Actress Gong Hyo Jin has shared her heartfelt thoughts as Ask the Stars comes to an end.

In tvN’s weekend drama Ask the Stars (written by Seo Sook Hyang, directed by Park Shin Woo), Gong Hyo Jin took on the role of Eve Kim, a determined space commander leading a mission beyond Earth. Her powerful performance as a strong leader with a deeply emotional side left a lasting impression.

On February 21, through her agency Management SOOP, Gong Hyo Jin reflected on the journey, saying, "From the moment I received the script, I was excited about playing a female commander in a leadership role."

However, she admitted the project pushed her to her limits. "Out of all the projects I’ve worked on, this was the most difficult and the longest. It was my first time filming a fully pre-produced drama, so the emotions I felt on set were new and unfamiliar. But in many ways, it turned out to be an unforgettable experience."

Despite the drama’s struggles, she took pride in the finished product. "Just the fact that this drama made it to the screen after such a long filming process and post-production work makes me feel like I’ve accomplished everything I wanted. Watching every scene after post-production made me appreciate the efforts of the entire staff, and I’m truly grateful. Now that only two episodes remain, the thought of saying goodbye makes this winter feel especially cold."

She also expressed her hopes for viewers, saying, "As an actress, I was drawn to the charm of a fresh and unique story, and I hope viewers enjoyed following along with this new kind of plot. I also hope they were able to fully experience the diversity of Korean drama genres. To everyone who embraced the unfamiliar yet honest storytelling of Ask the Stars, I sincerely thank you."

Despite boasting a 500 billion KRW production budget and a star-studded cast including Lee Min Ho (as Gong Ryong) and Oh Jung Se (as Kang Kang Soo), Ask the Stars struggled with shockingly low ratings, staying in the 1% range throughout its run.

The final episode, Episode 16, will air on February 23 at 9:20 PM KST. Will the drama leave a lasting impact despite its underwhelming numbers? Fans will have to wait and see.

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SBS's new fantasy historical drama The Haunted Palace is already making waves both in South Korea and around the world.

Starring Yook Sung Jae and Bona, the show exploded in popularity during its very first week — topping Netflix charts in multiple countries and hitting double-digit TV ratings straight out of the gate.

On Korean television, The Haunted Palace shocked viewers with a strong start. Episode 1 pulled in a peak nationwide rating of 10.7%, instantly breaking the double-digit barrier.

The Seoul area rating and the national average were both 9.2%, making it the highest-rated premiere of any SBS drama in 2025 so far.

It also beat out other SBS dramas like Love Scout and Buried Hearts, and even took the #1 spot among all mini-series aired that week, showing that this drama isn’t just trending — it’s leading the pack. (According to Nielsen Korea)

And the success didn’t stop on TV.

As soon as The Haunted Palace dropped on Netflix, it jumped straight to #1 on “Today’s Top 10 TV Shows in South Korea”, proving its massive popularity on streaming platforms.

Globally, it also ranked #1 in the TV series category in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, showing that international fans are just as hooked.
(According to FlixPatrol, April 21)

The drama is also doing incredibly well on South Korea’s own streaming trend charts. On KinoLights — a platform that tracks trends across all streaming services — The Haunted Palace ranked #1 overall, beating both films and dramas. (As of April 19)

Fans are loving the unique story, which mixes fantasy, comedy, and creepy mystery. The drama follows Yeori, a shaman who denies her fate, and Kang Cheol I, a mythical Imoogi spirit trapped inside her first love’s body. Together, they face off against a terrifying ghost called Palcheok Gui — who has a dark grudge against the royal family.

Episode 2 added even more excitement, with Kang Cheol I hilariously struggling to live like a normal human after 1,000 years.

At the same time, Yeori starts hearing the voice of Yoon Gap’s spirit and tries to save him. By the end of the episode, it’s revealed that Prince Wonja (played by Park Jae Joon) is going mad due to Palcheok Gui — and that the ghost has already consumed Yoon Gap’s soul. The showdown between Kang Cheol I, Yeori, and the evil spirit is just getting started.

With high ratings and top OTT rankings, The Haunted Palace is quickly becoming one of the biggest drama hits of the year.

Episode 3 of The Haunted Palace airs on Friday, April 25 at 9:50 PM KST on SBS.

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