Photo: Netflix
Why are the ghosts in The East Palace so obsessed with revenge? Did Joseon-era ghost hunters really exist? And are creatures like the won-gwi and akgwi actually part of Korean folklore?
Netflix's The East Palace (Donggung) has quickly become one of the platform's most talked-about fantasy K-dramas. Between its eerie palace corridors, cursed spirits, and supernatural battles, the series feels like a completely original dark fantasy.
But here's the surprise: many of the show's scariest moments aren't entirely fictional.
The writers borrowed heavily from Korean folklore, adapting centuries-old ghost stories, shamanic rituals, and traditional beliefs into an action-packed supernatural thriller. While The East Palace takes creative liberties, the emotional core of these legends remains surprisingly authentic.
If you've finished the drama and wondered where these terrifying creatures came from, here's the real mythology behind The East Palace.
1. Won-Gwi: Korea's Most Misunderstood Ghosts
If there's one creature that defines The East Palace, it's the won-gwi (원귀).
In the drama, these ghosts are terrifying supernatural beings capable of cursing the living and unleashing devastating violence.
Traditional Korean folklore tells a very different story.
A won-gwi isn't born evil. It is the spirit of someone who died through betrayal, murder, or another unjust fate and cannot move on because of han (한)—a uniquely Korean concept describing deep resentment, grief, and unresolved injustice.
Unlike Western ghosts that often haunt places simply to frighten people, Korean won-gwi usually want one thing:
Justice.
That subtle difference changes everything.
2. The Legend of Arang: Korea's Original Ghost Detective Story
Perhaps the best-known example of a won-gwi is Arang, whose legend has been retold for generations.
According to the story, Arang was the daughter of a magistrate in Miryang who was murdered after resisting an assault. Unable to reveal her killer while alive, her ghost appeared before every newly appointed magistrate.
Most fled in terror.
One man stayed.
Instead of drawing a weapon, he listened to her story, investigated the crime, punished the murderer, and gave Arang a proper burial. Only then did her spirit finally disappear.
This idea—that ghosts remain because justice has not yet been served—is one of the defining themes of Korean folklore.
It's also a theme that echoes throughout The East Palace.
3. The Virgin Ghost You Have Definitely Seen Before
Even if you've never studied Korean folklore, you've almost certainly seen the Cheonyeo Gwishin (처녀귀신).
Long black hair.
White funeral robes.
A pale face emerging from the darkness.
Sound familiar?
This iconic ghost has appeared in countless Korean horror films and dramas. But unlike many horror villains, the Cheonyeo Gwishin isn't inherently evil. She represents young women who died before achieving the milestones expected in traditional society, leaving their dreams forever unfinished.
The image has become so recognizable that it is now considered Korea's equivalent of Japan's Sadako or Western ghost brides.
Once you recognize her, you'll begin spotting her influence across dozens of K-dramas.
4. Why Water Ghosts Were Once Every Child's Worst Nightmare
One of Korea's oldest supernatural legends involves the Mul-gwishin (물귀신), or Water Ghost.
According to folklore, anyone who drowned in a river, lake, or well remained trapped beneath the water.
Alone.
Forgotten.
Unable to move on.
Desperate for escape, these spirits lured unsuspecting victims into the water so someone else would take their place.
The legend became so deeply rooted in Korean culture that it inspired the expression "mul-gwishin jakjeon" ("water ghost tactic"), describing someone who drags others down with them out of desperation or resentment.
The akgwi in The East Palace captures a similar idea: grief left unresolved can transform into something terrifying.
5. The Biggest Myth Netflix Changed
One of the coolest characters in The East Palace is Gu-cheon, the sword-wielding ghost hunter.
Historically?
Someone like him probably never existed.
During the Joseon Dynasty, people turned to mudang (Korean shamans) whenever they believed a restless spirit was causing illness, bad luck, or misfortune.
Rather than destroying ghosts, a mudang performed a ritual known as gut (굿).
Using rhythmic drumming, singing, dancing, and offerings of food, the mudang acted as a mediator between the living and the dead.
The objective wasn't victory.
It was reconciliation.
Instead of asking, "How do we kill this ghost?"
Traditional Korean folklore asked, "Why can't this soul find peace?"
That single difference may be the biggest contrast between The East Palace and the real legends that inspired it.
Why Korean Ghost Stories Feel Different
One reason Korean supernatural dramas resonate with audiences around the world is that their ghosts rarely exist simply to scare people.
In Korean folklore, monsters are often victims first.
Behind every curse is betrayal.
Behind every haunting is injustice.
Behind every ghost is han.
That emotional depth gives Korean horror a distinctly human quality—and it's exactly what The East Palace captures so well.
The East Palace vs. Korean Folklore
Final Thoughts
While The East Palace reimagines Korean mythology as a stylish supernatural thriller, it never loses sight of what makes these legends endure. The most frightening ghosts are not monsters born evil—they are ordinary people transformed by betrayal, grief, and injustice.
That's what makes the series more than just another fantasy K-drama. Every haunted hallway, cursed spirit, and exorcism carries echoes of stories Koreans have told for centuries.
The next time a ghost appears in The East Palace, don't just wonder how it became dangerous.
Ask what happened to it first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The East Palace based on Korean folklore?
Yes. While the story is fictional, many of its ghosts, supernatural concepts, and shamanic rituals are inspired by traditional Korean folklore and Korean shamanism.
What is a won-gwi?
A won-gwi (원귀) is a spirit that cannot rest because of an unjust or tragic death. In Korean folklore, these ghosts usually seek justice rather than random revenge.
What is an akgwi?
An akgwi (악귀) is an evil spirit associated with hatred, curses, and destructive supernatural energy. The drama expands this concept into a more powerful fantasy creature.
Did ghost hunters exist during the Joseon Dynasty?
Not in the way they're portrayed in The East Palace. Historically, Koreans relied on mudang (shamans) who performed gut rituals to communicate with and calm restless spirits instead of fighting them.
