Netflix has long been the leader in streaming and hasn’t faced serious competition, even after popular shows end. A good example of this was the finale of Stranger Things at the start of 2026. Netflix continued to do well, largely because it offers a wide variety of genres. However, nothing quite captured the same audience as Stranger Things, which makes it surprising that The East Palace – a Korean historical fantasy drama – has become so popular on the platform.
Netflix’s new K-drama, The East Palace, is a unique mix of action, horror, and Korean mythology with a touch of the occult. While it seems very different from the 1980s-inspired Stranger Things, the two shows actually share some surprising similarities. Both feature a secret world that exists alongside our own: Stranger Things has the mysterious Upside Down, and The East Palace has the Realm of Gwi, which is filled with dangerous spirits. This connection makes The East Palace a great watch – especially for fans of Stranger Things – and its eight episodes are easy to binge.
Netflix’s New Dark Fantasy Features Its Own Spin On Stranger Things’ Upside Down
The K-drama The East Palace successfully creates a mysterious atmosphere while delivering the familiar palace power struggles seen in many shows set during Korea’s Joseon Dynasty. The series is particularly focused on spirituality, mainly through its main character, Gu-cheon, who can eliminate ghosts. After nearly dying as a child, he discovered a way to enter the Realm of Gwi – a frightening parallel world with an orange tint. This alternate reality shares similarities with the Upside Down from Stranger Things, though it’s less dominated by brown tones. It’s filled with dangerous spirits drawn from Korean folklore, constantly threatening those living in the palace.
As a huge fan of shows like Stranger Things, I immediately noticed some cool parallels in The East Palace. Just like those Demogorgons and Mind Flayers were inspired by Dungeons & Dragons monsters, this series has its own spirits called ‘gwi’ that haunt the Realm of Gwi. What’s neat is they’re categorized by how resentful they are – you’ve got your harmless common-gwi, then progressively more dangerous won-gwi, and finally the truly terrifying ak-gwi – basically, the really evil ones. They even have a collective name, ‘gwi-shin’! And it gets even weirder – there are some spirits, called gwi-mae, that aren’t even tied to humans, just pure negative energy. There’s one, the Ggeomeoksali, that’s honestly super cute and could be a total mascot character. It’s a really imaginative system, and I’m excited to see how it plays out.
Similar to how characters enter the alternate dimension in Stranger Things, Gu-cheon attempts to recreate the experience of his own drowning. He does this by tying a rope around his neck and diving into the palace pond, hoping to uncover the source of the haunting. While Gu-cheon battles the spirits, Saeng-gang follows his progress in the real world, noticing signs like falling peach blossoms as he defeats each gwi-shin. The series powerfully portrays this intense struggle, often showing Gu-cheon in a bleak and isolated environment, especially during early attempts on the King’s life.
The East Palace Packs Plenty Of Lore Into Just 8 Episodes
Beyond its unsettling visual effects, the film The East Palace effectively weaves together its story of a dangerous parallel world with the intrigue within the palace walls. Gu-cheon and his companion, Saeng-gang, investigate why the palace residents are being haunted by vengeful spirits. However, the root cause of these hauntings – whether it’s the spirits of court ladies tragically killed and quickly concealed, or the broader wave of vengeful entities – stems from the unfair treatment and injustices carried out by those in power.
Gu-cheon faces a variety of supernatural challenges, battling dangerous spirits with special peach wood branches. These conflicts lead to exciting fights against everything from palace guards to terrifying monsters created by pure evil. The source of these problems is often human interference with the spirit world, similar to how the events in Stranger Things were sparked by the actions of Hawkins Lab and government agencies. This series is a highly original dark fantasy, drawing inspiration from folklore like The Witcher, but it tells a completely new story instead of adapting existing myths.
This series makes for a captivating weekend watch and stands out as one of the best K-dramas released in July, leaving a lasting impression even after the final episode. Despite its success on Netflix, another season seems doubtful. The world of the series still holds intriguing secrets and Gu-cheon’s connection to the spirits could fuel future storylines. However, if you’re a fan of shows like Stranger Things and enjoy rich storytelling, stunning visuals, exciting action, and compelling drama, The East Palace on Netflix is a great choice.
2026-07-24 04:38