Nam Joo Hyuk hunts palace ghosts in Netflix's Good Bye My Princess

Ghost Hunter and Palace Maid Team Up in Netflix's 'Donggung' Releasing in July

The Netflix series 'Donggung' is set to be released worldwide on July 17, 2026. It is a fantasy period drama that uncovers a curse targeting royal blood amidst a tragedy where crown princes die one after another.

The work depicts the collaboration between Gu-cheon (played by Nam Joo-hyuk), a ghost hunter deployed to resolve the royal curse, and Saeng-gang (played by Roh Yoon-seo), an inspector palace maid who can hear the sounds of ghosts. Following the King's command, Gu-cheon enters the palace in top secret and approaches the massive secret dwelling within the East Palace (Donggung) alongside Saeng-gang. The series deals with supernatural beings such as Gwi-mae and Won-gwi from traditional Korean folklore, realizing a unique worldview through VFX, music, and costumes.

Cho Seung-woo's First OTT Challenge and Nam Joo-hyuk's Return After 3 Years

The cast is equally impressive. Actor Cho Seung-woo announced his first appearance in an OTT series by taking on the role of a King with a complex inner nature. Nam Joo-hyuk returns to dramas after three years following the 2023 Disney+ series 'Vigilante,' playing Gu-cheon, who showcases intense action.

Roh Yoon-seo transforms into Saeng-gang, who hears the sounds of ghosts, while Kwak Dong-yeon, Jang Young-nam, Tae In-ho, Hwang Young-hee, Hong Seo Joon, and Lee Hong-nae join to add weight to the drama. The series is directed by Choi Jeong-gyu, who directed 'The Devil Judge' and 'Children of Nobody,' and the script was written by writers Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won, who wrote 'The Guest' and 'Bulgasal: Immortal.'

The King's Command and a Struggle for Survival

A pre-release video released by Netflix Korea captures the tense tension between the characters. In the video, the King (played by Cho Seung-woo) sets a condition for Gu-cheon (played by Nam Joo-hyuk), who is looking for a chance to escape: he can only leave the palace alive if he eliminates the ghosts. The King's restrained voice clashing with Gu-cheon's unyielding attitude increases the immersion of the drama.

Meanwhile, the Netflix lineup for the third week of July includes the film '23,000 Lives,' based on the true story of the German NGO Jugend Rettet. The work tells the story of those who purchased a fishing boat to rescue refugees in the Mediterranean and stars Louis Hofmann.