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Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Dear Hongrang ending explained: 7 burning questions answered in Lee Jae Wook and Jo Bo Ah story finale
Lee Jae Wook and Jo Bo Ah's Dear Hongrang, despite its lukewarm ratings, has stirred up enough noise on Netflix to pull viewers into its historical-fantasy story of Hong Rang and Jae Yi, while leaving a trail of chaos and questions behind. Was it a happy ending? Who died? Are they siblings or lovers? And what about Mu Jin? Sure, the makers didn't keep us hanging by dropping all 11 episodes in one go, but there are still loose ends that need to be answered, especially since the series wrapped on a bittersweet note (or downright tragic). The story kicks off with the disappearance of the only son from Joseon's wealthiest merchant family, and what follows is his half-sister risking it all to bring him back, only to clash with a stranger claiming to be Hong Rang. She's not buying it, but somehow, the family is. The series throws in a time jump, a romantic arc, and long, beautifully chaotic battle scenes. So here we are, breaking it down for you. Spoilers ahead—this is your last chance to look away if you're not caught up. Jae Yi is on a mission to find her long-lost half-brother, who disappeared at the age of 12. By episode three, it's clear that Lee Jae Wook, who bears the same scars and habits as Hong Rang, isn't her brother, but a soul reaper planted in the wealthy merchant family to take the Min family down. But Jae Wook isn't just a pawn. His backstory is brutal. Once a lowly slave to a powerful family, he was captured by Prince Han Pyeong and turned into a living 'talisman.' After escaping, he was caught by Kkot Nim, leader of Geomgyedan, who gave him a new identity and trained him to replace Hong Rang. She wanted to avenge the death of her unborn child, killed by the Min family. Also read: Dear Hongrang Review: K-trauma hits again as Jo Bo Ah–Lee Jae Wook follow Netflix's heartbreak streak post Twenty Five Twenty One After capturing In Hoe, Han Pyeong also kidnaps Jae Yi to lure Soul Reaper, aka Hong Rang, into his trap. On the other hand, Hong Rang, who promised Jae Yi to free Hoe In and not let the prince succeed in his evil intention, gets startled and filled with rage. He attacks the palace even in his unhealthy state, but fails to save his close friend. However, Jae Yi gets saved, along with the other kids captured by the prince. Now, coming to the next question, who is Snow Man? He was often sighted on crime spots, whether a kidnapping or taking the body back. The identity of white-bearded, pale-looking man of towering height remained a mystery till the end in episode 10 when Hong Rang kills him, but it is clear that he was mortal. On the other hand, Painter is none other than the evil prince himself, whom Jae Yi's father kept supporting with money. Based on the 2021 novel Tangeum: Swallowing Gold by Jang Da Hye, the story introduces this character as someone who used toxic substances to hurt kids, and Hong Rang was one of the victims. No, Hong Rang is dead. In the initial episode, it was made clear that a maid witnessed Hong Rang's disappearance, and the Soul Reaper who falls for Jae Yi couldn't lie to her anymore, so he reveals the place where Hong Rang's body was buried, and Jae Yi gets closure. However, the maid later describes what she saw years ago — during Jae Yi's mother's funeral, her stepmother tried black magic on her and contacted a shaman. However, Hong Rang, who saw it all, later slipped from the roof while trying to stop the ritual. The shaman, in turn, asked the servant to throw the boy's still-breathing body. Later, it was discovered that the shaman Gwigokja was also seeking revenge from Hong Rang's mother, who, years before, had got her mother killed. Also read: Dear Hongrang star Jo Bo Ah reveals nickname she gave to Lee Jae Wook, shares why she keeps distance from male co-stars There are battle scenes with Hong Rang and Jae Yi against the world, the duo has clearly fallen for each other. The last scene is open for interpretation, but on the surface, we cannot say they end up together. When Hong Rang was captured by the prince in his childhood, Jae Yi's father, Sim Yeol Guk, applied toxic chemicals on his body, alum and arsenic. Years later, after succeeding in his mission, there is no happy ending for the Soul Reaper, whose organs begin to shut down because of the reaction from those chemicals. His health worsens, and though he promised to return to Jae Yi after killing the prince, he only returns to die in her arms. The show takes a 2-year time jump, showing Jae Yi as the Min family head. She still takes care of her stepmother and is clearly lonely and suffering from the loss of her loved ones. In the final moment, she hears a whisper, Soul Reaper's voice, and says, 'There you are,' while smiling, giving us the impression that they may have met in the afterlife or imagination. Many were rooting for Mu Jin, played by Jung Ga Ram, to end up with the female lead if Soul Reaper succumbed to injury, given that he always yearned for her despite Jae Yi clearly drawing a sibling boundary. But in the end, Mu Jin, the adopted son of the Min family, trained to replace Hong Rang, sacrifices himself for his love, trying to shield her from the final blow of the crown prince's men. Hong Rang kills Crown Prince Han Pyeong, starting with chopping off his arms, the same arms that caused so much pain to his victims. The prince tries to trap Hong Rang again after realising he is his 7th living talisman who escaped from his trap, and that sacrificing him in his adult form would make him holy. 'My search for greatness is not driven by selfish aspirations or avarice,' he said in the penultimate episode. 'Rather, it is my fervent zeal for all people. I must become a deity. Only then will this country and the entire world achieve serenity.' But in the finale, Hong Rang kills him, calling him an 'idiot.' 'You were simply a grotesque madman. A mere nobody, bound by a vain delusion in hopes of becoming someone.'
Pink Villa
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Lee Jae Wook, Jo Bo Ah's Dear Hongrang Ending Explained: Know Hong Rang's dark past and fate of Jae Yi-Soul Reaper's love story
The finale of Dear Hongrang, titled Forever and After, ends on a tragic note. It was filled with sorrow, sacrifice, and painful truths. The Netflix K-drama unravels a dark tale of revenge, mistaken identities, and haunting memories. Lee Jae Wook shines as the Soul Reaper, a man torn by past trauma and a thirst for purpose. Directed by Kim Hong Seon, the story begins with the mysterious disappearance of young Hong Rang. Twelve years later, he returns, but his half-sister Jae Yi, played by Jo Bo Ah, questions his identity. Jae Yi's long search for her lost brother leads to a heartbreaking discovery. As secrets resurface, the drama explores the cost of truth and the weight of memory in a beautifully tragic finale. Jae Yi discovers the tragic truth about her brother Jae Yi's search for her brother ends in heartbreak rather than reunion. After breaking free from Prince Han Pyeong's control, the Soul Reaper, who had been living under the identity of Hong Rang, confesses his true feelings to Kkot Nim. He admits he has fallen for Jae Yi and can no longer hide the truth about her real brother. As the story unfolds, Jae Yi, along with a group of maidservants, stumbles upon a chilling discovery: skeletal remains buried in a well. This grim find confirms that Hong Rang died long ago, ending Jae-yi's desperate hope of finding him alive. Though the truth is painful, it finally brings clarity to her years of longing and unanswered questions. Truth behind Hong Rang's disappearance shocks Jae Yi At Min Palace, a longtime maid finally unveils the truth about Hong Rang's mysterious disappearance. Years ago, during the memorial for Jae Yi's late mother, young Jae Yi and Hong Rang performed the rites together. Their moment was cut short when Yeon Ui, Hong Rang's mother, stormed in and forbade him from honoring his stepmother. That night, Yeon Ui, burning with resentment, asked shaman Gwigokja to craft a cursed doll bearing Jae Yi's name, placing it on a rooftop. Hong Rang, having seen the ritual, climbed onto the roof to retrieve the doll but tragically slipped and fell. The maid discovered him barely alive but returned to find him gone. Gwigokja had found the boy and ordered his body thrown into a well. It is later revealed that Gwigokja sought revenge. Her mother was once killed by Yeon Ui. In the present, Jae Yi confronts Yeon Ui, then mourns Hong Rang at his grave, comforted by the Soul Reaper. Soul Reaper's tragic origins and dire future Following Hong Rang's funeral, Jae Yi begins a quiet life alongside the Soul Reaper, who finally shares his painful history. He was born into slavery under a royal family and later captured by Prince Han Pyeong. The Prince used his back to paint a yin-yang talisman. Though he escaped, he was eventually taken in by Kkot Nim, leader of Geomgyedan. She trained him as an assassin and forced him to live as Hong Rang to carry out her revenge against the Min family for the loss of her unborn child. Soon after, Jae Yi discovers through Mu Jin that her father aided the prince in harming children, using toxic substances to mark talismans. As a result, the Soul Reaper is now gravely ill, suffering from seizures, lung damage, and worsening health. Prince Han Pyeong's ambition crushed by Soul Reaper Prince Han Pyeong captures In Hoe, the Soul Reaper's only close friend, hoping to lure him out. Despite his failing health, the Soul Reaper promises Jae Yi he will rescue In Hoe and return safely. Before he can act, the prince also kidnaps Jae Yi. Filled with rage, the Soul Reaper launches a solo attack on the palace, overcoming the prince's soldiers. Though he is unable to save In Hoe, he manages to free Jae Yi and other imprisoned children, ensuring their escape. During a final confrontation, the prince reveals his twisted plan to attain godhood by marking humans with talismans and offering them as sacrifices. The prince believed this would cleanse and uplift the world. Horrified, the Soul Reaper disables the prince by cutting off his hands and ultimately kills him, stopping his sinister scheme. What became of Jae Yi and Soul Reaper in the end? After defeating Prince Han Pyeong, the Soul Reaper returns to Jae Yi as promised, but his injuries are too severe. He passes away in her arms, leaving behind the memory of a life they were never able to share. His death highlights a tragic fate: used and discarded, his true identity remains lost until the very end. Two years later, Jae Yi leads the Min family, quietly carrying the pain of her losses. She cares for her stepmother, Yeon Ui, who has fallen into madness, still clinging to hope for Hong Rang's return. In the final moments, Jae Yi hears the Soul Reaper's voice and turns with a gentle smile, whispering, 'There you are.' The scene then shifts to a snowy Joseon, where they reunite in her imagination, their love continues to live on.
