Seo Do-young Reflects on Triumphant Return with 'The Haunted Palace' After 5-Year Hiatus

Seo Do-young, who made a dazzling comeback after a five-year hiatus with 'The Haunted Palace,' shared his thoughts on the series finale.

In the final episode of SBS's 'The Haunted Palace,' which aired on the 7th, the character Palcheokgui, played by Seo Do-young, vanished after Kang Cheol (played by Yook Sung-jae) consumed the Gol Dam Cho and exhausted his own Yagwangju. The souls of Cheon Geum-hwi, the true form of Palcheokgui, and the people of Yongdamgol appeared during a ritual performed by Yeori (played by Kim Ji-yeon). King Lee Jeong (played by Kim Ji-hoon) tearfully vowed, "I will dedicate everything to ensure that no more people with such deep-seated grudges like you emerge." In response, Cheon Geum-hwi shed tears, saying, "To think that a few words could lighten such a heavy heart. Just a few drops of tears were all it took," and was finally laid to rest.

Seo Do-young successfully returned to the drama scene with his unexpected role as Palcheokgui. The character's eerie appearance, standing at 2.4 meters tall, even sparked rumors of CGI. However, it was revealed that Seo Do-young performed the role entirely in full-body makeup, garnering significant attention. The tragic backstory of Palcheokgui, who was destined to become a vengeful spirit, also captivated viewers. Seo Do-young flawlessly portrayed the contrasting characters of the vengeful spirit 'Palcheokgui' and the loyal warrior 'General Cheon Geum-hwi,' delivering an epic narrative.

Seo Do-young stated, "The only reason I could readily accept the role of Palcheokgui when it was first offered was because of the poignant story of its true form, General Cheon Geum-hwi. For the scene where he fights the enemy while holding his miraculously revived son, I underwent months of action training and scene revisions to ensure Cheon Geum-hwi's emotions resonated with the audience."

He continued, "Enduring the 30kg special makeup for Palcheokgui and wielding a sword while holding a 15kg dummy as Cheon Geum-hwi were no easy tasks. But I was incredibly passionate. After a long hiatus, this was a precious character I encountered, and I wanted to portray its immense story better than anyone else. I hope my sincerity reached the viewers. Thank you sincerely for the love and support for 'The Haunted Palace' and Palcheokgui. I will continue to deliver performances that deeply resonate with you."

Reporter Taeyuna, TenAsia youyou@tenasia.co.kr