A perfect blend of memorable performances, atmospheric music, and an enigmatic, intriguing plot that captivates you from the first episode to the last.
For me, this drama establishes itself as one of the most unexpected and powerful gems of the year.
Dear Hongrang is a painful and moving exploration of grief, obsession, and that violent longing to belong to someone or something — to be acknowledged, to be loved.
It’s a story marked by revenge, hatred, the past, resentment, forgiveness, and the invisible wounds we all carry within.
Perfect performances, without exception
The actors deliver performances that border on perfection.
Lee Jae-wook, in the role of Hongrang, gives us a performance that is as vulnerable as it is powerful. Each scene is a display of restrained emotions that strike the viewer without the need for words. He confirms, once again, his ability to shine in intense, dark, and emotionally complex roles.
Jo Bo-ah, as Jae-yi, is simply captivating — a seemingly ordinary woman burdened with a heavy desire: to find her brother. Without realizing it, she becomes the soul of the series. Her gentleness, quiet strength, and determination are unforgettable.
Jung Ga-ram delivers a flawless performance, full of emotional tension. At first, I empathized with his character, then I ended up hating him. And finally, I felt grateful. His presence adds a layer of mystery and depth that enriches every scene he appears in.
And Kim Jae-wook… he is pure evil. Elegant, precise, dark. With just a few seconds on screen, he manages to leave a lasting impression. His character is as disturbing as he is magnetic, and Kim Jae-wook plays him with a sophistication only he can bring.
The chemistry between all the characters is real, palpable, and, in many moments, painfully authentic. Nothing is overacted — everything feels raw and alive.
A haunting soundtrack
The music in Dear Hongrang is carefully selected to accompany the emotions without overpowering them.
Each piece of the OST seems to breathe with the characters, echoing their pain, hope, and loss with poignant delicacy.
It doesn’t seek the spotlight — yet it lingers with you long after the episode ends.
A story that wounds... and transforms
The plot is much more than a tale of revenge. It’s an intimate portrayal of unseen pain, of silent rage, and of the scars time cannot erase.
It’s a slow-burn mystery that grips you — not only with what happens, but with how it feels.
Dear Hongrang isn’t just a drama.
It’s an aesthetic, emotional, and narrative experience.
It’s one of those rare K-dramas that breaks you open — and that you’re grateful to have watched.
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Obssessed with it now!
I’m being honest — the more I watch this drama, the more hooked I get!At first, I thought, “Oh my god, what a dark and heavy genre!!” But the more I watched, the more I felt the subtle, delicate beauty of love amidst the chaos of greed, hatred, revenge, and disturbingly twisted ideologies.
I think the love between Jae Yi and Hongrang is what truly makes this drama worth watching. It’s a noble, transcendent kind of love that rises above all the darkness and negativity.
While watching, I thought — if Lee Jae Wook didn’t play Hongrang, no one else could’ve done it better. His performance was incredibly moving.
And honestly, the chemistry between Jo Bo Ah and Lee Jae Wook in this drama is stronger than in any of their other works.
Maybe Hongrang often wears white or light-colored hanbok to symbolize the purity of his soul, even though his body has been horribly tormented. But perhaps it’s Jae Yi’s love that helped him become human — a real man in every sense.
I couldn’t hold back my tears, especially in the scenes between Hongrang and Jae Yi…
The soundtrack? Absolutely amazing! The emotional vocals paired perfectly with each scene, intensifying the feelings in every moment.
If I had to rewatch it, the only parts I’d dislike are the brutal and horrifying ending, and of course, that twisted prince. But I have to admit — Kim Jae Wook nailed the role! He played that “righteous on the outside, rotten on the inside” prince so well that I ended up hating the character — which just shows how brilliant the acting was. I really want to rewatch the drama, but the disturbing torture scenes make me hesitate.
God, I really, really hope there’s a season 2 — I just want a happy ending for this couple.
Ugh, this drama haunts me so much. I don’t even know how to move on from it. I’m obsessed!
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Should’ve been a 20-30 episode drama.
I had to swallow the fact that the storyline was congested into 11 episodes drama only. Hence, I prepared myself and expected cuts in the storyline.The story is honestly one of the best released for a k-period drama this year but it wasn’t executed well because of tight episodes. Actors were great—emotions were delivered well. I read some reviews, confused when did the romance bloomed? For Hongrang/Jaewook, it was when Jae-I told him whether he is the real or not, she hopes he won’t get hurt. After years of living, no one had actually gave him this kind of affection. For Jae-I, I believe there should be more episodes to unravel her emotions. But at one point, she stated how she feels these emotions towards Hongrang, whether he’s an impostor or not. I think that’s the start of her confusion. Then add the after marriage scene where Hongrang saved her, then kissed her while she was half awake. It’s actually easy to understand why they fell in love, but I just hope we had more episodes (as someone who likes slow burn period dramas).
Cinematography, camera works, action-scenes, battles, location, and everything else? It’s such a sweet candy for the eyes. Everything was perfect for me. As expected to the actors, they can execute everything well. It’s just that, why did the production turned it into a mini series?
All in all, I liked it and finished the series in one sitting.
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dear hongrang misses the mark
for the story and themes they were trying to convey: mystery, revenge, and romance. the execution was rushed and sloppy. the main reason was the length of the drama, it was only 11 episodes. for a sageuk i think the length did not allow them enough time to develop the plot and and characters to come to the conclusion at the end and feel natural. nothing really felt earned, character development wise. this drama should have really been 16-20 episodes to develop the characters and the plot better.Was this review helpful to you?
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Dear Hong Rang - Intense Chemistry, Twisted Plot
Dear HongRang is a K-drama I was eagerly anticipating, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. From the very beginning, it maintained a tone of secrecy & mystery that kept me hooked. While there were some elements that could’ve been explored more deeply, the show’s performances, especially the chemistry between the leads, made it a worthwhile watch.Plot & Storyline:
The central premise of "Dear HongRang" revolves around the search for the missing HongRang, with a mix of seemingly supernatural elements and a lot of suspense. While the show maintained an intriguing tone throughout, there were a few aspects of the plot that felt rushed and underexplained.
One of the major issues was the development of the romance between the main leads, Sim Jae Yi (played by Jo Bo Ah) and Hong Rang (played by Lee Jae Wook). Their chemistry was undeniable — their yearning and intense emotions were conveyed beautifully through their eyes and body language. Despite the lack of scenes showing their evolving relationship, you could still feel the bond between them. However, the actual progression of their romance was not clearly shown. More scenes between them would have helped us better understand their feelings.
Additionally, the Snowman plotline with the real Hong Rang was confusing. If Hong Rang died after falling while trying to remove a voodoo doll his mother had placed to kill his sister, why did we see a young Hong Rang running through the woods and encountering the Snowman as though he were being chased? And why did Hong Rang see the Snowman in his dreams? This inconsistency wasn’t adequately addressed, leaving several unanswered questions. Furthermore, we didn’t get enough backstory on how the Snowman worked for the Grand Prince, or the details surrounding the kidnapping of the young boys. These elements felt underdeveloped and left me wanting more.
Character Development:
Despite some plot issues, the characters were a standout. Sim Jae Yi was a particularly strong and well-crafted character. She’s intelligent, resilient, and determined, despite the traumatic abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepmother & a father who wouln't stand up for her. The way her past shaped her was heartbreaking, particularly how she would shiver at the sight of her stepmother. Despite all the pain, she never let her tragic circumstances define her.
Hong Rang, on the other hand, is a morally grey character who has had an equally harrowing past. From being a mistreated slave boy to being captured and tortured by the painter, he had a rough life. His transformation into an assassin/Soul Reaper added layers to his character. Lee Jae Wook brought this complexity to life perfectly. Hong Rang’s dark and mysterious aura was captivating, and it was clear that Jae Yi brought light into his life, just as he provided comfort to her.
Their chemistry was electric, and I was genuinely heartbroken when it became clear that Hong Rang was poisoned and wouldn’t have a chance at a happy ending. Jae Yi and Hong Rang deserved to have a happy ending after all the suffering they endured. Their journey toward healing and comfort seemed to be building toward a hopeful future, and it was hard to accept that they couldn’t get their deserved happy ending.
Cinematography & Soundtrack:
On the technical side, the cinematography was absolutely stunning. It had a mysterious, dark vibe that perfectly matched the show's tone. I loved how the visuals helped create an immersive atmosphere that kept me engaged throughout. The soundtrack, too, was fantastic, delivering emotional depth and giving me goosebumps on several occasions. Every scene felt visually striking, and the costumes added to the overall appeal of the show — though I do wish Hong Rang had a bit more variety in his outfits.
Conclusion:
The supporting cast also did a fantastic job, with standout performances that enriched the story. It was satisfying to see Lady Min finally get what she deserved after all the years of tormenting Jae Yi.
Overall, "Dear Hong Rang" was a very good drama, despite some of the plot holes and inconsistencies. The chemistry between Jo Bo Ah and Lee Jae Wook made it all the more enjoyable, and I would love to see them work together again — hopefully with a happier ending next time. It’s definitely a show worth watching if you’re a fan of suspense, romance, and complex characters.
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Dark & Mysterious
This wasn't what I expected when I began watching, but it does turn out to be a very in-depth story to follow with a lot of twists & turns. It becomes so bizarre at times, but you can't stop watching it.The main character, Hong Rang, appears to be antagonist at the beginning, but this is the type of story where nothing appears to be what it is. There were so many times I forgot who was actually good and who was bad in this series. It changes so much, you get mixed up on who to root for.
Bo Ah is great, as always. She never disappoints in bringing out every emotion possible on screen. Her, paired up with Jae Wook make a great team, although you wouldn't think so early on. These two evolve into a very believable couple.
Another character that really fools you into showing his true colors was Mu Jin. This character was tough to figure out, and Ga Ram shows us both sides of his talents at being liked and being disliked.
I think though, without a doubt, the most disturbing and evil character was Prince Han Pyeong. What an excellent job Kim Jae Wook does at bring out this wicked madman on camera. He's the perfect antagonist giving us such a disturbing performance. His death scene at the very end is brilliant and so well deserved.
Overall, it's a dark toned thriller & love story rolled into one. It makes for a great watch, becoming extremely entertaining, especially the later episodes.
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The price of revenge is not cheap
Dear Hongrang is an angst slow burn cliche centred of revenge, grief, passionate love, obsession, questionable relationship, psychological turmoil, children abuse and abduction and many dark themes with an amazing acting, stunning scenery, good sword fighting's scene, good scripts, great villian and pleasing OST and BGM.While the plot of the story is not something new for kdrama or Hollywood's playbook with the sad and expected ending, Dear Hongrang is quite a remarkable drama that left long lasting impression for the viewer. One of the dramas that viewer demand longer episode, weekly airing (So that, anticipation's value is high) and more explanation to the plot hole.
However, the story was delivered and the paced is good (quite). Not everything needs to be shown and to be explained but, it will be great if some character has a background story e.g The Snow Man (reminded me of Shirogane/that man from Gannibal). He is an interesting character.
Overall, the drama is enjoyable. 8/10 from me.
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Stunning scenery marred by horrendous child abuse and a weird love obsession.
This show had some of the most beautiful cinematography I’ve ever seen in streaming. Gorgeous. However, it was a stark contrast to the ugliness that was going on with the characters who were living amongst that beauty. Many of the parents in this were awful people. Consumed by greed and depravity. To start ,the mother/stepmother, MinYeon, seemed like the worst. Blaming a Jae-yi for her son being missing for 12 years , beating her and treating her like trash even though she was the daughter of her wealthy husband. But then he allowed this to go on. And it is quickly learned that he is worse than her - a selfish POS who cared for no one, even his own children, unless they could help him gain something for himself. He used his adopted son, Mujin, in a power play against MinYeon and when it went bad he abandoned him to die. He cheated on MinYeon and when his mistress got pregnant he abandoned her for his own gain knowing that the former would seek to destroy her. And that wasn’t the worst of his behaviors. He was complicit in the “snow man” kidnapping children and taking them to that psychopathic Prince to be poisoned and severely abused. He supported this depravity because the gain was great fortune and prestige for himself. His behavior was beyond reprehensible and I’m glad he met a horrible demise. Though it was not horrible enough.Though beautifully acted, the love story almost seemed out of place. Thank goodness the sibling situation got cleared up quickly. Hongrang admitting his feelings to Jae-yi, her rejecting him, finding her own romantic feelings for him being disturbing considering he was her “brother” and deciding to leave town as a result, played well. However, when she found proof that he wasn’t her brother and he confessed that same truth, their sudden decision to run off into the sunset was jarring. As was them making love in a cave knowing the entire world was outside those walls hunting them, and then setting down in that cabin on the mountain top. Their love did have potential but it had not earned that type of intense loyalty. In fact, it was difficult to believe when Jae-yi said she loved him and couldn’t live without him. Where did that love come from? As she’d spent every episode up until that point hating him and waffling between him being or not being her brother.
What seemed more out of place was Mujin’s 180. It was obvious from the start that his love for Jae-yi wasn’t brotherly. However, he always respected the fact that she saw him as her brother. Overall he seemed like a good guy. But by the end of the series he was willing to lie, kill and align himself with a child abuser and killer in order to possess her. So disappointing.
The writing in this was a bit messy. There were several story threads that weren’t fully fleshed out. However, the actors had good chemistry and their performances were outstanding. I felt Hongrang’s anguish and tears over the abuse he suffered as a child. I felt Jaeyi’s heartbreak at the realization that he was suffering from chemical poisoning and dying. I seethed at the delusional and deranged Prince’s arrogance and narcissism. Again, great acting by all. Is this worth watching. Absolutely. Would I watch again. Probably.
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A poetic masterpiece
Tangeum (Dear Hongrang) is not just a historical drama - it is a cinematic poem woven with silence, sorrow, beauty, and longing. From its haunting score to its breathtaking cinematography, every frame feels like a painting brought to life.At the heart of it all is Lee Jae Wook, delivering the most nuanced and soul-stirring performance of his career. As Hongrang, he carries the weight of pain, secrets, and impossible love with a depth rarely seen on screen. He acts not just with his voice and expression, but with breath, posture, and silence - conveying entire worlds through a single look. His transformation throughout the series is subtle yet powerful, and his final moments on screen leave an ache that lingers.
The story unfolds like a tragic lullaby - slow, deliberate, and devastatingly human. Tangeum is a rare drama that dares to feel deeply, and dares its audience to do the same. A true gem that deserves recognition for its artistry, emotional depth, and the unforgettable performance of its lead.
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Lee Jae Wook is a swordfighting god...
Watched about 30 KDramas, and my first review, and that is solely because Lee Jae Wook delivers hard. His fight scenes are unbelievable, incredibly impressive. The soundtrack is perfect and Jo Bo Ah is stunning in every way. Honestly, the only thing that brought down my rating was that I feel like it could've done with some more episodes, it deserved more and the story could've done with more time and been expanded upon. I think antagonist needed pulling out a little more. However, it was great! The low rewatch value is only because I don't want to go through that devastation again.Was this review helpful to you?
Pretty,Powerful and Evil
This was a pretty powerful binge, one with great a mounts of beautiful blood splatter, explosions, conspiring, evil, more evil and a huge show of evil, more evil, most evil... confused identities, interesting (also confused) motives and very few genuinely good as in evil vs good type of characters.The type that may make you loose hope in humanity as well as wonder if the herbs where better in the past as well as be amazed by the healing power of the young and the fearless.
The build up of the first 3-5 episodes is better then the remaining ones, I am not saying it goes down hill from there. It more of an evening out of the field.
The chemistry between the characters is really good. I love the male lead (not only because he is played by Lee Jae Wook, but also because of the way he is written. Fun, faisty, smart and all round a pleasure to watch. His interactions with the female lead are both playful and will make you go wait what, is this okay?
The female lead has a bunch of moments of bad ass cool, fun, confused done well. But also a few really how can she be so stupid, as well as make you wonder how many lives she (and the rest of the cast) has. That said I loved every bit of her screen time and would love to see her a gain.
All in all en interesting watch, the type to cater to all you romance, gore and evil needs.
P.S This is not a drama that will give you SLS at all... At least not me
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The K-drama I never meant to love
I never imagined I'd end up watching this show. While I do enjoy the slow burn of a well-paced K-drama and the tension of a tightly written mystery, this one had everything I typically avoid: graphic violence, unhinged psychopaths, morally questionable revenge arcs, endless swordfights, raw depravity, and—if I’m being honest—Lee Jae Wook, whose past roles never resonated with me.And yet… I loved this one. In fact, I think I’ve become obsessed with a show that, ironically, centers on the dangers of obsession. The production quality was excellent, the casting felt pitch-perfect, and the soundtrack elevated the entire experience. Most surprising of all, Lee Jae Wook as Hongrang was completely immersive. For the first time, I saw what others had seen in him all along—he didn’t just play the character; he was Hongrang.
So if this drama doesn’t seem like your thing, I encourage you to give it a try anyway. You might find yourself just as drawn in—and amazed—as I was.
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