Yook Sungjae And Kim Ji Yeon Dish On Their Chemistry Of Same-Age Friends, Reuniting On Set Of "The Haunted Palace," And More

“The Haunted Palace” leads Yook Sungjae and Kim Ji Yeon recently participated in a photo shoot for the fashion magazine Cosmopolitan Korea!

“The Haunted Palace” is a fantasy historical rom-com 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 (imaginary creature that is able to transform into a dragon upon acquiring a magical jewel).

The photoshoot with Cosmopolitan featuring actors Yook Sungjae and Kim Ji Yeon captured vibrant and playful moments of a Gen-Z style drama couple, offering a stark contrast to their characters Yoon Gap and Yeo Ri in the historical fantasy drama. On set, the two same-age actors showcased perfect synergy and chemistry, resulting in a series of charming and endearing photos in every shot.

In an interview that followed the photoshoot, Yook Sungjae was asked why he chose the drama “The Haunted Palace.” The actor explained, “I’ve always been a fan of the fantasy genre, and I found the stories of vengeful spirits that appear as the episodes progress to be very intriguing. I play two roles—Yoon Gap and Gang Cheol—and I was particularly drawn to the character of Gang Cheol. As an Imugi, Gang Cheol experiences emotions and situations in the human world for the first time, and I wanted to portray that journey.”

The two actors, who have been friends for 16 years, shared their thoughts on reuniting as co-leads in the same drama. When asked how they felt, Kim Ji Yeon said, “At first, I was a bit worried about whether I’d be able to fully immerse myself in the emotions with this friend in front of me. But after the very first shoot, I felt so comfortable. It was great to be able to casually ask things like, ‘Did I do okay just now?’ on set.”

Yook Sungjae also shared, “That was the part I found most comfortable as well. I think that comfort might even create some acting synergy between us.”

Yook Sungjae and Kim Ji Yeon’s full pictorial and interview can be found in the May issue of Cosmopolitan Korea.

In the meantime, catch up on their drama “The Haunted Palace” on Viki: