“They say that once you enter the palace, you leave only in death!” That’s what we’ve been told in the official teaser of The East Palace, Netflix’s upcoming South Korean drama that promises to give viewers a blend of mystery, supernatural, and horror elements along with palace conflicts.
It has been confirmed that The East Palace will be released on July 17, 2026, only on Netflix, with all episodes scheduled to arrive on the same day. The story follows a fictional palace inspired by Korea’s Joseon era, where a series of disturbing events begins to unfold.
However, the K-drama isn’t going to be just about spirits and haunting situations, as it will also blend mystery with palace politics. On top of this, Netflix has made sure that the characters are brought to life by some of the widely popular South Korean actors, which makes the story even more thrilling to watch.
Want to know the cast and characters of the K-drama? Continue reading!
Here’s a look at the main cast and characters of Netflix’s upcoming K-drama, The East Palace
The air is absolutely ominous in The East Palace, as a “deep resentment” has made its way to every corner of the building. As explained earlier, this will be another big K-drama with fan-favorite stars playing intriguing characters like spirit catchers, the king of the era, and fearless humans.
So, here’s a look at who’s playing the main characters in Netflix’s The East Palace K-drama:
1) Nam Joo-hyuk as Gu-cheon
Gu-cheon is a highly skilled swordsman known for hunting and defeating spirits. Unlike ordinary humans, he can move between the world of the living and the spirit realm. Not just this, but he can also enter a ghost-like state, which helps him in confronting supernatural beings directly.
Gu-cheon is armed with a special sword capable of killing spirits and becomes responsible for facing the palace’s most dangerous threats. The teaser reveals him stepping into the palace to figure out what kind of a curse has been placed, only for him to realize that this is going to be really tough and haunting.
As for actor Nam Joo-hyuk, he’s known for K-dramas like Twenty-One, Twenty-Five, which is also referred to as a K-trauma by drama lovers. Other hits include Start-Up, Vigilante, and more.
2) Roh Yoon-seo as Saeng-gang
Saeng-gang is the court lady in The East Palace who has spent her life hearing voices of the dead. Instead of seeing this ability as something special, she views it as a burden that has isolated her from others.
However, when the biggest investigation at the palace begins, Saeng-gang has no option but to use this power to communicate with spirits and uncover information that no one else can access. This way, she pairs up with Gu-cheon as he handles confrontations, while Saeng-gang helps him by uncovering clues by connecting with the dead.
Actress Roh Yoon-seo is another loved star from the K-drama world. She has been a part of movies and shows like Hear Me: Our Summer, 20th Century Girl, Crash Course in Romance, and more.
3) Cho Seung-woo as the King
Apart from the duo, the King of East Palace is also a key figure in the story. Although he is the one who brings the two investigators together, his true motivations remain unclear.
He may genuinely want to protect the kingdom, but there are hints that he could also be hiding information or pursuing his own interests. The character is brought to life by Cho Seung-woo, who has starred in Divorce Attorney Shin, Life, and more.
Who are the supporting cast members in The East Palace K-drama?
The two key supporting cast members of The East Palace are the following:
Park Su-yeon as the Queen: She’s the wife of the palace’s king, whose presence will allow viewers to understand the palace politics even better. Her relationship and bond with her husband could also reveal the type of man the King is.
Jang Young-nam: The actress is also set to appear in a key supporting role in the Netflix K-drama.
Minor guest appearances include Kang Myoung-soo (as a musician) and Chloe Park. The series is written by Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won, who previously worked on Bulgasal: Immortal Souls, and directed by Choi Jung-kyu.
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Edited by Alisha Khan