Dear Hongrang
Characters: Lee Jae Wook (Hongrang), Jo Bo-ah (Jae Yi), Jung Ga-ram (Mujin), Kim Jae- wook (Prince Hanpyeong), Park Byung-eun (Shim Yeol-guk/ Lord Min), Uhm Ji-won (Lady Min/ Min Yeon-ui)
Director: Kim Hong-sun
Based On: Tangeum: Swallowing Gold by Jang Da-hye
Screenplay By: Kim Jin-ah
Production Companies: Studio Dragon, Acemaker, Movieworks, H House, EO Contents Group
Language: Korean
Platform: Netflix
Release Date: 16th May 2025
Rating: 3.8/5
After seeing sugar coated and fluffy kdramas like Lovely Runner and When The Phone Rings; be ready for one that does not follow the trope, All’s Well And that End’s well. You have been warned! Though that does not take away from the bittersweet and stirring story that is Dear Hongrang. Woven around the leads Jae Yi, a sister who makes it her life mission to locate her missing half-brother and bring him back home and the title character Hongrang, who returns in his adulthood with no memories except a bunch of matching birthmarks or does he?
Add second lead, Mujin, the Min’s adopted son, de-facto heir and Grandmaster to the mix and we land up with a tragic love triangle.
Hongrang is heir to the Min family, who are merchant nobility and head the merchant’s guild. A seat of power responsible for monitoring trade, acquiring and maintaining key artifacts and goods, with liaisons to prince Hanpyeong himself. It is the political unrest and scheming in the Min household that causes Jae Yi, Hongrang and Mujin to carry scars in spite of being born into privilege.
Hongrang grows up to be a skilled foot soldier or a mercenary for hire. He is dubbed Hwi Su (The Reaper) in the fighting circles for his unparalleled skill with the sword. Part of a band of assassins and answerable to a cult which tasks him to find The Painter and a mystical entity called The Snow Man who kidnaps and tortures kids, Hongrang’s presence in the Min household does not seem like a coincidence. While Hongrang’s past is shrouded in several mysteries, the biggest secret he carries is the one on his back.
Lee Jae Wook of Alchemy Of Soul’s Fame returns with a relatively short kdrama at 11 episodes, no unnecessary frills and extended fluff scenes. If my previous comments painted too much of pathos, don’t worry, there is fluff and romance, enough but not over-the-top. Jae-yi and Hongrang do have their moments, but, with the destiny that he carries, perhaps not meant to be. We have Jo Jae-yun, who was the villain in Alchemy of Souls make a reappearance here as well, being a pain in the a**, as usual, though, he does not contribute to the main plot and serves more as a filler.
Everything comes together and falls apart in the last three episodes, and we find out about the real Hongrang. Years of deceit and decrepit secrets and turmoil decaying within the Min household collapses around all the main characters. The power struggle that was started between Shim Yeol-guk/Lord Min and Lady Min and the consequences of their decisions coalesces into a pitiful and regretful end, “ The Sin’s Of The Father will be visited Upon The Son”. By the end with all the loss, I am surprised Jae Yi just doesn’t commit suicide.
The drama has a cinematographic theme in shades of blue mostly, perhaps to convey all the heartbreak that follows. The rural setting with a rustic feel does make the sets feel more authentic. Key mention to the soundtrack named burning petals by 4BOUT that plays during moments. It gives build-up and adds momentum to the scenes in a profound way. The music distinctly reminded me of an Indian tune, but online speculation on youtube, where I listened to it on-loop states it’s ancient or traditional Korean music. Even Yeomjae by Kwon Jin Ah is nice, less impactful but more mournful. Though fight scenes are meant to be a key, I found them mediocre.
Dear Hongrang does not engage in a pity party, in spite of the genre. All it leaves is an after thought of nostalgia with a story well told.
