Netflix’s Dear Hongran Review – Expected Romance, But Found Madness
Dear Hongran has finally been released on Netflix. If you were drawn in by the casting of Jo Bo-ah and Lee Jae-wook, hoping for a captivating romance, you may have ended up feeling stunned. What begins as a forbidden love between step-siblings quickly spirals into supernatural chaos—more precisely, into the madness of a talismanic painter possessed by obsession.
The story opens with the return of Hongran, the long-lost heir of the powerful Joseon-era merchant clan, Minsangdan, after 12 years. While the family welcomes him back, his sister Jae-yi is convinced he’s an imposter. Yet as familiar memories and gestures resurface, even Jae-yi begins to open her heart to him.
But the truth is chilling—this Hongran is not the real one. He’s actually a former slave named Jwi-ddong, transformed into a living talisman by Seol-in, a mysterious enforcer serving an unhinged royal artist. The real Hongran died while protecting Jae-yi from a fatal curse orchestrated by their own family.
The drama’s most unforgettable figure is Prince Hanpyeong—a mad genius who engraves talismans on children’s backs, melts their bodies into bronze sculptures, and seeks to spread the “sound of eternity.” Seol-in, a ghost-like figure, is his accomplice—more terrifying for being all too human.
The imposter Hongran eventually reveals everything to Jae-yi. Though they attempt to flee together, their plan fails. He ultimately defeats Prince Hanpyeong and gives the secret ledgers of Minsangdan to a loyal ally. Meanwhile, Lord Sim Yeolguk is viciously punished by the women he once discarded. The deranged prince meets his end in a final fit of delusion.
But Hongran’s fate was sealed from the start. The transformation into a talisman left him poisoned, blind, and dying. He breathes his last breath in Jae-yi’s arms.
Two years later, Jae-yi, now head of Minsangdan, still waits for him. One night, footsteps echo on the rooftop. “Jae-yi,” a voice calls.
Is it real—or just a memory? Dear Hongran ends with this lingering mystery.
More Madness Than Romance
The romance between Hongran and Jae-yi was touching at times, but emotionally thin and lacking narrative weight. In contrast, Kim Jae-wook’s portrayal of Prince Hanpyeong—the crazed visionary who turns human bodies into canvases—completely stole the show. His deranged lines and chilling presence made him the heartbeat of the series.
No Season 2 – The Novel Is Complete
Dear Hongran is based on the novel Swallowing Gold by Jang Da-hae, and the drama adapts the full story. That final rooftop scene? A symbolic flourish, not a tease for Season 2.
Unlike the original novel, the series leans heavily into occult and thriller elements, creating a bold fusion of historical drama and supernatural horror. Though divisive, its originality stands out in the K-drama landscape.
What Dear Hongran Leaves Behind
To sum up, this series was a Kim Jae-wook showcase. While Jo Bo-ah and Lee Jae-wook gave strong performances, it was Prince Hanpyeong’s madness that kept us glued to the screen.
And let’s not forget the haunting OST. That eerie chant—“Heo-ee, heo-ee”—was addictive. Mixing royal court drama, romance, mysticism, and madness, Dear Hongran leaves behind an unforgettable legacy: one that dares to be weird, wild, and wonderfully dark.
Korea by koreans에서 더 알아보기
구독을 신청하면 최신 게시물을 이메일로 받아볼 수 있습니다.