Actress Hong Soo Joo, who made a memorable special appearance in Netflix’s hit historical fantasy series The East Palace, is attracting attention after sharing behind-the-scenes photos from the set that showcase her striking transformation.

On July 21, Hong Soo Joo uploaded several photos to her Instagram, giving fans a closer look at the makeup and costumes used to bring her mysterious character to life.

Among the photos, Hong Soo Joo appears dressed as Court Lady Seungeun, the tragic palace maid she portrays in the series. Other images show the actress wearing elaborate ghost makeup while staring directly into the camera, highlighting the dramatic contrast between her eerie on-screen appearance and her elegant real-life beauty. The photos quickly caught fans' attention across social media.

In The East Palace, Hong Soo Joo plays Court Lady Seungeun, a woman who is unjustly executed after falling victim to the Queen Dowager's wrath. Following her death, she becomes the mysterious "Pond Ghost," a supernatural figure blamed for the deaths of several crown princes during the drama's opening episodes. Although her appearance is brief, the character leaves a lasting impression and serves as one of the central mysteries that drives the story forward.

After seeing Hong Soo Joo’s behind-the-scenes photos, viewers flooded social media with praise for both her visuals and performance. Comments included:

  • How can a ghost be this beautiful?
  • She was amazing in the role.
  • I didn’t even realize that was Hong Soo Joo.

Many fans also complimented the detailed special effects makeup that helped transform the actress into one of the drama’s most memorable supernatural characters.

Born in 1994, Hong Soo Joo first gained public attention after appearing in EXO Chanyeol’s 2019 music video for “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter.” She made her acting debut in Lovestruck in the City (2020) before expanding her career with roles in dramas including: Sweet Home 2 and The Impossible Heir. In 2025, she received the Best New Actress award at the MBC Drama Awards for her performance in Moon River.

With her memorable appearance in The East Palace, Hong Soo Joo continues to earn recognition as one of Korea’s rising actresses.

Sources: Daum | 마이데일리