The Haunted Palace (귀궁) ended this week, and viewers are all over the place with where they stand with that ending. If you, like all of us, are obsessed with the world of Joseon-era spirits, royal curses and a budding romance in the midst of the madness, well, you have come to the right place! Here are 5 Kdramas like The Haunted Palace that blend ghostly lore, historical settings, a ton of melodrama and haunting mysteries perfectly.
1. Arang and the Magistrate (2012)
This saeguk ghost romance centres on Arang, a vengeful ghost seeking justice by partnering with a magistrate, Kim Eun-o, to solve her murder. Both these characters are on a journey of their own, and several layers to their predicament will interest viewers. The series has 20 episodes and stars Lee Joon-gi and Shin Min-a in lead roles.
Just like The Haunted Palace, it mixes historical fantasy, mystery and an unlikely, heartfelt romance whose protagonists’ destinies are intertwined with the world of the spirits and the mystical.
2. The Guest (2018)
In this thrilling and dark Kdrama fusing the thriller and supernatural genres, a psychic, a priest, and a detective are after a malevolent spirit that’s not just terrorising Seoul, but their lives as well. With a bloody and violent connection to all of their pasts, the three of them must get to the bottom of the mystery and stop this entity before it destroys everyone and everything in its path. With 16 episodes, the series stars Kim Dong-wook, Kim Jae-wook and Jung Eun-chae in lead roles.
The series centres on exorcism and cursed souls, and parallels the ghost-hunting narrative of The Haunted Palace, which will definitely catch the viewer’s fantasy. Plus, the stakes are as high as they can be, and you will definitely find yourself on the edge of your seat!
3. Hotel Del Luna (2019)
In this modern fantasy romance series, we follow the centuries-old owner of a hotel for the dead who is exceedingly greedy and selfish. However, when hotel manager Goo Chan-sung joins her hotel thanks to a deal that his father made with a deity, he turns out to be the only way for Man-wol to achieve the peace that he wants.
The series will intrigue viewers thanks to the supernatural lore that opens up gradually and a century-spanning romance that will leave you in tears in the end. The humour and the heartache also go hand-in-hand in this drama, and the fantastic performances from IU and Yeo Jin-goo are just the icing on the cake.
4. Hellbound (2021– )
This Netflix series, from the creator of Train to Busan, is a dystopian horror show that showcases what happens when Earth is taken hostage by divine entities who condemn sinners to Hell. There is apparently no right or wrong, or sometimes even logic, at people can see, and the fact that they appear out of nowhere makes the series even more terrifying.
The series tackles faith and justice and discusses fear and human suffering extensively and with nuance. There are a lot of subtle, relatable moments in the world that we live in. Its dark, intense and socially reflective narrative will leave you shell-shocked. Unfortunately, this one doesn’t feature romance.
Also Read: Hellbound Season 2 Review: Decent Continuation But Too Much Politics and Power Struggles
5. Gyeongseong Creature (2023–2024)
Set in 1945 Seoul under Japanese rule, Gyeongseong Creature made headlines thanks to its ensemble cast and the vastness of its plot, encompassing many different things in its narrative. The series, with 10 episodes, follows Jang Tae-sang and Yoon Chae-ok, who find themselves in the midst of a shocking mystery when they start to dig into missing persons’ cases in Gyeongseong, which reveals a terrifying reality that pushes him to look at his morals, while she has to confront her past.
The show is loaded with its own history and mystical horror that provides moral complexity for the characters and the situations. Its action-packed narrative is perfect for an adrenaline rush. Plus, confronting unnatural forces in a bygone era could never have been more intense thanks to Park Seo-joon and Han So-hee’s fantastic performances and budding romance.
If you’re done with these shows, you should also check out Knight Flower, Alchemy of Souls and Tale of the Nine-Tailed as well.
Which of these shows have you watched? Let us know in the comments below!
Also Read: The Haunted Palace Season 1 Review