Must Watch? New SBS K-Drama Debuts With Unexpectedly High Ratings 

SBS‘s latest Friday-Saturday K-Drama The Haunted Palace is off to a strong start, surprising many with higher-than-expected viewership ratings for its premiere episode.

According to Nielsen Korea, the first episode — which aired on April 18 — recorded a nationwide rating of 9.2%. The number marks a notable increase from the 6.1% debut rating of its predecessor, Buried Hearts. The previous series ended on a high note with a peak rating of 15.4%, and some of that momentum may have carried over to help The Haunted Palace make a solid entrance.

The Haunted Palace tells a unique story that blends fantasy, romance, and comedy. It follows Yeori (played by Kim Ji Yeon), a shaman who refuses to accept her supernatural destiny, and Kang Cheol Yi (played by Yook Sung Jae), an Imoogi — an ancient serpent-like spirit from Korean mythology — who ends up trapped in the body of Yeori’s first love, Yoon Gap. As they confront a powerful spirit with a deep grudge against the royal family, their intertwined fates unfold in dramatic and unexpected ways.

The premiere episode introduced viewers to the backstory of Kang Cheol Yi, portrayed in a special appearance by actor Kim Young Kwang. His character, feared in the human world as a dangerous and malevolent being, suddenly finds himself inhabiting a human body. The episode also showed his mysterious connection to Yeori, setting the stage for a series filled with emotional tension and supernatural twists.

With its strong opening and compelling storyline, The Haunted Palace is already gaining attention. While it remains to be seen whether it can maintain or build on its momentum, the early response suggests this may be a series worth keeping an eye on.

You can watch the trailer for The Haunted Palace below!