For actor Kwak Dong Yun, taking part in the Netflix occult series «East Palace» (동궁) was his last job before heading off to mandatory military service. On 25 August, he is set to enlist as an active‑duty soldier.

Kwak Dong Yun met with reporters to share behind‑the‑scenes details of the production and his thoughts on the upcoming hiatus in his career.

The 29‑year‑old actor began his career as a child actor in 2012. Over the years, he has appeared in numerous films and dramas, as well as variety shows. His credits include «Modern Farmer», «Moonlight Drawn By Clouds», «Queen of Tears», «My ID Is Gangnam Beauty» and others.

«East Palace», which premiered on 17 July, is a fantasy set against a historical backdrop. The story takes place in a royal palace haunted by ghosts. The lead roles are played by Nam Joo Hyuk — returning to the screen after a two‑year break and his own military service — alongside Roh Yoon Seo and Cho Seung Woo. Nam Joo Hyuk plays Gu Cheon, a ghost hunter who can transform into a spirit himself and destroy evil ghosts with his sword. Roh Yoon Seo takes on the role of court lady Sook‑gang, who can hear the voices of the dead. Cho Seung Woo portrays a king forced to seek help from the hunter and his partner to resolve a curse plaguing the Eastern Palace, the residence of the crown prince.

Read more:
Nam Joo Hyuk, Roh Yoon Seo and Cho Seung Woo to star in drama «East Palace»
Netflix’s new Korean occult series set burns to the ground

The series is directed by Choi Jung Kyu, known for «The Devil Judge» and «Soundtrack #2», with the script co‑written by Kwon So Ra and Seo Jae Won, who previously worked on the horror titles «Bulgasal: Immortal Souls» and «The Guest».

Kwak Dong Yun appears in «East Palace» as a special guest, playing the vengeful spirit of the crown prince — a character who harbours hatred toward his father and willingly becomes an evil ghost. Although the role is a cameo, the work on the character took far longer than expected.

«It was a cameo, and there weren’t many scenes with my face visible, so I thought the shoot would be short — but it stretched out to five whole months», Kwak Dong Yun said.

He admitted that he agreed to join the project out of trust in the director and the production crew, with whom he shares warm relationships, and that over time he came to feel like a full‑fledged member of the team.

«At first, I couldn’t even imagine a project that combines historical drama with fantasy. I had a lot of concerns — I couldn’t picture how it would be visualised or what form it would take. But I have a very close relationship with the director at the production company that worked on the series, so I trusted him and was able to take part in such a good project.

From the very beginning of filming, I was asked to be careful because the very existence of this character was a spoiler. What bothered me most was that fans kept asking what I was working on, and I couldn’t tell them. Some people enjoy waiting for news, but others must have felt frustrated — and that worried me the most. Now that the series is out, I feel enormous relief».

The special makeup required for the ghost look proved particularly challenging on set. According to the actor, the application process took an average of two to three hours, sometimes up to four.

«From my neck to my face, everything was covered with rubber prosthetic pieces glued on. In summer, sweat made them peel off constantly, and facial expressions didn’t come through as well as I’d have liked. They also use something like oil to remove the makeup. My skin was quite damaged at the time, but modern medicine helped a lot. Because of the contact lenses, I could barely see. It felt like I was tied hand and foot as an actor. During the shoot, I got somewhat used to it. The action sequences were large‑scale, and I thought that if I couldn’t use my face, I should at least try to express myself well through my body», Kwak Dong Yun shared.

Read more:
Premiere date announced for drama «East Palace» starring Nam Joo Hyuk, Roh Yoon Seo and Cho Seung Woo

The most demanding scenes with full makeup and white hair came in episodes 7 and 8, where his character took part in complex wire‑work stunts. Despite all the difficulties, the actor said he was pleased with the final result.

«Since these scenes were shot near the very end, the set was quite hectic. Even though I had prepared fairly well at a martial arts school, the senior stunt team members on set displayed incredible professionalism. I’m usually very particular about safety, but because the action team paid special attention to safety in advance, I trusted everyone on set and gave myself fully to the role.

It was thrilling to see things like the ground rising and vengeful spirits being summoned through hand gestures. Working with chroma‑key was an important rite of passage — it was valuable to gain experience trying it out on set, discussing everything with the team and the VFX staff».

When asked whether he had anticipated such difficulties at the start, when he received the offer for a cameo, Kwak Dong Yun laughed and admitted:

«I couldn’t have imagined it. It was an interesting experience. It was a set where a lot of technical know‑how came together — from lighting to action scenes, wires and equipment. I think this experience will remain a valuable lesson for me as an actor that I can use in future projects».

He also noted that the other actors must have had a very tough time.

«One day, after watching edited footage from the set, I jokingly called the director a scary person. Actor Moon Woo Jin, who played the young king, shot a scene where he walks into a pond in the middle of winter. It looked like he broke through the ice to go in. The shots came out so beautiful. I joked: “Are you really dunking people into this freezing water?” But thankfully, the water wasn’t icy — I realised that when I got in myself.

Working on «East Palace», I learned a lot in terms of how I perceive a project. The image I had in my mind when reading the script was completely different from the final result. To be more precise, I realised just how much technical teams — like the camera and lighting departments — influence how a project turns out. I think that’s especially true given that this is a fantasy genre. Of course, the actors’ performances matter, but a work is created through the collective vision of every creative group».

Kwak Dong Yun had different kinds of relationships with his castmates. With Cho Seung Woo, he said, they met only once — on the day they shot a shared scene, when his character was still without the special makeup.

«That was the only day I acted with a normal face. I even kept grumbling that I was brought in as an actor but was only made to sit in the makeup chair».

He filmed the most action scenes with Nam Joo Hyuk. Kwak Dong Yun praised his co‑star’s skill, noting that he performed complex sword moves clearly and safely within the confined space of the sets.

«An incredibly cool actor. Because of the very tight shooting schedule, I couldn’t talk to him much personally, but I had a mission. The mother of a close acquaintance of mine is a huge fan of Nam Joo Hyuk, so I promised her I’d get his autograph on the last day of filming — but I just couldn’t bring myself to ask. I remember putting it off until the very last minute before I finally asked, and he gave it to me.

He was simply brilliant in the action scenes. The sword was incredibly long in the final part. We fought with that long sword even in the narrow set space, and he performed the moves required by the stunt team with precision and safety. Sometimes, when male actors fight each other, they use real force to make the scene more realistic, but he brought the action to life exactly as planned, without any danger to his partner. So I felt very comfortable».

About Roh Yoon Seo, Kwak Dong Yun spoke of her as a very diligent actress who consulted a lot with the director and showed care toward her co‑star, especially on days when he appeared on set only once a month and could have felt awkward.

Audiences have given enthusiastic reviews of Kwak Dong Yun’s performance, but he remained modest in his self‑assessment.

«I’m grateful to viewers for the praise, but honestly, I don’t think I can be completely satisfied with my acting. I’ve learned to give my all every time so I won’t regret my mistakes, but also not to raise my expectations too high. When my agency or acquaintances told me about the reactions, I thought they just wanted to encourage me. Still, I’m very grateful that «East Palace», my last project before enlistment, seems to be receiving positive feedback».

Kwak Dong Yun was also asked about the KBS2 drama «Moonlight Drawn By Clouds», in which he appeared in 2016.

«When I was filming back then, (modern) labour regulations didn’t exist, so we shot all through the night. There was a certain romance to it. Now, compared to my previous historical drama, what stands out most to me is that we could film calmly because working conditions have gradually improved».

In those days, it was common practice to shoot and edit simultaneously, effectively reviewing footage almost live. Today, the post‑production phase has become standard — there were even times when Kwak Dong Yun forgot which project he had worked on because post‑production dragged on while he was already busy with other jobs.

«I think that’s actually an advantage. Right now, I’m watching the drama’s broadcast, having already let go of the project with a light heart. I feel less lingering attachment or regret. When they used to air a fresh episode shot literally the week before, I tended to blame myself, thinking about what I should have done differently. But now, since the broadcast comes out after I’ve long finished the work, I feel that less».

Kwak Dong Yun noted that «Moonlight Drawn By Clouds» holds a special place for him.

«That was around the time I received my draft notice. Ten years have passed, so it might not matter now, but back then there was a system called “full‑time reserve service” — where you would commute to duty from home. It was a random draw, and I was selected. Just as I was about to sign up for the army, preparations began for «Moonlight Drawn By Clouds». I thought I had to do this project. So I cancelled my plans and joined the cast. I don’t regret it. It was always more important».

The actor was asked about his feelings regarding his upcoming military service. He confessed:

«It’s really hard to put into words. Having debuted at a young age and spent more than a decade focused on a single goal, the fact that I’m stepping outside the usual framework and starting a completely different life makes me feel both anxious and excited.

I might feel and learn new things, but honestly, I’m worried about having to completely dismantle the daily routine and habits I’ve built and start living differently. However, since this is an unavoidable duty of a citizen of the Republic of Korea, I think I should go and return safely».

When asked whether he had received a lot of advice or support from those around him before enlistment, he replied candidly:

«I do, but honestly, I don’t want to hear any of it. There are a lot of older guys around me, and they say things like “In my day, it was longer than yours” — but that doesn’t help at all».

Kwak Dong Yun was asked what kind of person he wants to be after his discharge.

«Actually, what worries me most is falling too far behind the times», he answered. «Even now, time flies so fast that I’ve reached a point where I truly don’t know how to keep up. When I return, I’ll be 31 or 32, so I hope I won’t have aged too much. I really can’t believe I’m already thirty».

 

Sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6