

“From the first time I saw Nam Joo-hyuk, I was convinced he was the one who would choose to step into the Realm of Gwi and face his destiny,” said director Choi Jung-kyu. “The East Palace is a story he had to lead, and I felt he had a huge passion for acting and a strong sense of responsibility.”

On Roh Yoon-seo, he shared: “Whenever I watched her previous work, I felt she always found her way through. I was sure her natural charm and strengths aligned perfectly with the role of  Saeng-gang. While working with her, I realized she is a truly bold actress, and I was moved by how she carved a path forward with raw, straightforward and authentic performance.”

Speaking about reuniting with Cho Seung-woo, Choi added, “Ever since we worked together long ago, I dreamed of collaborating with Cho Seung-woo again, and The East Palace fulfilled that dream. He examines every tiny detail in building his character, and once the camera rolls, that preparation transforms into immensely powerful acting. Witnessing that transformation gave me enormous catharsis.”

See this supernatural palace thriller unfold in The East Palace, premiering July 17, only on Netflix.