[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] The secret behind the "Donggung" curse is revealed.

The Netflix series “Donggung,” premiering on the 17th, tells the story of Gu Cheon (Nam Joo-hyuk), who possesses the ability to traverse the spirit world, and Saeng-gang (Noh Yoon-seo), a palace maid harboring a secret, as they are summoned by the King (Jo Seung-woo) to uncover the curse that haunts the East Palace.
“Donggung” is a collaboration between director Choi Jeong-gyu, known for “Devil Judge” and “Red Moon, Blue Sun,” and writers Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won, creators of “Bulgasaal” and “The Guest.”
Director Choi Jeong-gyu, who helmed the project, said, “The first time I saw Nam Joo-hyuk, I was convinced that he was the one who could choose to enter the world of ghosts and stand up to fate. ‘Donggung’ was a project he had to lead, and I sensed that he possessed not only a strong sense of responsibility but also tremendous passion for acting.”
Regarding Noh Yoon-seo, he said, “Every time I watched her performances, I felt she was breaking through something, and I was convinced that her natural charm and strengths were a perfect fit for the role of Saeng-gang. Working with her, I found her to be an incredibly bold actress, and I was deeply impressed by how she navigated situations with her honest and straightforward acting.”
Regarding Jo Seung-woo, with whom he reunited through *Donggung*, he added, “Ever since I worked with him a long time ago, it has been my dream to work with Jo Seung-woo again. *Donggung* is the project that made that dream come true. Jo Seung-woo prepares his acting with incredible attention to detail, and I felt a sense of catharsis watching that attention to detail transform into powerful acting the moment filming began.”

The main poster, released on the 1st, features Gu-cheon and Saeng-gang—who have been brought together as a team by the king’s decree—further heightening anticipation. Gu-cheon stands in the center of a pond shrouded in the red aura of the “World of Ghosts,” while Saeng-gang pulls with all her might on the rough rope binding him, capturing the viewer’s attention.
Gu Cheon, who traverses the “World of Ghosts,” and Sheng Jiang, who hears the sounds of that world. Curiosity is piqued as to what secrets of the palace these two—who possess abilities that are similar yet distinct—will uncover, and what mysterious and suspense-filled adventures they will embark on.
The main trailer, released alongside the stills, draws viewers into the world of *Donggung* with its overwhelming allure. A palace that is beautiful yet permeated by a chilling silence. An ominous aura begins to linger there, and a ghost’s terrifying voice echoes in the king’s ear: “I will wipe out the royal bloodline.” Sens ing that “the events of 30 years ago” are unfolding once again within the palace, the king summons the ghost hunter Gu Cheon and assigns the palace maid Saeng-gang to keep a close watch on him.
Following the king’s orders, the two move in secret, crossing the boundary between life and death, and the beings that reveal themselves before them are truly grotesque and sinister. Accompanied by the warning, “A great upheaval is about to engulf the entire palace,” Gu-cheon enters a world of ghosts filled with a crimson aura of blood. As he dances with his sword and confronts the ghosts, the grudges and secrets buried deep within the royal family gradually come to light, and as if to add to the tension, the palace gradually descends into uncontrollable chaos.

In the special poster, Gu-cheon, Saeng-gang, and the King—all entangled in the palace’s curse—captivate the viewer with their intense auras. Behind the three, the figures of ghosts that seem to be wailing and the eerie atmosphere of the spirit world are visible, creating a chilling sense of tension. In particular, the “spirit world” beyond the boundary where Gu-cheon stands catches the eye with an atmosphere that is completely different from the “real world” where Saeng-gang and the King stand, even though they are both within the same palace. All eyes are on the story of Gu-cheon and Saeng-gang as they draw closer to the truth hidden within the palace, and on Wang as he seeks to end the curse—specifically, what choices each of the three will make in the face of threats from unknown entities, and what exactly the “events of 30 years ago” mentioned by Wang entail.