Netflix's 'Ghost Palace' Tops Korean Charts! Nam Joo-hyuk and Cho Seung-woo's Supernatural Period Drama Sparks Divided Opinions

Netflix's fantasy suspense Korean drama 'Ghost Palace' premiered on July 17, 2026. Starring Nam Joo-hyuk, Lo Yoon-seo, and Cho Seung-woo, it immediately claimed the No.1 spot on Netflix Korea's 'Today's Top 10 TV Shows' upon release. The star-studded cast and rare Eastern horror theme have sparked significant buzz among viewers.

'Ghost Palace' follows Goo-cheon (Nam Joo-hyuk), a ghost hunter with the ability to travel between the human and spirit worlds, who is sent by King Lee Yeon (Cho Seung-woo) into the Eastern Palace to investigate a series of bizarre deaths. There, he teams up with a palace maid named Saeng-gang (Lo Yoon-seo), who has heard ghostly voices since childhood, to uncover the source of a curse—leading them to a royal massacre buried by the monarchy 30 years earlier.

Many viewers have praised the show's art direction and atmosphere. The cold, vast palace, damp and shadowy lakes, eerie supernatural creatures, and exorcism rituals successfully create a rich Eastern horror aesthetic. One viewer commented, 'The scariest thing in the palace isn't the evil spirits—it's the human heart.' Others noted the clever fusion of court intrigue and vengeful spirits, saying, 'The visuals are truly beautiful,' 'I was genuinely scared during ghost scenes,' and 'The exorcism scenes are more engaging than the romance.' For fans of Korean exorcism dramas like 'The Guest,' the series holds definite appeal.

However, the depiction of the spirit world—filled with rotting plants, viscous substances, and alien-like creatures—has drawn comparisons to 'Stranger Things' 'Upside Down.' Some viewers bluntly stated, 'It's basically a Joseon-era version of Stranger Things,' or 'I thought I'd entered the wrong set when they went into the spirit realm.' One even sarcastically remarked, 'More like 'Ghost Nonsense Palace'—eight episodes of rambling. How much do the director and writer love Stranger Things?' Others felt that while the visual effects are impressive, they overshadow the core mystery, saying, 'There are too many monsters, but few memorable plot points.'

Criticism has centered on plot logic and pacing. Many viewers described 'Ghost Palace' as 'a classic case of the trailer being better than the actual show,' feeling that while the trailer promised a grand conspiracy of curses, bloodshed, and royal secrets, the series failed to deliver coherent storytelling. Some said, 'Every episode feels like it's about to reveal the truth, only to circle back to the beginning,' or 'The worldbuilding is overstuffed, but the story doesn't get more exciting.'

Pacing has also turned off many viewers. Some believe the eight-episode series could have been condensed into three or four, criticizing repetitive trips to the spirit world, redundant fight scenes, and lengthy exposition. Comments include, 'Even at 2x speed it feels slow,' 'Quitting after the first three episodes was the smartest choice—I saved valuable time,' and 'Despite only eight episodes, it feels like watching 16.'

In terms of acting, Cho Seung-woo has been widely hailed as the 'anchor' of the series. Many praised his ability to convey the king's authority, fear, and secrets through just his eyes and tone. One viewer said, 'Only his scenes and the exorcism sequences are worth watching at normal speed.' Others noted, 'The drama truly begins when Cho Seung-woo appears,' and 'The supporting cast delivers more intensity than the main storyline.'

In contrast, Nam Joo-hyuk and Lo Yoon-seo received more mixed reviews. Supporters praised Nam's hanbok styling and sword-fighting skills, while Lo effectively portrayed Saeng-gang's unease from being haunted. However, critics found their characters underdeveloped and lacking chemistry. One viewer said, 'The male lead is flat, the female lead is unbearable—haven't seen acting this bad in a while. Romantic chemistry? That's a luxury.' Others felt, 'They've been through life and death together, yet I can't tell when their romance started,' or 'They feel less like lovers and more like temporary ghost-hunting partners.'

Overall, 'Ghost Palace' delivers solid production value in art design, monster visuals, and exorcism scenes, with Cho Seung-woo's performance and Nam Joo-hyuk's action sequences as highlights. However, the plot development, pacing, originality of the spirit world, and romantic chemistry between the leads have not won universal acclaim. Fans of dark historical dramas, royal secrets, and Korean-style exorcism themes may still find it worth a try. But for those who prioritize tight logic and deep character development, it may feel like a 'well-made but soulless' production—or even 'a finely crafted product from Netflix's assembly line.'

Watch 'Ghost Palace' on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/tw/title/81778702