Kim Ji Yeon Talks About Preparing For Her Role In "The Haunted Palace," Working With Yook Sungjae And Kim Ji Hun, And More

Apr 08, 2025

WJSN’s Kim Ji Yeon (Bona) has shared her thoughts on her upcoming drama “The Haunted Palace”!

“The Haunted Palace” is a fantasy historical romantic comedy that delves into the tale of the Eight Feet Tall spirit that bears a grudge against the king, a female shaman who opposes it, and an Imugi. In Korean folklore, an Imugi is a mythical creature that spends a millennium in water and is able to transform into a dragon upon acquiring a yeouiju (magical jewel).

Kim Ji Yeon stars as Yeo Ri, the granddaughter of a shaman with powerful spiritual abilities. However, Yeo Ri defies her fate and becomes an eyeglass artisan instead. She eventually finds herself in an unusual romance in which she battles for control over her first love, Yoon Gap (BTOB’s Yook Sungjae), whose body has been possessed by the Imugi Gang Cheol.

Recalling her first impression of the drama, Kim Ji Yeon remarked, “The script was so interesting. The theme of ‘an Imugi and a shaman’ felt unique and fresh, and I was also intrigued by the focus on ghosts from our country’s culture. As someone who loves the fantasy genre, I was eager to take part, and I’m grateful to start my first fantasy project with such a great script.”

On how she prepared for her character, the actress revealed, “Although it’s a fantasy drama, I focused on making the shaman character realistic.” She continued, “I consulted with shamans, spoke with them extensively, watched rituals directly, and even learned chants and dances. For the exorcism scenes, I practiced reading the chants as naturally as possible.”

Kim Ji Yeon emphasized the drama’s unique appeal that sets it apart from other exorcism-themed dramas. “‘The Haunted Palace’ has a much stronger fantasy element than previous exorcism dramas, so I think viewers will find it fresh and entertaining,” she said. “The ritual scenes, which incorporate elements of Korean dance, will be aesthetically portrayed in a more mystical and beautiful way.”

She added, “The ghosts in ‘The Haunted Palace’ aren’t just scary; each one has its own story, which adds another layer of interest to the show. The actors went through a lot with special makeup, but their efforts paid off in their realistic portrayals, which will be a major visual highlight [of the series]. I’m excited to see how it turned out on screen.”

Discussing her chemistry with Yook Sungjae, Kim Ji Yeon commented, “We’ve been friends for a long time, so filming was comfortable. We shared a lot of ideas with one another, and that made the process of creating the show enjoyable.”

She went on, “Yoon Gap and Gang Cheol have the same face but are completely different people, so I was careful not to confuse the emotional lines [between the characters]. However, even though their souls are different, it’s still the face and body of the person she loves, so I tried to convey a sense of longing. I approached ‘Yoon Gap and Yeo Ri’ as a classic romance and ‘Gang Cheol and Yeo Ri’ as a romantic comedy.”

Kim Ji Yeon also shared, “I felt more comfortable and had more fun filming the scenes with Gang Cheol and Yeo Ri,” building anticipation for the chemistry between Yook Sungjae’s Imugi and Kim Ji Yeon’s shaman.

On working with Kim Ji Hun, her co-star in the exorcism team facing the evil spirit, she said, “He was a reliable senior on set. He passionately shared his ideas and gave a passionate performance without sparing his body, so I learned a lot and received a lot of help.” She added, “Each character—Gang Cheol, Yeo Ri, and Yi Jeong—has very different traits, making our scenes together even more fun and engaging.”

Finally, Kim Ji Yeon said, “Please pay attention to the tragic stories of the ghosts; the love triangle between Yoon Gap, Yeo Ri, and Gang Cheol; and the suspenseful battles against the terrifying Eight Feet Tall spirit.” She added, “Please enjoy ‘The Haunted Palace,’ which everyone worked hard to create, and give it lots of love.”