Naman Shrestha
Created by Choi Jung-kyu, Kwon So-ra, and Seo Jea-won, Netflix’s ‘The East Palace’ is a South Korean fantasy horror thriller series that revolves around the dark mysteries surrounding the titular palace. When the King notices strange occurrences in the palace, he hires Gu-cheon, a ghost-slayer who can transform into a ghost to kill evil spirits, and Saeng Gang, a court lady who can communicate with ghosts. The two gifted individuals are tasked with entering the cursed palace and uncovering its darkest secrets.
As they walk within the royal walls of the grand palace, they encounter a sinister presence and several secrets. Using their respective supernatural abilities, Gu-cheon and Saeng Gang put up a fight against evil in the palace. Originally titled ‘Donggung,’ the thriller drama show is set in a fictional palace, which serves as an additional character as it becomes home to an evil spirit that plagues the life of the King and threatens to eradicate his entire bloodline.
The East Palace Filming Locations
‘The East Palace’ is filmed in its entirety in South Korea, particularly in Gyeonggi Province, North Gyeongsang Province, and Gangwon Province. Principal photography for the Netflix production got underway in December 2024 and went on for several months before seemingly wrapping up by July 2025. All the cast and crew seemed to have a lot of fun during the shoot. They made the most of South Korea’s vast and versatile landscapes to bring the fantastical tale to life.
Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
Many pivotal sequences for ‘The East Palace’ were reportedly lensed in Gyeonggi Province. In December 2024, during the initial phase of production, the filming unit was busy taping key scenes in the town of Misan-myeon, located in Yeoncheon County. In the early hours of December 21, 2024, a major fire broke out on the set and destroyed a 3,655-square-meter set building, and the lighting equipment kept inside the production facility. Fortunately, no casualties were reported after the fire was extinguished within a couple of hours. The authorities launched an investigation in an attempt to determine the cause and origin of the devastating fire. Moreover, the production team seemingly utilized the facilities of a film studio in Yeoncheon County to tape key indoor portions.
Other Locations in South Korea
To bring the fantastical tale of ‘The East Palace’ to life, the filming unit also utilized the facilities and locales of various other locations across South Korea. For instance, the Mungyeongsaejae Open Set at 932 Saejae-ro, Mungyeong-si in North Gyeongsang Province served as a prominent production location, which doubled as the fictional titular palace. They made the most of the set’s 2nd Gateway to depict different spots of the haunted palace. For the purpose of shooting, the cast and crew members also set up camp at the sprawling Seoraksan National Park, located around Gangwon Province.
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