In the early hours of December 21, 2024, a fire broke out on the set of Netflix's upcoming historical drama, 'East Palace,' in Misan-myeon, Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. The incident occurred around 2:08 a.m. KST, causing significant damage to the set, including the destruction of a 3,655-square-meter building and lighting equipment. Fortunately, the set was unoccupied at the time, and no casualties have been reported.
The Yeoncheon Fire Department responded promptly, issuing a "Level 1" response and deploying resources from multiple fire stations. Firefighters successfully contained and extinguished the blaze within approximately two hours. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
'East Palace' is a highly anticipated series featuring prominent South Korean actors Nam Joo-hyuk, Roh Yoon-seo, and Cho Seung-woo. The drama delves into a world of ghosts and spirits, with Nam Joo-hyuk portraying Gu-cheon, a character capable of traversing the ghost realm and vanquishing spirits with his sword. Roh Yoon-seo plays Saeng-gang, a court lady endowed with the ability to hear ghosts, while Cho Seung-woo assumes the role of a complex king who discreetly enlists their help to address the palace's curse.
The series is directed by Choi Jung-kyu, known for 'The Devil Judge,' and penned by writers Kwon So-ra and Seo Jea-won, recognized for their work on 'Bulgasal: Immortal Souls.' Production had recently commenced, with the series slated for a 2025 release on Netflix.
While the fire has caused material losses, the impact on the production schedule is yet to be determined. An investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the fire and assess any potential delays in the series' development.
This incident is reminiscent of a previous fire on the set of another Netflix Korean series, 'Kingdom: Ashin of the North,' in January 2021, where a castle set caught fire during production. Such occurrences highlight the challenges and risks associated with large-scale period drama productions.
Fans eagerly awaiting 'East Palace' will be looking for updates on the series' progress and any potential changes to its anticipated release. The safety of cast and crew remains paramount as production companies navigate the complexities of bringing intricate historical narratives to life.