Available on Netflix
Aired May 16, 2025
🌸 Drama Review: Dear Hongrang
Starring: Lee Jae-wook (Alchemy of Souls, Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol), Jo Bo-ah (Tale of the Nine-Tailed, Destined With You), and Jung Ga-ram (Love Alarm).
📜 Plot Summary
Based on Tangeum: Swallowing Gold by Jang Da-hye, Dear Hongrang is an 11-episode historical mystery with a sprinkle of romance.
Hongrang, the son of a wealthy merchant family tied to the Joseon royal court, mysteriously vanishes as a child. He shares a deep bond with his stepsister, Jae-yi, but his mother hates for Jae-yi, because she was born to another woman.
Twelve years later, a man claiming to be Hongrang returns—with no memories of his past. Hongrang’s father and Jae-yi, desperate to believe, tests him at every turn, and the newcomer passes with flying colors. Jae-yi, however, remains skeptical. She’s seen impostors before, and something about this man doesn’t add up.
As the pair search for the truth, they develop complicated feelings for each other—cue the romantic tension.
✨ First Impressions
When the male lead first appeared, my immediate thought was, “That’s not her brother…but clearly, they’re about to fall in love.”
The show started strong: gripping mystery, gorgeous cinematography, and plenty of suspense. But somewhere along the way, things spiraled into chaos.
💖 What Worked
- Visuals: The cinematography was stunning—rich colors, dreamy landscapes, and beautifully framed shots.
- Acting: Lee Jae-wook and Jo Bo-ah shared solid chemistry. Kim Jae-wook’s role as Prince Han Byeong was very well portrayed—this was such a different role I haven’t seen him in before.
- Cultural Touches: Superstitious themes and shaman rituals gave the story an authentic, eerie edge.
🙅♀️ What Didn’t Work
🚨 Spoiler Alert!
- Confusing Plot:
I eventually lost track of who was chasing whom. First, there were the men in black—the soul reaper’s “brothers” trying to kill Jae-yi. Then the men in red—Mu-jin’s crew—seemed to be after Hong Rang. And then another group in blue appeared, apparently trying to capture both of them. It started to feel like multiple different armies running in circles while the main characters kept darting back and forth, hiding from whoever showed up next. - The Snow Man Plotline: Who was this tall, ghostly kidnapper? At first, he seemed impossible to kill—then he was defeated way too easily, with no real explanation of his background.
- Stepbrother Romance Gone Wrong: At first, I rooted for the stepbrother. He vowed to “reclaim her,” and it was spicy. But then he flipped, becoming aggressive and even working for the painter. Total 180.
- The Big Reveal (meh):
- The Incident: The jealous stepmother hires a shaman to curse Jae-yi. Real Hongrang witnesses it and instead falls and dies.
- The Cover-Up: A servant hides his body in a well.
- The Revelation: Years later, a maid confesses, revealing Hongrang’s tragic fate.
- And let’s not forget someone literally cutting off the painter’s hands—talk about over the top! I definitely laughed out loud here. 😆
💔 Second Lead Syndrome? Not This Time
Mu-jin (Jung Ga-ram) plays the adopted brother who’s hopelessly in love with Jae-yi. I rooted for him at first, but his sudden character change threw me off. Thankfully, he managed to redeem himself by the end.
🎬 Final Thoughts
Dear Hongrang had all the right ingredients: a stellar cast, lush production, and an intriguing premise. Unfortunately, the story tangled itself into a messy web of confusion, questionable romance, and endless chase scenes.
By the finale, I stopped trying to untangle the plot and just accepted the chaotic vibes. The ending was sad and frustrating, which matched the ride we’d been on.
🌸 Rating: 🌸🌸🌸 / 5
Beautifully shot and well-acted, but ultimately a confusing, eerie rollercoaster that left me with more questions than answers. I wouldn’t recommend this one for K-drama newbies—or honestly, for anyone looking for a solid story. It’s a shame, because the cast was fantastic; the writing just couldn’t keep up.
Images – courtesy of Netflix
