The Haunted Palace Ep 15 Recap: King Possessed by Ghost

The chaos deepens in The Haunted Palace Ep 15 recap, as the episode opens with the arrest of Assassin Jung, now possessed. Even as he is captured, the towering 8-foot ghost cackles with menace while devouring the Queen’s unborn child. The group, baffled by this dark turn, investigates and soon uncovers that the ghostbane stones have been mysteriously deactivated. Their worst fears are confirmed when Eunuch Song confesses to betraying the palace, revealing that his family is being held hostage by Pung-san. Despite his tears, Song is arrested, and Head Eunuch Kim is left devastated by his old friend’s betrayal.

In the royal chambers, the Queen consoles both the King and the Crown Prince in her final moments before passing away. The court mourns her death, and Yeo-ri is especially overwhelmed by guilt, feeling responsible. She comes to a grim conclusion: to stop the ghost, she must summon the fire reaper—fully aware it could cost her life.

Gangcheori Notices a Change; The King Descends Into Darkness

Elsewhere in The Haunted Palace Ep 15 recap, Minister Ahn inadvertently reveals his and Pung-san’s schemes to Royal Guard Seo, who wastes no time arresting them. Even under torture, Pung-san only smiles. The King, pushed to the edge, orders his execution. Despite this, the shaman merely mocks Gangcheori and the Queen Mother when they confront him. Though the palace seems back in order, the King spirals into depression.

At the Yoon household, tension lingers, but Gangcheori notices that Mrs. Yoon is wearing the hairpin he once gave her. She apologizes for taking so long to accept him, and he warmly reassures her, acknowledging that she’s a good mother.

Meanwhile, Yeo-ri discovers a tin of caragana flower tea and asks Ga-seop about it. To her dismay, she learns it’s intended to help Gangcheori use his pearl in the battle against the ghost. She quietly observes as Gangcheori offers support to the Crown Prince, highlighting his gentle strength.

A Nightmare Reveals the Ghost’s Origins

The King suffers a terrifying nightmare, haunted by the ghost. When he claims he is ready to atone for his ancestors’ sins, the ghost shows him a memory from the past. In the flashback, Cheon breaks free from his binds and tries to stop the invading barbarians, but the effort is in vain—almost everyone is killed. His infant son, who once saw Gangcheori ascend, survives just long enough for Cheon to protect him before both are struck down by burning arrows. As he sees the King’s decoy, Cheon curses the royal family and vows revenge.

Now, the ghost declares that King Lee Sung sits on a throne built on the blood of innocents. He promises he won’t stop until the royal bloodline is wiped out—and will make the King witness it all.

Yeo-ri and Gangcheori Go on the Run

Trying to lift Yeo-ri’s spirits, Gangcheori takes her on a cheerful city date. They bicker playfully and pause to wish upon the stars, but their brief joy is shattered when they witness the halted execution of Pung-san. Instead of dying, Pung-san receives a royal pardon—shockingly accompanied by a new arrest warrant for Gangcheori and Yeo-ri.

Royal Guard Seo helps the fugitives escape and hide. They soon piece together a horrifying truth: the King is now possessed by the ghost. Oblivious to this, the Queen Mother confronts the King, who now wears a sinister smirk. Though she is not of the cursed bloodline, he threatens her life before expelling everyone from his court. His new advisors are none other than Pung-san, Eunuch Song, and Assassin Jung. Combined with his decaying aura, the Queen Mother finally realizes the ghost has taken over.

Yeo-ri and Gangcheori seek refuge at Choi Won-u’s home, but the ex-minister is skeptical. His niece In-seon, however, believes them and lets them stay. Seo returns to the palace and urgently warns the Queen Mother that the Crown Prince is next in line to be killed. She manages to help the Prince escape just before the possessed King can reach him. However, Assassin Jung tails the Prince and reports back to the palace.

The Final Clash Begins

Eventually, the Prince arrives at Choi Won-u’s home with the Queen Mother’s pin as proof. With In-seon’s testimony, Choi is finally convinced of the possession. As the ghost-led King and his forces arrive, Choi acts as a diversion, buying time for the others to flee. The ghost recognizes Choi as a descendant of Choi Gil-song and threatens to kill him unless he surrenders.

The soldiers catch up to the fugitives and engage in combat. Seo fights to protect the Prince while Yeo-ri escapes with him. The episode reaches its explosive climax as Gangcheori arrives to confront the possessed King, setting the stage for a supernatural showdown. For more on The Haunted Palace, check out the link below.

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