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| yna@yna.co.kr 2026-07-24 09:28:32
SEOUL, July 24 (Yonhap) -- For actress Noh Yoon-seo, Netflix's occult period drama "The East Palace" was a series of firsts.
Making her debut in both the historical and fantasy genres, Noh said the experience was unfamiliar but rewarding.
"Everything felt new and fascinating at first," she said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency at a cafe in central Seoul on Thursday. "I learned so much through this project."
Recalling her initial reaction to the script, she admitted she had doubts.
"When I first read it, I wondered, 'Can I really pull this off?' But after finishing the project, I had so much fun and came away thinking I could do even better next time."
"On set, I had to rely entirely on imagination, so reacting to ghosts that weren't actually there wasn't easy," she said. "But thanks to the director's meticulous guidance, the finished work exceeded anything I had imagined."
"The East Palace" follows Gucheon (Nam Joo-hyuk), who can see ghosts, and Princess Saenggang (Noh), who can hear them, as they investigate the curse haunting the royal palace at the king's request.
Noh's character, though a princess, fearlessly risks herself to protect Gucheon and refuses to back down in confrontations with the king and the queen dowager.
"Saenggang is an incredibly proactive character," she said. "What made her so appealing was her determination to throw herself wholeheartedly into pursuing her goals regardless of her status."
For the role, Noh performed action scenes, including archery, and even filmed underwater in deep water herself.
"It was my first time going that deep underwater, so I was scared," she said. "But I practiced breathing techniques step by step before filming. I really enjoyed learning and experiencing something new. If I weren't an actress, I probably never would have had the chance."
One of the most demanding challenges came late in the series, when her character is partially possessed by the ghost of the crown prince.
"I honestly didn't know how to approach it," she said with a laugh. "I even found myself muttering on set, 'What does half-possessed acting even look like?'"
She said a later scene, in which the fully possessed Saenggang enters the king's chambers, required her to express the conflict between Saenggang's inner self and the ghost's influence.
"I had to keep a blank expression while letting only tears well up," she said. "The director and I discussed every detail to make it work."
Noh also addressed criticism from some viewers over her delivery in a period drama and aspects of her performance.
"Like every actor, I have regrets about my own acting," she said. "Some of the points raised were things I had already noticed myself, while others weren't. Even the harsh criticism was incredibly helpful."
"I'm grateful because it means people paid close attention to the series," she added. "The criticism showed me what I need to work harder on in the future."
She credited veteran co-stars for helping her settle into the role as filming progressed.
She expressed particular gratitude to Cho Seung-woo, who played her father in the drama, for making her feel at ease on set.
"He even danced to girl group songs in front of me to help me relax," she recalled. "But when it came to acting, he carefully considered every scene, even those he wasn't in. Working with him naturally helped me become Saenggang."
She also praised Jang Young-nam, who portrayed the queen dowager.
"Watching her build her character on set was amazing," Noh said. "Acting opposite her was a truly cathartic experience."
Of co-star Nam Joo-hyuk, she said, "He has far more experience than I do, and his presence alone was reassuring. We worked together effortlessly."
"We talked a lot about the relationship between Gucheon and Saenggang," she added. "We wanted to portray a powerful bond and comradeship as they tried to protect each other, while leaving it up to viewers to decide whether it was love or friendship."
"The East Palace" ranked No. 2 globally in Netflix's non-English TV category during its first week of release.
"My contribution to the show's success is probably only 0.1 percent," Noh said modestly.
After making her acting debut in the 2022 drama "Our Blues" and quickly establishing herself as one of Korea's rising stars, she said she remains grateful for every opportunity.
"Everything still feels amazing and I'm just thankful," she said. "I want to keep rising."
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