Dear Hongrang

A bittersweet portrait of love and loss

This drama is a quiet, tender story that lingers in the heart long after the final episode. It’s not a grand, sweeping romance but a painfully realistic portrayal of love which I do think is necessarily and fitting.
What actually caught my interest is the tattoo on Hongrang’s back, It is a haunting and symbolic element central to the series' dark narrative, which the drama’s brilliance lies in how it uses this detail. Every time Hongrang’s back is revealed, in moments of vulnerability, the weight of that ink feels heavier. Dear Hongrang is beautifully shot and emotionally resonant, with standout performances and a unique concept. While it stumbles with pacing and clarity toward the end, it remains a worthwhile watch for those who like dramas with a dark and sorrowful twist.

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A little disappointing...

I started this drama mainly because Lee Jae Wook in it but the story, while reading the synopsis was interesting too. Sadly, it didn't live up to the hype it got on TikTok (at least on my fyp).

The drama centers around the Sim family and begins to tell the story of Hong Rang. He's a little boy when he vanishes from his home under mysterieus conditions. No one knows where he is and everybody starts to look for him but no one ever finds him. His half sister, Jae I, is hopefull though. She desperately hopes he's alive somewhere and will return to their home someday. In her life he was the only one who treated her like a normal human being. She's a bastard child to the master of the house and frequently mistreated by family members. Most of them blame her for Hong Rang's disappearance and tell her she's a curse upon the family. Especially her stepmother.
And then Hong Rang returns home. Everyone thinks he's the real deal because he passes some tests and claims amnesia. But Jae I is weary of him and doesn't trust it. He cannot be her brother. She would have recognised him, wouldn't she? But nothing to him feels familiar.
But he becomes someone she can trust, someone who treats her like she matters. And soon she starts to fall for him.

If only the story could have been just about that, but it tried to be so much more by adding all kinds of storylines and plots. It became a little too much in the end. There was too much going on and most of it didn't get resolved at the end. It became a romance above all when more important stuff was going on. Like Hong Rang (the imposter) his origin and his life story. In the beginning of the story you get some info sprinkled throughout the scenes about a painter and something horrible, but you won't find out exactly what they mean by the painter and the horrible things until much later. If it did anything for the suspense in the show you wouldn't hear me nag about it, but it got backsided by so many layers of other plots... I didn't understand any of it most of the time.
There was a power struggle within the Sim family. There was a abduction/runaway storyline about young Hong Rang. There was a plotline with a prince. There was a storyine with the imposter Hong Rang and that split into two storyline when the romance began... It became a spider web of stories and none of them really took the show and brought it to another level.

In the end it fell like a bore to me. Nothing really stuck with me or kept me locked in.

So if you're looking for a show that's not that thrilling or exciting, I'd recommend this one. But for anything else I'd look elsewhere.

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a gripping tale of grief and obsession

'dear hongrang' has a haunting setting with dark themes and brutal reality of how abusive evil people are. additionally, there is a heart-breaking element shown in jae-yi's character as she struggled as her heart yearned to see her little brother again.

as a drama that also has politics in it, it was intriguing to watch the rivalry between hongrang and mu jin plus how yeon-ui's cruelty comes to play. while it does make my blood boil how yeon-ui is as a character, she does work well as an antagonist. speaking of antagonists, the villain was portrayed as this person in the shadows at first, yet we are also given hints of just how his presence is not pleasant. he craves power. bound to be obsessed by his creations. he looms over you and will drain your very existence. deeply eerie and sends chill to your bones when you find out the things he did.

however, despite how interesting the concept is and how the drama started, i can't help but feel frustration halfway through. i felt the romance between the leads to be lackluster and it was so sudden. in addition, the story seemed to have fast-forwarded itself. there was this rushed feel to the pacing that even though the scenes were very much impactful and heavy, it felt as though i was jumping from one episode to another. the start was slow and stable then ended like a whirlpool of things all at once.

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Dear Hongrang

I was waiting for this drama because of Jo Bo Ah and she was the reason for watching, I did not have any high expectation for plot or any other aspect of this drama - maybe it is a reason why it was even better - but yeah this drama is just great. So moving on to actors/characters, then ending and story ( I will repeat warning - THERE WILL BE SPOILERS - so read only if it does not bother you).
Jo Bo Ah - I just love her acting, her crying scenes were heartbreaking here, I feel like her character was the only one which we could actually put in morally good category, I liked her chemistry with other actors, I also feel like she likes when dramas have some historical aspect, but she looks great in hanbok so I understand her, I loved her high ponytail hairstyle in 10 episode I think, maybe it was 9 - now I want her to play assassin in some historical drama
Lee Jae Wook - my first drama with him where is main character, I do not know yet if I fully like his acting style, sometimes he looks like lost child but at the same time it made perfect sense with his storyline, oh my how much his charactered suffered, it is crazy, and I am happy that he knew since the beginning that they are not siblings cause otherwise it would be weird (so good thing that she also suspected it), I liked their kiss scenes (yeah, maybe dark drama but it is still romance so we got it!), SPOILER: there really was not a way to prevent his death and that is probably the saddest part about it
Jung Ga Ram - I did not recognize him at the beginning, he is guy who got a gilr from Love Alarm (yeah, I was team him in that drama XD), here his character was sweet at the beginning, then you literally start to hate him, SPOILER: good thing that in the end he choosed to be good and protect her
Kim Jae Wook - he know how to play crazy characters/villains, just perfect acting but story is crazy, I expected him to be a villain and at the same time I thought he was not, SPOILER: scene with lost hands felt a little like from anime, not my favourite part but excellent "revenge" for him
Well the rest did great, everyone acted perfect, although I have to admit that I had some hard time to recognize who was who because of mustaches and beards.
Hongrang - poor sweet child, he only wanted to protect his sister.....and I hate his mother, eventhought well no, I just hate her
Great fighting scenes, great villains, still I do not know who was The snow man......., beautiful romance, more bitter than sweet ending, yeah more sad than anything, how she lost everyone she cared about but I do not think people really expected something light, even poster made it clear that we will cry during this
I do not really understand the last scene - if it was her imagination or if it was after she died because of old age - but it made the ending a little sweeter.
A little bloody but I do not think it was too brutal.
Totally worth watching, even amount of episodes is great, just give it a chance!

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Yes it's messy.

Watch it dubbed while cooking, doing the laundry, or cleaning, so you won't feel like you're wasting your time.

Also, I'm sorry it's just from what I've watched so far ---I have never seen Jo Bo Ah (Jae I) having any chemistry with any male leads.


Story:

Even for a past time series, (something you don't expect to be worth your time), the plot holes are bothering. I can't recall everything, but the important ones were mentioned in Chipmunk101's review. Also, the ending doesn't make sense, it's a big "huh?" moment.

Acting/Cast:

Amazing acting that it almost made me forget how terrible the storyline is.

Music:

The music just makes it REALLY cinematic!!! NGL! I got goosebumps in some scenes.

Rewatch Value:

NONE.

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It Hurt to Watch—and That’s Why I Loved It

Dear Hongrang is not just a historical drama it’s a slow, aching elegy for everything we lose but still carry inside us. It’s a story about grief that doesn’t scream, love that doesn’t ask, and the kind of pain that lingers quietly in the corners of your heart.

The plot begins with the mysterious return of Hongrang, the long-lost heir of a powerful merchant family, who disappeared when he was only eight. His homecoming doesn’t bring joy it brings confusion, fear, and longing. His mother, broken by grief, clings to him as if he’s salvation. His father remains cold. His half-brother Mu-jin, raised to replace him, begins to spiral. And Jae-i ,his half-sister, the only one who never stopped waitingstands frozen between love and disbelief.

This drama doesn't rush. It unfolds like a secret. Every scene is laced with silence, every gesture says more than words. You don’t watch it, you feel it, slowly, deeply, until you realize it’s inside you.

⚡The Ache It Left Behind:

I didn't know Dear Hongrang would stay with me long after the final scene faded.

At first, I thought it was a mystery, who is this man? Is he really Hongrang? But soon, I realized the real question wasn’t about identity. It was about memory, about belonging, about whether we can ever truly return to the people we once were.

What moved me most were the characters not for what they said, but for what they couldn't say.

Jae-i broke my heart in the most quiet, beautiful way. She carried so much weight on her shoulders but never let it show. Her love for her brother wasn’t loud or dramatic, it was steady, patient, aching. She reminded me of what it’s like to be strong when there’s no one left to lean on. The way she looked at him, the way she held back when she wanted to run to him—I felt all of it.

And Hongrang... I still can’t find the right words for him. He walked like a ghost. Like someone who didn’t believe he deserved to be remembered. He was always halfway gone, even when he was standing right there. But when he was with Jae-i, something shifted. He became softer, almost human again. Their connection wasn’t just emotional ,it felt spiritual, like they belonged to each other in a past life they couldn’t quite reach.

Then there’s Mu-jin. His pain was the kind that doesn’t make a sound. He loved too deeply and too quietly. You could see him crumbling from the inside out, but he never asked for anything. That kind of heartbreak,the silent kind,hit me the hardest. It made me think of all the times I’ve pretended to be okay just to keep someone close. I saw myself in him more than I wanted to.

The drama is beautifully filmed,the forests, the candlelit rooms, the haunting music. But what really stayed with me were the pauses. The unspoken words. The tension that wrapped itself around every scene like a fog. It wasn’t about dramatic twists or big reveals. It was about the ache of wanting something that’s already gone. It was about learning to live with that ache.

And the ending... I cried harder than I’ve cried in a long time. Not because it shocked me, but because it felt so real. It didn’t give me closure. It didn’t offer peace. But it gave me something more honest,a kind of quiet acceptance. It told me that sometimes, the people we lose never really come back. And sometimes, neither do we.


FINAL THOUGHTS:
Dear Hongrang doesn’t try to fix you. It doesn’t hand you easy answers or happy endings. It just sits beside you, like sorrow does, and lets you feel. It asks you to stop pretending. To stop running. To look grief in the eye and say, “I see you.”

It’s a drama about remembering people who are already gone. About loving them anyway. About living with the hollow spaces they leave behind.

And maybe that’s why I loved it so much.

Because I know what that feels like.
🪄🤍

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GREAT DRAMA!!!

I just finished watching and let me say, it was such a gripping, story. I cried so much!!! I didn't expect it to end the way it did. All of these actors did an amazing job!!! Lee Jae Wook is so good. Anything he's in, I will watch. The other Wook, Kim Jae Wook... DAMN!!!! he didn't come to play! He was something else in this drama. As I stated before hand, all of the actors did great. Can't list them all. If you want to know if it's worth watching???? Yes, most definitely. Don't sleep on it. I usually don't watch historical dramas because most of them end up being silly. However, the only other historical drama I watched was Kingdom, and Ashin that was part of Kingdom, Queen Woo, and this one. If I had to rate this drama, it's a 10 for me across the board

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Not the music, the action scenes, nor the MLs' beauty could redeem this

The setup for a love triangle was painfully obvious early on, so I almost abandoned the series.

The characters were very one-dimensional. It appeared the mystery and Hongrang's backstory would get a less predictable development, but instead, they abandoned that and then tried to convince us that the trained assassin who made meticulous plans would make a sloppy escape/elopement attempt.

In the last episodes, they started just showing scenes without setup, continuity, or explanation of how characters came to be there. It was very odd for a series of this level.

The action scenes were good and well-shot.

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Epic, gut-wrenching yet beautiful piece of drama.

I must say I'm in awe of the cinematography, haunting ost and overall production of this epic historical drama told over 11 structured episodes. I love the mystery, melodrama, the mission and at the center of it lies a love story between Hongrang and Jaeyi, both struggle with past and present demons, violence and abuse. Great acting from all the cast particularly our protagonists Lee Jae Wook and Jo Bo Ah, special mention of the mother Yeon Ui played by the seasoned Uhm Ji Won, she's amazing, eats up every scene she's in. I'm not so fond of the abuse and cruelty against children, the grand prince (Kim Jae Wook, great charisma and acting chops) the overbearing obsessive older brother Mu Jin, never liked him from the start. The ending so.... sad only because our dear Hongrang suffered much in his life and he deserved his happiness and peace, but I'm okayed with it, at last he can truly rest and await for his Jaeyi. Overall 9.5 rating... recommend it.

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Dear Hongrang - it's a must watch

I recently watched Dear. Hongrang, and I’m still trying to recover from the emotional rollercoaster it took me on. This drama is truly something special. While it has action and intensity, at its core, it's a deeply emotional story — one that stays with you long after the final episode.

The tragic ending broke my heart in the best possible way. It was beautifully written and powerfully executed, leaving a lasting impact. The chemistry between the main leads was absolutely stunning — you could feel every emotion they portrayed, from tenderness to heartbreak.

I also have to highlight the main OST — it’s just breathtaking. The music perfectly captured the tone of the drama, especially during the most emotional scenes. The background score elevated the entire viewing experience and made the emotions hit even harder.

The cast gave outstanding performances, and the storyline was rich, thoughtful, and unforgettable. If you enjoy emotional dramas with incredible acting, a powerful soundtrack, and a story that truly moves you, Dear. Hongrang is a must-watch. It’s beautiful, heartbreaking, and simply unforgettable.

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What a fab cast!

If you are looking for a sweet, easy to watch drama, this is not it. It’s a very condense, intense, spiral drama that will take you with the characters.

Massive shout for the writers and the director - it cant be easy to pull this one up - there are not that many characters’ lines that could carry the story - and by exposing bit by bit from each line they built a glorious picture.

Lee Jae Wook for me was the weakest of the line - and not because he was bad, but because eve try one else was so exceptionally good. Kim Jae Wook was mesmerising - he always excels in complex characters, especially if there is an element of disorder or trauma! Jo Bo Ah also delivered a solid performance and brought to life a girl, who really wanted to love and be loved.

The drama didn’t offer many explanations and left the viewer to fill the gaps, which I like - it’s like you watch many versions of the story.

All and all, very enjoyable - prepare some handkerchiefs tho..

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affraid at the begining but love it in the end

I love watching series with Lee Jae Wook. He is very talented actor, with great skills, a great kisser in his generation, and the historical dramas are perfect for him, is totally made for historical dramas. With every glance, every word, he captures the soul of the character, translating emotion into something deeply human and unforgettable.

He SLAYED in this one.

I watched till the end for him, for the music and for the cinematography. I don't regret watching it, but I will probably not rewatch as I did wit AOS, which I have seen 5 times. The theme was so creepy, cruel and dark for me, with annoying evil characters, was not my cup of tea.

The music and sound effects in this series harmoniously resonate with the storyline, the scenes themselves, the visuals, the actors' performances — everything is so incredibly well-balanced! For me this one, When Life Gives You Tangerines and Pachinko are incredibility epic as cinematography.

Jo Bo Ah was great too in her character. Sim Jae I annoyed me a lot in the first episodes, but I find her character very strong, brave, maybe too naive, balance for how much she was enduring from her supposed family.

And I hope to see Kim Jae Wook more but with normal characters, because he's already had too many roles as a psychopath, a traumatic roles for me. He is sooo talented.

Great chemistry between FL and ML, beautiful capture of their love.
Still didn't understand who was the White Man.

I hate Sim Mu Jin, is the worst, a psychopath, as the prince and the shaman. So much symbolism with what is in real life. He did not know what love is.

The OST is 1000/10.

The end it’s realistic, painful, and beautiful.

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