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Actor behind towering ghost in ‘The Haunted Palace’ revealed: no CGI, full-body costume weighs 30kg

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By Xportsnews
  • Published KST
Seo Do-young / Captured from Seo's social media, Xportsnews

Seo Do-young / Captured from Seo's social media, Xportsnews

Seo Do-young has been revealed as the actor playing the eight-foot-tall ghost in the SBS drama “The Haunted Palace.”

In the Friday episode of the show, the identity of the terrifying “final boss” ghost was finally unveiled. The character, an eight-foot-tall ghost, is Cheon Geum-hwi, a royal guard from 100 years ago who became a vengeful spirit after the king sacrificed his people to escape the enemy.

Seo Do-young, a model-turned-actor with 20 years of acting experience, shocked viewers with his transformation into the towering ghost. Known for his classic “first love” visuals and solid acting skills, Seo stands at 186 centimeters tall and has maintained a steady fan base throughout his career.

Seo Do-young / Captured from Seo's social media, SBS

Seo Do-young / Captured from Seo's social media, SBS

Seo surprised fans further by hosting a livestream on Instagram immediately after the episode aired. Appearing in the ghost’s full mask, he greeted viewers, saying, “I’m not sure if it’s okay to greet you like this in the middle of the night.”

Seo then shared behind-the-scenes details about his transformation into the ghost. He revealed that the eight-foot height was achieved through a full-body costume, not CGI, which required the help of four special effects makeup artists working for three hours per shoot. The armor alone weighed nearly 30 kilograms.

“It was tough to even sit and rest — breathing was hard,” Seo said. “Even in minus 18 degrees Celsius, I would sweat like crazy.”

Seo also disclosed that he provided multiple dubbed voices for the ghost character, adding to its chilling effect. “People were so scared when I transformed into the ghost that they didn’t recognize me,” he said with a laugh.

Seo’s live stream attracted fans from around the world, including Japan and Sri Lanka, who praised his commitment to the role. “Cheon Geum-hwi (the ghost) has a big story left to tell, so I hope you stay tuned. We’ll be sharing more details about the ghost’s story through various channels," Seo said.

“The Haunted Palace” airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:55 p.m.

This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.