Dear Hongrang, a Netflix Original Series was released at the end of May 2023 with little fanfare but has since gained significant popularity with a total of 103.4 million views, per FlixPatrol, which makes it one of Netflix’s highest viewed thriller shows of 2023 so far, and has also been awarded an 80% rating by Rotten Tomatoes. Considering this is a historical drama about grief, obsession, and moral decay, it’s pretty impressive.
Set during Korea’s Joseon period, Dear Hongrang is both a dark romantic novel about the supernatural (the two interrelated genres are evident throughout) and a psychological drama featuring undercurrents of politics. The story presents a compelling view of the Joseon period through its characters and their feelings for each other, tinged with a desire for something greater than themselves, and constantly creating uncertainty about what else may be revealed when all is said and done.
What ‘Dear Hongrang’ Is About
At its core, Dear Hongrang is a story about absence. Twelve years before the series begins, Hong-rang (Lee Jae-wook), the young heir of a powerful merchant guild, vanishes without a trace. His disappearance fractures his family. His mother, Min Yeon-ui (Uhm Ji-won), spirals into grief. His father, Sim Yeol-guk (Park Byung-Eun), consolidates power. And his half-sister, Jae-yi (Jo Bo-ah), never stops searching.
When a grown man appears years later claiming to be Hong-rang, the fragile balance holding the family together begins to crack. The stranger bears scars only Hong-rang should have. Blood tests suggest a connection. He has no recollection of his youth, but Jae-yi instinctively feels there is a discrepancy.
This incident sends her on a prolonged route to investigate the man’s history and discover who he has been loyal to and why. During the investigation, she becomes entangled in the network of lies that extends beyond family and includes the use of power and privilege to commit acts of corruption and violence, as well as deep-rooted sins.
A ‘Dear Hongrang’ is Built on Grief and Power
Instead of relying on romance or royal intrigue, many historical dramas of this period rely more on the emotional stakes surrounding each character. Dear Hongrang focuses more on the emotional stakes surrounding each character. Each character experiences loss, and all their actions are based on the potential gain or loss they would face if the truth came to light.
Min Yeon-ui’s desire to get her son back is mixed with her desire for power and control. Sim Yeol-guk’s cruelty isn’t random; it’s the cost of protecting his legacy. Even Mu-jin (Jung Ga-ram), the adopted son positioned to inherit the guild, is trapped between devotion and survival once Hong-rang re-enters the picture.
The series is at its strongest when it lets these tensions breathe. Trust is never assumed. Love is rarely uncomplicated. And the question of who Hong-rang really is becomes less important than what people are willing to sacrifice to believe in him.
The visual and tonal elements of Dear Hongrang have a clear, strong connection with Gothic influences. The nighttime forests, candle-lit interiors, and shadows throughout the show’s compositions create an aesthetically unsettling atmosphere, one that is both sacred and unnatural. The show’s overall sense of foreboding centers on a ghostly figure with long white hair who follows and possibly terrorizes children, and this theme of dread is heightened throughout the series’ interactions with the characters.
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‘Dear Hongrang’ arrives soon.
The end product is a series that feels haunted by more than just a storybook. There are always moments of tenderness in the series, but they are surrounded by the suggestion that something evil lies beneath the surface, ready to strike at the unsuspecting viewer. The tonal direction for this series was purposeful but also indicated a distinct approach to romance, with this more grounded representation of sageuk compared to other romantic sageuk series, thus providing additional reasons to appreciate how much this series has resonated globally with thriller fans.
Lee Jae-wook depicts a Hong-rang who has become disconnected from humanity as a result of the pain and violence he has experienced personally. Throughout the series, the physicality has developed alongside Lee Jae-wook’s inner character development; both developments have created a relationship between the two characters that goes beyond romantic love. For Lee Jae-wook and Hong-rang, their relationship is a recognition of each other’s damaged, abused past; as a result, their chemistry is authentic.
Why ‘Dear Hongrang’ Is Worth Watching
What ultimately sets Dear Hongrang apart is its refusal to offer easy answers. The series recognizes that the truth does not always heal and that justice typically comes with a price. Additionally, it portrays love as a double-edged sword, both a saving and destructive force depending on who wields it.
It may be due to this complexity that Dear Hongrang has attracted a broad audience in a saturated marketplace of Netflix options for high-concept thriller series. While other media rush through the action and/or plot to generate interest, Dear Hongrang takes a slower, more thoughtful approach, allowing for an extended build-up of themes. The series is a tragedy, but one where not all hope is lost; it offers romance, yet does not overly sentimentalize the experience, and leaves us feeling uncomfortable without resorting to gimmicks to create this effect.
For viewers looking for a historical drama that doesn’t shy away from darkness — or a thriller that understands the power of emotional investment — Dear Hongrang earns its place among Netflix’s most-watched series of the year.
