The Haunted Palace Episode 9 Review: Love Overdue

The Haunted Palace Episode 9 Review | Leisurebyte

Director:
Yoon Sung-shik

Date Created:
2025-05-16 18:30

Editor’s Rating:

4

In Episode 8, Gangcheol heroically saves the King from a vengeful drowned spirit, only to fall under the same deadly curse—until Yeo-ri traps the spirit in a voodoo doll, lifting the affliction. As the trio investigates the spirit’s past, they uncover a deeper mystery tied to a blind shaman named Aguji. Meanwhile, emotional tensions rise between Yeo-ri and Gangcheol, especially after Yeo-ri falsely blames him for her grandmother’s death.

However, a chilling discovery reveals that her grandmother had once saved the palace from the eight-legged spirit, and Gangcheol was never the killer. The real villain is unmasked as the King’s grandfather, Kim Bong-in, who learns of Yeo-ri’s true heritage and triggers the return of the ancient evil, setting the stage for chaos to come.

The Haunted Palace Episode 9 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 9 Recap

Episode 9 of The Haunted Palace takes us back 13 years into the past, where a young Yi-sung (the present-day King) helplessly witnesses his grandfather Kim Bong-in punish a blind shaman, Poong San, for using his powers to extort wealthy households. Despite the Prince’s pleas, Bong-in remains unmoved—until Poong San opens his eyes mid-beating and warns of a terrifying spirit that’s following Yi-sung. That spirit? The eight-legged demon that has haunted the royal bloodline for generations. Intrigued rather than alarmed, Bong-in halts the punishment and decides to speak with the shaman in private.

In this secret conversation, Poong San claims that every heir of the royal family is doomed to perish at the hands of the spirit. Bong-in, ever the tactician, asks if the spirit can be controlled. Thus begins their covert pact—Poong San will use his connection to the supernatural to aid Bong-in’s grip on power.

Back in the present, Poong San reveals to Bong-in that Yeo-ri is the granddaughter of Neop Deok, the shaman who once banished the eight-legged spirit. Worse (for him), Yeo-ri carries a protective serpent spirit—Gangcheol. If Bong-in wants to eliminate her, he must first neutralise Gangcheol. And so, a new scheme is born: separate the two by sealing Gangcheol away.

Meanwhile, Yeo-ri reels from the revelation about her grandmother’s heroic sacrifice to save the late King. King Yi-sung, having finally accepted the reality of shamanism, confesses that his position often forced him into distrust—but now, he needs her help. Overwhelmed by the burden of truth and her tangled emotions, Yeo-ri walks off in a daze. She’s soon spotted by Gangcheol, who scolds her for being out alone at night. What begins as concern escalates into an argument. Yeo-ri demands answers—why did he hide the truth about her grandmother’s death?

Gangcheol, visibly frustrated, explains that when she was a child, telling her the truth would have only endangered her life. She would’ve tried to save her grandmother and ended up consumed by the spirit. The weight of everything finally hits Yeo-ri, and she breaks down in tears. Gangcheol, who has always worn his feelings behind a stoic mask, is devastated to see her cry.

Determined to honour her grandmother’s legacy and free the souls trapped by the spirit, including Yoon Gap, Yeo-ri wakes early the next morning and throws herself into work. Gangcheol, worried for her, asks BiBi to follow her discreetly. Though BiBi is reluctant, he agrees, secretly hoping he might still come between the two.

While shadowing Yeo-ri, BiBi overhears a conversation between her and a spirit in the palace well. To his shock, Yeo-ri confesses her growing feelings for Gangcheol. Elsewhere, Bong-in questions Prince Gwang about Yeo-ri and Yoon Gap. The prince stammers, and Bong-in immediately realises the King has warned him to keep quiet.

Bong-in is soon summoned to the King’s chambers. Earlier, the scholar Won-woo had visited and agreed to support the King’s push for slave bill reform. Knowing this reform will face fierce opposition from the aristocracy, the King decides to appoint Won-woo as the new Vice Premier. Bong-in is outwardly gracious but internally seething. His fury only grows when Gangcheol bursts into the chamber moments later, confirming that Poong San had told the truth.

Gangcheol confronts the King, furious that he told Yeo-ri about her grandmother. But Yi-sung remains calm, even amused. He points out that Yeo-ri already knew far more than Gangcheol suspected. Sensing Gangcheol’s affection for her, the King advises him with a knowing smile: when a woman cries, don’t just comfort her—listen with love.

That evening, Gangcheol finds himself thinking about the King’s words. Both he and Yeo-ri tiptoe around their feelings, unsure how to navigate the tension between them. Meanwhile, Bong-in meets with Sang-chung to plot their next move. Both men are against the King’s reforms and see Yeo-ri and Gangcheol as obstacles. They hatch a plan to trap Yoon Gap and Yeo-ri in order to stall the reform and destabilise the palace.

As this unfolds, BiBi notices an eerie detail—pig-shaped talismans appearing on every 60-year-old in the region. He reports it to Gangcheol, who brushes it off. Back in the palace, Queen Dowager, having learned of Won-woo’s promotion from Poong San, summons him. She subtly threatens him with an old book containing secrets that could ruin his reputation. Fearing for his family, Won-woo immediately resigns and prepares to leave the palace.

His daughter, In-seon, devastated by the sudden move, rushes to see Gangcheol (Yoon Gap) one last time. Unbeknownst to her, Sang-chung has kidnapped Yoon Gap’s mother to lure him out. When In-seon gets emotional with Gangcheol, Yeo-ri, watching from a distance, feels a sting of jealousy.

Soon after, Yeo-ri receives a summons from a court official, supposedly to craft glasses. She complies but quickly realises it’s a trap—men surround and kidnap her. At the same time, Gangcheol intercepts an arrow aimed at him. Attached is a note revealing Yoon Gap’s mother’s abduction. Initially, he’s indifferent, but guilt gets the better of him. Before heading out, In-seon tries to confess her feelings to Gangcheol, but he gently turns her down. He advises her to live the life her father chose and to never belittle Yeo-ri again.

Elsewhere, BiBi, sensing something’s off, comes to Yeo-ri’s rescue. He distracts her captors, urging her to run, but she soon finds herself cornered. Thankfully, the King and his guards arrive just in time to save her. Meanwhile, Gangcheol finds Yoon Gap’s mother tied up, with Sang-chung gloating that he’d once made sure Gangcheol was dead. Gangcheol, aware of her fragile condition, doesn’t reveal his true identity and jumps into battle.

However, his wind powers are gone, and the talismans sap his strength. Just when defeat seems inevitable, BiBi storms in, blasting Sang-chung with lightning and conjuring a violent whirlwind. The men flee, and Gangcheol rescues Yoon Gap’s mother.

Back home, he tends to her as Yeo-ri arrives, shaken but alive. They both quietly exchange what happened, without going into too much detail. When Gangcheol learns the King was injured saving Yeo-ri, he’s moved. He briefly leaves, returning with a medical kit to tend to Yeo-ri’s wounds.

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She grows flustered and starts yelling at him, only to break down moments later. Through her tears, Yeo-ri admits that while her grandmother’s spirit still lingers, she’s relieved to know Gangcheol wasn’t responsible for her death. Her guilt over developing feelings for him has finally lifted. Touched by her vulnerability, Gangcheol gently wipes her tears—and kisses her.

The Haunted Palace Episode 9 Review

Watching Yeo-ri piece together her grandmother’s past while navigating the emotional storm between her and Gangcheol had our hearts doing somersaults. Their late-night argument turned emotional confession? Absolutely soul-stirring. And that kiss? Swoony perfection! It’s a testament to how much healing can come from the truth—no matter how painful. Plus, King Yi-sung doling out romantic advice like a seasoned love guru? Unexpected, hilarious, and kind of adorable.

On the mystery side, the stakes are only getting spookier. Between Bong-in’s shady schemes, talismans mysteriously appearing across the province, and spirits whispering from wells, the palace is practically bursting with secrets. Yet, even amid the danger, it’s the emotional connections that shine—like BiBi reluctantly playing bodyguard (but eavesdropping on crush confessions), or Gangcheol fighting for Yeo-ri despite his fading powers. This episode was like a ghostly hug wrapped in angst, and we are absolutely obsessed.

The Haunted Palace is streaming on Viki.

Also read: All The Haunted Palace Reviews

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