The Haunted Palace Episode 7 Review: Gangcheol and the King Fall Into a Big Trap

In Episode 6 of The Haunted Palace, the battle against the vengeful spirit intensifies as Gangcheol, Yeo-ri, and even the King join forces to temporarily banish it—thanks to a hidden spiritual lens and quick thinking. But the danger is far from over: Poong San plots a sinister ritual involving the Queen’s unborn child, Bi Bi reveals shocking truths about Gangcheol’s possession, and Yeo-ri learns the King unknowingly held a relic from her grandmother.

Amid romantic tension and secret identities, a new cursed skull surfaces, triggering a fierce showdown with a water spirit that ends with Yeo-ri being dragged under the river, leaving her fate uncertain.

The Haunted Palace Episode 7 has a runtime of around 60 minutes.

This new Korean drama has 16 episodes and will be released every Friday and Saturday.

The Haunted Palace Episode 7 Recap

Episode 7 of The Haunted Palace picks up right where we left off—with Yeo-ri in mortal danger. Gangcheol manages to fend off the vengeful drowned spirit just in time, but not without consequence. The spirit curses Yeo-ri before vanishing, and Gangcheol, visibly disturbed, warns her to be extra cautious from now on. As she struggles to walk with one slipper missing, he offers her a piggyback ride, an unexpectedly tender gesture that softens the moment. The two quietly share a peaceful walk, until Gangcheol suggests she rest—and that’s when things get emotionally complicated.

As they sit together, hearts pounding, Yeo-ri pulls back, conflicted. She confesses that though she knows Gangcheol is the one inside Yoon Gap’s body, her emotions are tangled. She loved Yoon Gap deeply, and being close to his face and body is stirring up all kinds of confusion. Gangcheol tries to lighten the mood by teasing her, but it’s clear he’s touched—her conflicted feelings still mean she cares for him. For a moment, that’s all that matters.

Later, back at Yoon Gap’s home, Gangcheol has a touching encounter with Yoon Gap’s mother. Her gentle kindness warms him, and when she offers him a medicinal tonic, he accepts without protest. But later that night, as he lies awake, his mind returns to the curse. He knows it’s only a matter of time before it activates, and he’s determined to keep Yeo-ri safe, no matter what.

Meanwhile, the King is cracking down. All the maids who work in the Queen’s quarters are arrested, and three in particular—the ones responsible for preparing her bedding—are singled out for questioning. Under intense pressure and torture, one of the maids stubbornly maintains her innocence. But then a mysterious guard slips her a small note. It instructs her to eat the paper after reading it, promising that someone will come to save her. Desperate, she follows the instructions—only to collapse in agony, vomiting blood. It turns out Poong San had laced the paper with poison, eliminating her before the truth could come out.

The next morning, the King is furious. How could a prisoner have access to poison? He turns to his maternal grandfather, Kim Bong-in, the senior court official, demanding a full investigation. That night, seeking counsel and clarity, the King visits his old teacher, Won-woo, and they discuss potential reforms to the kingdom’s brutal slavery system. But the peace is short-lived. As the King exits the house, a brick suddenly falls from the roof—an assassination attempt. Luckily, his guards shield him just in time. Unbeknownst to the King, this is no mere accident. It’s the handiwork of the one-legged spirit, who’s been silently tormenting Won-woo’s family.

Elsewhere, Bi Bi is wandering the palace grounds, full of curiosity and snark. He chats with his brother Gangcheol about the supposed eight-legged spirit wreaking havoc across the provinces. Bi Bi doesn’t buy it. He’s still unaware of just how much pain Gangcheol is carrying. Meanwhile, a new crisis looms—men over sixty are mysteriously dying in three different provinces. The minister of war, still shaken from his encounter with Gangcheol (aka Yoon Gap), begins to panic.

While Bi Bi prowls the palace for his next soul-snack, Poong San spots him. It doesn’t take long for the shaman to realize the truth—there are two dragon spirits now, and they’re both tied to a shaman girl. Things are escalating fast.

Bi Bi soon sets his sights on Kim Bong-in, preparing to devour him. But Yeo-ri arrives just in time, protecting the elderly official and facing off with Bi Bi. Furious at the interference, Bi Bi prepares to attack, but Gangcheol steps in, shielding her once again. When Yeo-ri protests that Bong-in is a kind and compassionate man, Gangcheol hesitates. He warns her that people aren’t always what they seem—that darkness often hides behind friendly faces. Could Bong-in be hiding a bigger secret?

Later that day, the Queen Dowager summons Yeo-ri. Meanwhile, over in the Queen’s chambers, something deeply unsettling is unfolding. The Queen has developed a strange blister on her neck, and no physician can explain it. Her condition deteriorates rapidly—vomiting, fever, intense pain. The King is distraught. A maid reveals that the Queen had a terrifying dream of a ghost just before her symptoms began. Fearing the worst, the King calls for Yeo-ri’s help, but the Queen Dowager suspiciously delays her.

Yeo-ri, growing wary of the Queen Dowager’s behavior, senses something sinister. Her suspicions are confirmed when she spots a familiar ghost lurking nearby—one with a sly, mischievous air. Earlier in the episode, Yeo-ri had encountered a ghost disguised as a little boy. She discovered he was actually an old man in a young spirit’s form, wandering the palace and stealing children’s shoes for good luck. She tied him up and questioned him about the talisman involved in Young-in’s death. The ghost didn’t know a name, but recalled the culprit had blackened fingers—likely someone who works with fire or coal. Gangcheol connected the dots, suggesting they look for someone in that trade.

Back at the Queen’s chamber, the King is growing impatient. Why hasn’t Yeo-ri arrived? He storms to the Queen Dowager’s quarters and finds her chatting with Yeo-ri. Tensions explode when the King confronts the Queen Dowager with evidence—a list of keychains found in the Queen’s bedding, all linked to her. She lashes out, cleverly questioning the King’s morality by bringing up the death of Young-in. Her veiled accusation stuns him, and while she offers a fake apology, her smug smile says it all.

As the King and Yeo-ri leave, Yeo-ri suddenly collapses. She’s rushed to a nearby room, where Gangcheol soon arrives, frantic. When he hears about the blister running from her neck to abdomen, he immediately recognizes it—it’s the same curse as the Queen’s. Yeo-ri regains consciousness and insists they must stop the drowned spirit to save the Queen. Gangcheol, however, urges her to rest and assures her he’ll handle it.

Then he does something wild—he asks the King to act as bait. The King’s men are outraged, but Gangcheol doesn’t care. He even threatens to kidnap the young Prince Gwang if the King refuses. Surprisingly, the King agrees. That night, the two head to the river, preparing to lure the spirit.

But before they can complete the ritual, tempers flare. Gangcheol’s brashness infuriates the King, who punches him square in the face. He reminds Gangcheol that he’s inhabiting the body of Yoon Gap—a man deeply loved and respected—and shouldn’t disgrace it. The two continue arguing, but eventually set aside their animosity when they remember their shared goal: saving the women they care about.

As dawn breaks, they open up to each other. The King speaks of the Queen, how she came to the palace as a child and stood by him through everything. Gangcheol, in turn, shares Yeo-ri’s struggles and strength. Their mutual respect finally begins to grow.

The King then cuts his palm and drops his blood into the river. But just then, Yeo-ri arrives, breathless. She’s figured it out—it’s all a trap. The spirit cursed both her and the Queen because it needed royal blood. Earlier, Poong San had revealed to his disciple that the drowned spirit was bound to the mortal realm until it could claim a royal vessel. And now, the King is offering himself up on a silver platter.

In the episode’s chilling final moment, the drowned spirit rises and drags the King under the river’s surface. Yeo-ri screams and runs to the spot, desperate to save him—again.

The Haunted Palace Episode 7 Review

The growing connection between Yeo-ri and Gangcheol adds a layer of romantic tension, made all the more complex by the body-soul entanglement involving Yoon Gap. Their bond deepens in subtle, poignant ways, even as danger circles them. Meanwhile, the political intrigue thickens with the Queen’s sudden illness, the maid’s mysterious death, and the Queen Dowager’s chilling mind games. The use of curses, ghosts, and spiritual lore feels more refined and purposeful here, tying character backstories with the larger mystery at hand.

What makes this episode stand out is the evolving relationship between the King and Gangcheol—two proud men forced to collaborate despite their animosity. Their shared vulnerability and mutual desire to protect the women they love adds gravitas to their dynamic. The closing scenes by the river deliver both a visual and emotional punch, with the revelation about the drowned spirit’s need for royal blood pulling the entire narrative arc together. With its mix of myth, mystery, and heart, this episode pushes the stakes higher and leaves viewers breathless for what comes next.

The Haunted Palace is streaming on Viki.

Also read: All The Haunted Palace Reviews

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