The East Palace Ending Explained: Gu-cheon Becomes a Ghost Slayer — Is Season 1 Just the Beginning?

Spoiler Alert: This article contains major spoilers for the ending of Netflix’s The East Palace.

Netflix’s The East Palace may have finished its first season, but the ending strongly suggests that Gu-cheon’s real journey as a ghost slayer has only just begun. After the final battle, he doesn’t simply return to his old life. Instead, Gu-cheon appears to step fully into the supernatural world, while Saeng-gang’s ability to hear the dead and Ggeomeoksali’s mysterious connection to him complete what looks like the beginning of a powerful ghost-hunting team.

And honestly? After watching that finale, my biggest question isn’t “What happened to the curse?” It’s “Where will Gu-cheon and his team go next?”

What Happened at the End of The East Palace?

The finale finally brings the East Palace’s long-running supernatural mystery to a head. What initially appears to be a single curse haunting the royal family turns out to be connected to layers of betrayal, resentment, death and hidden secrets.

Gu-cheon enters the dangerous world of ghosts once again to face the final threat. But this time, he isn’t the same man we met at the beginning of the series.

Throughout Season 1, Gu-cheon is shown as someone who can cross the boundary between the living world and the ghost world. He can see spirits, fight them and enter places that ordinary humans can’t even perceive. however, the finale takes his powers and his destiny to another level.

After the final fight, Gu-cheon appears to have completely embraced the life of a ghost slayer. that is the most important thing about the ending. The East Palace doesn’t feel like a story that has completely ended. it feels like the origin story of a supernatural warrior.

The Mysterious Iron Chain: What Is Gu-cheon’s Connection to the Palace?

One of the biggest unanswered mysteries in The East Palace ending is the iron chain stretching from the palace and connecting to Gu-cheon. This doesn’t look like a random visual detail. The chain appears to create a mysterious connection between Gu-cheon and the palace, suggesting that the supernatural events inside the palace may be linked to Gu-cheon’s own powers and his connection to the ghost world.

Gu-cheon can see ghosts and interact with the supernatural world in a way ordinary people can’t. By the end of the story, he has also become a proper ghost slayer. So, the iron chain could represent something much bigger than a simple conection.

My theory is that the chain may be a supernatural link between Gu-cheon and Ghost World Mystery Power.

It could be connected to an ancient curse, a sealed supernatural force or even the hidden origin of Gu-cheon’s connection with the ghost world. The ending deliberately leaves this mystery open, And honestly, this is why I feel Season 1 may have been just the beginning of Gu-cheon’s actual journey. The palace mystery may have been the first major case, while the iron chain could be hinting at a much bigger supernatural world waiting to be explored.

Also Read: 10 Best Dark Fantasy Historical K-Drama Like The East Palace

Gu-cheon Is Now More Than Just a Man Who Can See Ghosts

At the start of the drama, Actor Nam Joo-hyuk as a Gu-cheon’s ability to enter the ghost world feels more like a curse than a superpower. he doesn’t exactly want to become a hero. he isn’t looking for a team. and he certainly doesn’t seem interested in spending his life solving supernatural mysteries.

But the events of Season 1 slowly force him into a completely different role. by the end, Gu-cheon has fought powerful spirits, entered the Realm of Gwi and faced threats that are far beyond the normal human world. his final transformation is important because he is no longer simply reacting to supernatural events.

He is now someone who can actively enter the world of ghosts and fight them. that final image of Gu-cheon with his ghost-slaying weapon and the supernatural world still connected to him feels like a clear signal. The story has created its main ghost hunter. and the next season could take him far beyond the palace.

Ggeomeoksali Could Become One of the Most Important Characters

At first glance, Ggeomeoksali looks like a strange and slightly creepy cute little creature. But by the end of the season, it becomes clear that this mysterious dark creature is far more important than a simple comic-relief character.

Ggeomeoksali helps Gu-cheon during extremely dangerous situations. that matters. when Gu-cheon is in serious trouble, Ggeomeoksali isn’t just standing somewhere in the background. its connection with him becomes an important part of the supernatural story. The creature’s existence also raises a much bigger question:

What exactly is Ggeomeoksali?

Ggeomeoksali isn’t a normal ghost or a random monster. In The East Palace, it’s a supernatural Gwi-mae connected to Gu-cheon.

The creature consumes Gu-cheon’s yang energy, but it also helps him during dangerous situations. Over time, Ggeomeoksali becomes something much more interesting than a creepy supernatural creature—it becomes Gu-cheon’s strange but surprisingly reliable companion.

Its concept is inspired by Korean folklore surrounding a small, pitch-black supernatural creature, but The East Palace gives Ggeomeoksali its own unique mythology within the show’s world. and that’s what makes Ggeomeoksali so interesting. Gu-cheon can fight ghosts. Saeng-gang can hear them. And Ggeomeoksali can help Gu-cheon when things get seriously dangerous.

Saeng-gang’s Ability Could Change the Entire Story

Saeng-gang is another major reason why the ending feels like the beginning of a much bigger story. She can hear the voices of the dead. That ability may sound simple at first, but think about what it means.

A ghost slayer can fight spirits. but someone who can hear them can potentially understand them. that gives Saeng-gang a completely different role in the team. Gu-cheon can enter the ghost world and fight dangerous spirits. Saeng-gang can hear the dead and potentially discover what happened to them. Together, their abilities are almost perfectly matched. One can fight. The other can listen.

Gu-cheon, Saeng-gang and Ggeomeoksali: A New Ghost-Slaying Team?

This is where the ending becomes really exciting. by the final episode, the series has accidentally—or perhaps deliberately—created the perfect supernatural team.

Gu-cheon

• Can connect with the ghost world
• Can see supernatural beings
• Can enter dangerous spiritual realms
• Can fight ghosts with his weapon
• Has now become a more experienced ghost slayer

Saeng-gang

• Can hear the voices of the dead
• Has a unique connection with ghosts
• Can understand supernatural messages
• Can uncover hidden truths that others can’t

Ggeomeoksali

• Helps Gu-cheon during dangerous situations
• Has mysterious supernatural abilities
• Appears to be connected to Gu-cheon
• Could possess abilities that haven’t been fully revealed yet

Put all three together and you have a team that could easily travel from one haunted location to another And that’s exactly why I don’t think The East Palace should be viewed as just a palace curse story.

The Ending Feels Like a Supernatural Adventure Has Been Unlocked

Season 1 mainly takes place around the royal palace and its supernatural secrets. but the finale opens the door to something much bigger. imagine Gu-cheon and Saeng-gang travelling to a remote village where people disappear every night. Or an abandoned temple where nobody is allowed to enter after sunset. Or a haunted house where the ghost isn’t attacking people randomly but is trying to reveal a hidden crime. Or a mysterious forest where every person who enters hears the voice of someone they lost years ago.

This is the kind of story that The East Palace could easily explore in a second season, the show already has the perfect foundation. Every new location could introduce:

• A completely different type of ghost
• A new supernatural rule
• A new mystery
• A tragic backstory
• A new connection to Gu-cheon’s past
• A dangerous spiritual enemy

That would give the series a much bigger world beyond the East Palace.

Is The East Palace Season 2 Possible?

Netflix has officially presented The East Palace as a limited series, so there is currently no confirmed Season 2 announcement. But the ending has certainly left enough room for the story to continue.

The final setup is especially interesting because the characters now have the perfect structure for a new supernatural adventure.

My Personal Take: I Think Season 1 Was Just the Introduction

Personally, after watching the ending of The East Palace, I feel like the real story may have only just begun.

For me, Season 1 felt like an introduction to Gu-cheon, Saeng-gang and the supernatural world around them. The East Palace curse was the central mystery, but the ending made me feel that the palace itself was only the first major case. Gu-cheon has now become a proper ghost slayer.

He has the ability to connect with the ghost world and enter places that normal people can’t see. Saeng-gang can hear the voices of the dead, And then there’s Ggeomeoksali, which helps Gu-cheon during dangerous situations and clearly has a much deeper connection with him than we currently understand.

When you put all three together, you’ve got a powerful supernatural team ready for something much bigger. My personal theory is that future seasons could take them to different haunted places across the country, Every location could have its own ghost, Every ghost could have its own story, Every mystery could reveal a different side of the supernatural world.

That’s why I feel Season 1 was just the introduction.

The creators may have used the first season to test the audience’s reaction to this world, its characters and its unique combination of historical fantasy, horror and supernatural action, And if the response is strong enough, the possibilities are honestly huge. So, Netflix and the writers, if you’re reading this:

Please don’t stop here.

The story of Gu-cheon, Saeng-gang and Ggeomeoksali has serious potential to become a full supernatural adventure series like The Witcher. If you also want to see this ghost-slaying team return for Season 2, share this article so it reaches the writers and creators, And tell us in the comments: What should Gu-cheon, Saeng-gang and Ggeomeoksali investigate next?

I want to see the comments section filled with Season 2 theories, Because honestly, after that ending, The East Palace doesn’t feel finished. It feels like the first case is finally over And now the real ghost-hunting journey can begin.

Also Read: Top 10 Best Kdrama of 2026 So Far – Top Rated

The East Palace Ending Explained: A Beginning, Not the End?

The East Palace may have solved its central palace mystery, but the ending leaves Gu-cheon’s supernatural journey wide open. With his ability to see ghosts, Saeng-gang’s connection to the spirit world and the mysterious iron chain linking Gu-cheon to the palace, there are still plenty of questions waiting for answers.

For now, the biggest theory is simple: Gu-cheon has become a ghost slayer, and the palace was only his first major case.