Nam Joo-hyuk is finally back after his military service with the new Netflix drama, <동궁(The East Palace)>! Have you guys watched it yet?
His action scenes in this Nam Joo-hyuk new drama are insane. We’ve seen plenty of historical dramas about fighting evil spirits, but a plot where an exorcist literally goes upside down into the boundary between life and death? That was a first for me. It was so binge-worthy that I finished the whole thing in just one day. 🍿
Since it’s a dark fantasy occult drama, even as a Korean, I stumbled upon some pretty rare and outdated words. If it was tricky for me, I’m sure it’s even harder for international fans! So, I gathered all the key vocabulary and cultural background you might be curious about. There might be some tiny spoilers ahead, but knowing these beforehand will actually help you understand the plot much better.
If you’re curious about more information, check out the Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture. It supports multiple languages, so you’ll be able to find and explore a lot more terms there!
Hold on tight, because we’re crossing over into the Upside Down! 🕯️🚪
1. Donggung (동궁) : The East Palace meaning
Donggung literally translates to “East Palace,” which is exactly why the show’s official English title is The East Palace.
In the Joseon Dynasty, it was the official residence of the Crown Prince and his wife.
Over time, the phrase “the person living in the East Palace” became a direct nickname for the Crown Prince himself.
Because the sun rises in the east, the location symbolized the “rising sun”—the future king and the growth of the kingdom.
2. Kkeomeoksali (꺼먹살이) : The East Palace black baby monster
This is that cute (?) little creature stealing the scenes in The East Palace!
It’s actually based on a Korean urban legend. According to folklore, Kkeomeoksali is pitch-black and about the size of a 3-year-old toddler.
It usually pops out of nowhere around dark mountain corners and runs around like crazy. The weirdest part? As it runs, it continuously chants its own name: “I am Kkeomeoksali, Kkeomeoksali, Kkeomeoksali…” and it will follow you forever even if you run away.
But if you don’t show fear and act confident, it gets weak and backs off.
It reminds me of a dark version of Derpy, the tiger character from K-Pop Demon Hunters. 🐯🖤
3. Gungnyeo (궁녀) : Joseon court lady job
The female lead, Saeng-gang, is actually a princess (Ongju), but she hides her identity by dressing up as a Gungnyeo. If you think a Gungnyeo is just a simple “palace maid” or “court lady,” you’re missing out!
Here are 3 real facts about them:
- Official Government Workers: They weren’t just hired help. They were official government employees paid by the state in rice and fabric. The highest-ranking court ladies (Sanggung) held a high 5th rank, giving them as much political power as many male government officials.
- Royal Technical Specialists: They entered the palace at a very young age and were split into highly specialized departments. Sewing (Chimbang), embroidery (Subang), cooking (Sojubang), laundry (Sedapbang), and the King’s secretarial office (Jimil)—they were the top experts in their fields.
- The King’s Women: But there was a heavy catch. By law, they were considered “the King’s women.” This meant they had to stay single for life, and in most cases, they could never step foot outside the palace walls until the day they died.
💡 Inside Scoop: In K-Drama, the Gungnyeo is definitely not just a passive servant. Since court ladies knew every single corner of the palace and all its dirty secrets, she holds a very strategic and dangerous position in this dark fantasy horror.
4. Gucheon (구천) : Maybe… Gucheon means?
The male lead’s name is Gucheon. In Korea, there is a common saying, “wandering around Gucheon,” which refers to a bitter soul that can’t move on to the afterlife and wanders the living world.
“Gucheon (九泉)” originally means “nine deep wells,” but in traditional shamanism and Buddhism, it represents the nine layers of the underworld. The number ‘9’ doesn’t just mean a count of nine; it symbolizes “the absolute deepest end of the underground where you can go no further.” It’s an ambiguous boundary—not quite heaven, not quite hell.
It fits Gucheon’s miserable, drifting situation perfectly. 😭
5. Yang-gi (양기) vs Yin-gi (음기)
In the drama, you’ll hear characters say that Gucheon keeps getting his “Yang-gi” stolen. What does Yang-gi mean?
- Yang-gi (양기): This is the warm, active, and bright energy tied to the sun, life, and vitality. Someone with strong Yang-gi is usually energetic and full of positive vibes. ☀️
- Yin-gi (음기): This is the cool, passive, and dark energy tied to the moon, night, and stillness. In scary or superstitious contexts, a place with heavy Yin-gi feels chilly, eerie, or haunted. 🌙
💡 Inside Scoop: Traditionally, men represented Yang (warm, outward energy like the sun) and women represented Yin (cool, inward energy like the moon). It doesn’t mean one is better than the other; they are cosmic properties that cannot exist without each other.
(Though looking at it through a modern lens, we might think… really? 🤷♀️)
6. Wongwi (원귀) : The East Palace pond ghost
A Wongwi is a ghost that died an unfair death, holds a deep Han (恨), and wanders the living world instead of moving on to the afterlife. The pond ghost in The East Palace and the court ladies who died terribly in the salt room are classic examples of Wongwi.
- How they happen: They are created through unnatural or unjust deaths—like dying at a very young age (Yojeol), dying alone far from home (Gaeksa), or sudden accidental deaths (Hwangsa).
- Their arc usually follows this pattern : Ham-won (harboring a grudge) ➡️ Ang-hwa (causing disasters or harming the living) ➡️ Hae-won (resolving the grudge).
- Hae-won (해원): In Korean shamanism, resolving this grudge so the ghost can cross over peacefully is incredibly important. People perform rituals like Ssitgimgut (cleansing rituals) or offer food to calm the spirit.
7. Han (한) : Then.. What does Han mean?
The word Han (恨) is a very specific Korean emotion that is tough to translate 1:1 into English. It’s a complex mix of deep unfairness, sorrow, and unavenged grief.
- If it’s closer to a simple grudge, you can translate it as holding a grudge or harboring resentment.
- To capture the sad, deep Korean context, phrases like harboring a deep sorrow or carrying deep resentment feel much more natural.
But Han isn’t just about feeling helpless—it often transforms into a powerful, explosive energy used to overcome hardships or get revenge. The ghosts and characters in this drama are entirely driven by this emotion.
8. Tugi (투기) : Tugi vs Jiltu (jealousy)
In the show, Saeng-gang asks the Queen Dowager about Tugi. It basically means jealousy, but it’s an old, classic word that people don’t really use in daily life anymore.
🫠 Fun fact: If you break down the word “Tu” in Jil-tu or Tu-gi, it carries a literal meaning that when a woman gets jealous, “she is scary enough to throw rocks (石).” It’s a bit ridiculous and obviously comes from old historical biases, right? 🙄
9. Aekmagi (액막이) : That specific thing Nam Joo-hyuk gave to protect Roh Yoon-seo!
This is a combination of Aek (pain, disaster, bad luck) + Magi (blocking). It refers to shamanic rituals or objects used to block misfortune, illness, or bad luck before they hit your home or family.
- Aekmagi Dried Pollack (명태): A traditional item hung over front doors to scare away bad vibes and bring in good luck. The trick is to hang it with the tail pointing outward so the bad energy leaves the house. (To be honest, I have one hanging by my front door too! 🐟)
- Red Bean Porridge (팥죽): Eaten on the winter solstice or splashed on doorways because evil spirits hate the color red.
- Amulets (부적) & Scarecrows: People carried paper talismans, or in the old days, made scarecrows to absorb a person’s bad luck and threw them away.
👍 Tip: Nowadays, “Aekmagi doll” comes in super cute home decor styles or mini thread doll designs, making them popular housewarming gifts!
➕ Bonus Behind-the-Scenes: Is that massive hair on the Queen Dowager real?
The answer is NO! ❌
That giant fake hair piece is called a Gache (가체).
It’s a wig/extension used by Joseon Dynasty women to make their hair look incredibly thick and voluminous.
It was a massive status symbol—the bigger and more glamorous it was, the higher your rank. It became a huge trend among noblewomen and Kisaengs (entertainers), with some wigs weighing up to 3 to 4 kg (6 to 8 lbs). It’s basically a recipe for a neck herniated disc! The obsession with beauty back then was no joke. 😱
If The East Palace got you curious about K-shamanism, fortune-telling, or occult culture, keep an eye out for my post the day after tomorrow. I’ll break down K-shamanism, Saju (Korean fortune-telling), and even list the trendiest spots where you can experience them directly in Seoul!
🗓️ The tour guide link opening on July 19th is 👉 [RIGHT HERE!]
Go watch The East Palace, don’t get nightmares, and sleep tight!
Catch you in the next Seoulbits! 😈🫨