From 'The East Palace' to 'Hope': What makes K-creatures stand out

The creature genre continues to evolve in Korea's content industry. Once dominated by zombie stories, K-creatures have expanded into a wider range of supernatural beings, including ghosts and extraterrestrials. Netflix's "The East Palace" and the film "Hope" exemplify this evolution, introducing new creatures rooted in Korean culture and tradition.

Netflix original series "The East Palace," which premiered on July 17, follows Gucheon (Nam Joo-hyuk), who possesses the ability to traverse the world of spirits, and court lady Saenggang (Roh Yoon-seo), who harbors a secret. Summoned by the king (Cho Seung-woo), the two investigate a mysterious curse haunting the Eastern Palace. Meanwhile, "Hope," which opened in theaters on July 15, centers on Beom-seok, the head of a small administrative office near the demilitarized zone, who is alerted by local youths about the appearance of a tiger.

As the village descends into panic, the residents are confronted with an unbelievable reality. Both productions continue the lineage of K-creatures by bringing ghosts, extraterrestrial beings and other fanta