What do you get when you blend historical drama, supernatural horror, fantasy, and action? You get what is now officially one of Netflix’s biggest streaming hits of the summer. Released on July 17, the eight-episode limited series follows two unlikely allies as they investigate a terrifying curse haunting the royal palace.
Netflix’s Fantasy Action Series Is the “Perfect” Show

Set in a fictionalized Joseon-era kingdom, The East Palace stars Nam Joo-hyuk as Gu-cheon, a spirit slayer who is able to cross the divide between the living and the dead. Summoned by the king to cleanse the royal palace of evil, he’s paired with Saeng-gang (Roh Yoon-seo), a court lady who has the uncanny ability to communicate with ghosts. Investigating the haunted East Palace, Gu-cheon and Saeng-gang uncover ancient grudges, dangerous spirits, and a curse that threatens not only the crown prince (Kwak Dong-yeon), but the future of the kingdom itself. Working together, they must defeat powerful supernatural enemies before it’s too late. Directed by Choi Jung-kyu and co-written by Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won, The East Palace is a phenomenal South Korean fantasy action series that leans heavily into the realm of horror. Elaborate creature designs, stunning visual effects, and emotional drama all work together to create a show that has a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, and an audience score of 90%. Called “a truly gorgeous production” by Karina Adelgaard from Heaven of Horror, critic Belen Prieto adds that The East Palace is “a series that draws on the best of Korean folklore.” Maddy Casale from Decider was another who had nothing but good things to say about Netflix’s newest hit, adding:
“The East Palace has enough intrigue, stunning cinematography, and committed worldbuilding to hook viewers on the first episode and immerse you in its twisting tale.”

‘The East Palace’ Scores Big on Netflix After Just One Week

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Hitting Netflix on July 17, The East Palace has already proven to be a massive hit for the streaming giant. Not only is the fantasy action smash currently #3 on the Global Top 10, but for the week of July 13–19, it reached #2 on Netflix’s list of Top 10 Non-English Shows after earning 4.9 million views in just its first three days. It had a total of 32.9 million hours watched, which is a tremendous accomplishment for the South Korean series when you consider it’s not based on an existing IP like the #1 series, Agent Kim Reactivated.

Rank

Title

Views

Hours Viewed

1.

Agent Kim Reactivated

8,200,000

72,000,000

2.

The East Palace

4,900,000

32,900,000

3.

I’m Not Afraid

4,000,000

18,100,000

4.

José Totoy 3

3,600,000

2,700,000

5.

The Apartment Job

3,300,000

11,100,000

6.

Teach You a Lesson

2,900,000

31,400,000

7.

The Polygamist: Season 1

2,700,000

25,600,000

8.

Spooky in Love

1,700,000

3,500,000

9.

Human Vapor: Season 1

1,600,000

11,900,000

10.

The Map of Longing

1,500,000

6,700,000

Thus far, Netflix has yet to make a decision regarding the future of The East Palace, so it’s unclear if it will receive a second season. That being said, given its early success, things are definitely looking good for the hit show, so don’t be surprised if it eventually scores a renewal.

Release Date

2026 – 2026-00-00

Network

Netflix

Directors

Choi Jung-kyu

Writers

Kwon So-ra, Seo Jae-won