The Haunted Palace ending explained: Everything felt complete, but fans still want season 2 of Yook Sung Jae, Kim Ji Yeon's drama
SBS's The Haunted Palace wrapped up its 16-episode run on June 7 with a finale that brought in the show's highest viewership rating to date. Blending fantasy, history, and romance, the drama starred Yook Sung Jae, Kim Ji Yeon (Bona), and Kim Ji Hoon in a story that captivated viewers both in Korea and internationally via Viki. Its final episode pulled in a nationwide average rating of 11.0 percent, according to Nielsen Korea, clinching the top spot in its time slot.
The drama stood out not just for its unique take on Korean folklore and shamanism but for its emotional depth, well-crafted character arcs, and sharp performances, especially in its latter half. With a satisfying ending that still left the door open for more, fans are now eagerly asking, Will there be a season 2?
What is The Haunted Palace about?
At its core, The Haunted Palace is the story of Yeo Ri, a modern-day shaman who wants nothing to do with her fate. She becomes entangled with Gang Cheol, a thousand-year-old serpent spirit (imugi) who ends up possessing the body of her first love, Yoon Gap. As they team up to confront Palcheok Gwi, a vengeful ghost haunting the royal palace, things quickly spiral beyond a simple exorcism.
The show explores themes like reincarnation, fate, guilt, and the pain of forgotten souls. But it also mixes in romance, politics, and humour, especially in the funny arguments between Gangcheori and the Emperor. As spirits and humans clash, the story shows that both good and bad exist in everyone, and every ghost and person has a story to tell.
The Haunted Palace ending explained: Who lived, who died, and who returned
The Haunted Palace episode 16 kicks off with chaos, as Gangcheori and the possessed King face off in a last-ditch attempt to stop the evil spirit from taking full control. After a dramatic series of fights, betrayals, and emotional goodbyes, Gangcheori unleashes his full power and sacrifices himself to destroy the ghost once and for all. The King and Yeo-ri wake up, but Gangcheori doesn't—at least not right away.
In a touching twist, Gangcheori later returns, explaining that the Heavenly Sovereign gave him a choice between ascending or returning to Earth. He chose Earth, naturally, 'for Yeo-ri,' though he jokes about it. Life moves on: Yeo-ri's business flourishes, the King pushes forward with reforms, and Gangcheori becomes a slightly grumpy dad to their daughter, Ga-won, who inherited his lightning powers.
The final scene shows the family setting off on another ghost-hunting job, hinting that the supernatural world still has unfinished business. It's a full-circle ending, filled with closure, but not without possibility for more.
Why are fans calling for season 2?
Despite its neatly wrapped conclusion, fans aren't ready to say goodbye. The Reddit thread for episodes 15 and 16 is filled with passionate posts asking for a second season. One viewer wrote, "I want Season Two and more of the bromance between the Emperor and Gangcheol!" Another praised Yook Sung-jae's performance, saying his portrayal of both Yoon Gap and Gangcheori showed just how far he's come as an actor.
Kim Ji Hoon also earned widespread praise for his role as the complex and tormented king. Fans cited his performance as award-worthy, with one saying, "He really deserves to win one of those year-end acting awards." Others appreciated how the story managed to stay emotionally grounded despite its fantasy elements. "I was skeptical at first, thinking the ending might be tragic," one user said, "but I love how everything ended."
Many also noted that the finale wasn't just good—it was one of the best they'd seen in a long time. As one comment put it, 'This show outperformed my expectations. The ending was one of the best K-drama endings I've ever seen.'
"I hadn't watched any dramas in a couple of months and was debating cancelling my Viki subscription last weekend, but I watched the first episode of this on a whim and was immediately hooked. I'm now caught up for the last two episodes and wish I'd been watching from the start," wrote another user.
Check out more comments in the Reddit thread below:
For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
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