SBS Fantasy Drama 'Gwigung' Premieres with Record Ratings and Thrilling Plot Twists

The highly anticipated SBS fantasy drama 'Gwigung' premiered on the 18th, featuring a dramatic cliffhanger with stars Yook Sung-jae and Kim Ji-yeon.

In the first episode, viewers were introduced to the tumultuous story of Imugi Kang Chul (played by special guest Kim Young-kwang), a notorious evil spirit in the human realm, who takes over the body of human Yoon Gap (Yook Sung-jae). The episode also unveiled the fateful connection between Kang Chul and Yeori (Kim Ji-yeon), a shaman by destiny.

'Gwigung' achieved a peak viewership rating of 10.7% according to Nielsen Korea, with metropolitan and nationwide ratings both at 9.2%. It surpassed other dramas like 'My Perfect Secretary' and 'Treasure Island', setting the highest first-episode ratings for an SBS drama in 2025. It also claimed the top spot in its time slot and among mini-series dramas aired that week. The key demographic of viewers aged 20-49 in the metropolitan area recorded a rating of 2.5%, marking a strong start.

The episode began with the legend of Imugi Kang Chul, who, after a thousand years of training, failed to ascend as a dragon and became an evil spirit. As everyone in the human realm feared Kang Chul, the renowned shaman Neopdeok (Gil Hae-yeon) warned her young granddaughter Yeori (Song Ji-woo) that Kang Chul was targeting her for her pure spirit. Despite Neopdeok's efforts to protect Yeori with a spirit-repelling stone, 'Gyeonggwi-seok', tragedy struck when Neopdeok unexpectedly lost her life, leaving Yeori to vow never to serve the evil spirit.

Years later, strange occurrences plagued the palace. The king's son, Crown Prince (Park Jae-joon), suffered from inexplicable madness, a secret too shocking to reveal. As the prince's condition worsened, loyal court official Yoon Gap (Yook Sung-jae) suggested seeking shamanic help, but the king, valuing palace protocol, dismissed the idea.

Meanwhile, Yeori, now an adult, rejected her shamanic fate and lived as an eyeglass artisan. Yet, she continued to see spirits invisible to others. When she discovered a malevolent spirit causing illness in the daughter of former left state councilor Choi Won-woo (Ahn Nae-sang), Yeori used her powers to exorcise the spirit, suspecting Kang Chul's involvement.

Yoon Gap, tasked by the king to recruit Choi Won-woo, returned to his hometown, Yongdamgol, with another mission: to bring Yeori to the palace to cure the Crown Prince's madness. Under the guise of requesting eyeglasses for the king, Yoon Gap invited Yeori to the palace. Despite Kang Chul's objections, Yeori, who had long admired Yoon Gap, agreed to go.

However, tragedy struck on their journey. Yoon Gap was ambushed and killed by political rival Gwak Sang-chung (Yoon Seung). Witnessing the scene, Kang Chul seized the opportunity to possess Yoon Gap's body, aiming to remove the 'Gyeonggwi-seok' from Yeori. Shocked and devastated, Yeori saw Yoon Gap's spirit and Kang Chul in his body. As Kang Chul attempted to reclaim his true form, he found himself trapped in Yoon Gap's body. In a desperate escape, Yeori searched for the lost stone, leading to a struggle that sent both her and Kang Chul tumbling off a cliff, leaving Yoon Gap's spirit helplessly watching.

'Gwigung' masterfully blends the intriguing relationship between Imugi and shaman, palace mysteries, and chilling spirits, offering fresh excitement to weekend viewers. The actors' performances in this unique fantasy world further enhance the show's appeal.

SBS's exclusive 2025 fantasy historical drama 'Gwigung' follows the story of shaman Yeori, who rejects her fate, and Imugi Kang Chul, trapped in her first love Yoon Gap's body, as they encounter a vengeful spirit targeting the royal family. Episode 2 airs on the 19th at 9:50 PM.

Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr