Latest news with #Jae-yi
Korea Herald
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
'Dear Hongrang' explores mystery, sibling romance, trauma
Series stars Lee Jae-wuk, Cho Bo-ah discuss the historical drama, say series is a layered ensemble of characters driven by sorrow Netflix Korea's latest original series, "Dear Hongrang" explores the provocative concept of romance between siblings, setting the stage for a historical drama woven with mystery and psychological trauma. Set in the Joseon period, "Dear Hongrang" centers on Jae-yi (Cho Bo-ah), who grows suspicious when her younger brother, Hongrang (Lee Jae-wuk), reappears after a 12-year disappearance. As Hongrang struggles with amnesia regarding his childhood, he begins to develop a romantic connection with Jae-yi. The series unfolds as a cascade of revelations peels back layers of long-buried secrets. Lee Jae-wuk, who leads the drama as the enigmatic Hongrang, reflected on the emotional demands of his character during a recent group interview held in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. 'I still tear up when thinking about Hongrang,' said Lee. 'He's such a tragic character who grew up in a harsh environment. I regret that I couldn't portray him perfectly. I often find myself thinking about him -- Hongrang still holds a place in my heart.' 'To be honest, I don't think I was able to express even 10 percent of this character's pain. After we wrapped filming, I kept asking myself every night, 'Did I do a good job?' It was really upsetting at times.' Lee also revealed the intentional focus of his performance: that no matter how cold or conflicted Hongrang appeared, his attention always returned to Jae-yi. 'At the end of Hongrang's gaze, there always had to be Jae-yi. He felt compassion for her, and it seemed like, subconsciously, he needed her to be there. So even when he acted harshly and pushed her away, I tried to make sure his eyes were always on Jae-yi,' said Lee. Cho Bo-ah, who portrays Jae-yi, the emotionally complex anchor of the story, described the series as a layered ensemble of characters driven by sorrow rather than malice. "Each one carries their own sense of sorrow. There's no clear villain -- every character has their own backstory and their motivations are convincing. Through them, the series captures various forms of desire and greed," said Cho. Rather than playing Jae-yi as a conventional period drama heroine, Cho leaned into the emotional vulnerability at the core of her character. 'Rather than portraying Jae-yi as a strong, assertive and independent character, I approached her more through emotion -- through the sorrow she carries. She grew up without receiving love from her parents and lost her younger brother, Hongrang, the only person she considered family. I tried hard to understand the pain she's endured since childhood.' She continued, 'I do think Jae-yi might come across as somewhat passive. Still, I believe she carried each moment of the story in her own way, with sincerity and effort.' Cho also addressed the indefinite postponement of her high-profile Disney+ project "Knock Off," a series reportedly budgeted at 60 billion won ($43 million), which was shelved due to controversy surrounding co-star Kim Soo-hyun. "I'd prefer to hold back on this, as my words might hurt someone," she said carefully. "It's a project we all worked hard on together for a long time, pouring a lot of love into it. I believe that someday, people will recognize our efforts and it will lead to good results." All 11 episodes of "Dear Hongrang" are now streaming on Netflix.
The Review Geek
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Dear Hongrang – K-drama Episode 7 Recap & Review
Episode 7 Episode 7 of Dear Hongrang begins with a young Jae-yi comforting a young Mu-jin when he is first brought home. His gambler of a father sells him to Yeol-guk. At present, he stays tight-lipped. Yeon-ui offers him two options – starve to death or to die by poisoned beans. Yeol-guk asks the Grand Prince for his help but it requires a lot of meddling. The prince agrees if Yeol-guk gives that which he has been withholding. With Yeol-guk refusing to take instant action, Jae-yi decides to clear Mu-jin's name. She overhears Yeon-ui discussing how Yeol-guk has surrendered. In exchange, she has erased all proof of the new guild to maintain the Min Guild's reputation. She is looking for Gyu-ha and Jae-yi has an idea. She almost reveals her hiding place but Hong-rang comes to her rescue. He begs her to stop but she feels guilty for not being there for Mu-jin. She tricks Yeon-ui to follow a false lead to Gyu-ha. Once the matriarch leaves, the cook feeds the guards laxatives. Once they run off, Jae-yi frees Mu-jin. A mole shares the plan with Kkot-nim. She believes Jae-yi has learned of Hong-rang's secret and is using him. She wants her dead but Hong-rang offers to deal with it himself. He stops Jae-yi and Mu-jin from escaping. In a twist of events, Mu-jin reveals that the guild is his only purpose; he cannot leave. They quickly put him back in his cell before Yeon-ui returns. The next day, Hong-rang announces that Mu-jin will supervise miners in the cold Gapsan mountains. Jae-yi is upset and lashes out at Hong-rang. Exasperated, he accuses her of having an affair with Mu-jin. She claims they are always there for each other but she cannot say the same for Hong-rang. The cook requests Jae-yi not to be harsh. She reveals that Yeon-ui wanted Mu-jin dead but Hong-rang saved him. Later, Mu-jin assures Jae-yi that Yeon-ui will call him back soon. She realises that this is Hong-rang's doing as well. A flashback shows the two men talking. Mu-jin returned to his cell to protect Jae-yi from Yeon-ui's wrath. And if he dies, Jae-yi will want vengeance, putting her in danger. For her sake, Hong-rang agrees to keep Mu-jin around. It is followed by a montage of both men avoiding Jae-yi. Hong-rang is hurt that she is unable to see that he cares for her. One day, Lord Song's supposedly dead son, Su-nam shows up. His return coincides with Snow Man sightings. Bang-suk is curious when he learns that Hong-rang's assassins and Jae-yi are after the Snow Man. Meanwhile, Mu-jin gets his hands on a wanted poster. It is of a runaway slave boy from Paju. Fake Hong-rang was seen in that area when he was a kid. Mu-jin questions the owner, Master Yu who reveals that the slave was his human talisman. When Lord Yu died, the slave was sent to the grave to mourn him. He ran away in the first year. Yu also recalls a woman buying the slave and another mute slave boy. The flashback shows that the woman is Kkot-nim and the slaves are Fake Hong-rang and In-hoe. As proof, Yu gives the transaction record to Mu-jin. Back to the kidnapping drama, Hong-rang and In-hoe eavesdrop on Su-nam who rambles about the Snow Man and being buried alive. In-hoe and Hong-rang recall being buried alive by the Evil Painter as well. Suddenly, the Songs' shaman rings a bell and it triggers Su-nam, Hong-rang and In-hoe. This is enough confirmation that Su-nam faced the same fate as Hong-rang and In-hoe. At the same time, Du-ryeong is alerted to some trouble. He throws a tantrum and orders the kids to be moved. Back to Mu-jin, he rushes home to expose Hong-rang to Jae-yi. However, he spots her as she confronts Hong-rang. She knows he is looking for the Snow Man and is hurt that he couldn't confide in her. She ends up confessing that she feels for him. He kisses her, stating this is not a dream. She runs off and Mu-jin goes to her. Before he can tell her about the record, she confesses her attraction to Hong-rang. She is upset with herself and Mu-jin changes tactics. He asks her to leave with him so she can go back to seeing Hong-rang as her real brother. Alone, Mu-jin burns the record, the only proof of Fake Hong-rang's identity. His aide tries to stop him but he cannot stand to lose her to Hong-rang. While Jae-yi gathers her belongings from the cave, she finds something. That night, she curtly tells Hong-rang that she is leaving with Mu-jin. He is hurt that she is choosing Mu-jin over him. Back in the cave, we see that she finds the real Hong-rang's sachet. It also has his baby teeth that she herself had stored. She realises that the fake Hong-rang gave her a duplicate and Dear Hongrang Episode 7 comes to a close. The Episode Review Dear Hongrang Episode 7 finally wraps up the fake incest storyline and viewers can finally stop fretting. And by viewers, we mean us, because it was almost touch and go there when Mu-jin lets Jae-yi believe that she has kissed her brother. The timeline is pretty muddy as well. It may seem that Hong-rang runs away from Lord Yu's grave, is kidnapped by the Snow Man, escapes again and runs into Kkot-nim. She possibly takes him back to the Yus and buys him. Say In-hoe is kidnapped by the Snow Man at the same time. He isn't present in the flashbacks when Hong-rang escapes from the Painter. There are way too many assumed coincidences to ensure the two boys have the same origin. And how is Kkot-nim able to buy both boys from the Yus at the same time? Hope the show can clarify this soon. But Mu-jin fans are eating well. He carries this episode with his moral dilemma, clever investigation and unwitting manipulation of Hong-rang. He may have gotten Hong-rang to save his life for Jae-yi's sake, but in the end, he is the one who wins as Yeon-ui clears up the guild mess, takes back her kill order and promises to bring him back into the fold. On top of that, one cannot truly hate him as everything he does is for the love he has for Jae-yi. Sure, he does refuse to tell her the truth about Fake Hong-rang but that just makes him human and an intriguing character. Self-righteous, pitiable second male leads rarely stand out after all. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
The Review Geek
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Dear Hongrang – K-drama Episode 3 Recap & Review
Episode 3 Episode 3 of Dear Hongrang begins with Jae-yi and Hong-rang being surrounded by Bang-suk's men and they fight. Hong-rang hears a bell and is disoriented for a minute. It allows Bang-suk to take Jae-yi hostage. Hong-rang pretends to trade places with her and kicks Bang-suk off the cliff. While escaping, Jae-yi twists her ankle. Hong-rang roughly advises her not to let wounds fester and carries her like a sack. He lets her go once Mu-jin and the sleuths show up. Jae-yi is conflicted by his rough attitude as a flashback shows Little Hong-rang promising that the world will be kind to her. At present, she locks eyes with Hong-rang from the roof and Mu-jin watches them with trepidation. Onto the investigation, Hong-rang is upset that their one lead, the maid, is dead. He knows that the Snow Man takes the kids to the Painter who then drains them. He decides to look into guild members next. It cuts to Grand Prince Han-pyeong returning from his retreat. He has an artist's block. In the city, he watches buyers fight over a Du-ryeong painting. He is kind to an orphan kid and pretty much adopts him. Hong-rang coincidentally ends up watching this interaction. Luckily, he is allowed to accompany Yeol-guk who is meeting the Grand Prince. We learn that the Grand Prince had enlisted the military to look for Little Hong-rang 12 years ago. Hong-rang is still suspicious of him since his studio is located in the woods. Once they arrive, the prince abandons his painting to enthusiastically greet them. When Hong-rang heads out, he sees the orphaned kid being treated kindly. All of this helps rule out the Grand Prince as the Evil Painter. Hong-rang also reveals that the prince is right-handed and uses gentle brushstrokes, unlike the Evil Painter. Jae-yi pops up and tries to scare Hong-rang with bugs. Flashbacks show Little Hong-rang being scared of insects. He also falls for a prank where Jae-yi pretends a leaf is a bug. At present, to retaliate, Hong-rang plays the same leaf prank, surprising Jae-yi. However, she is confused when he grabs an insect and leaves. She follows him and finds him worrying for a crying kid before the mom shows up. Back at the studio, the Prince asks Yeol-guk about Du-ryeong. There are rumours that Du-ryeong paints corpses and beasts. Men on the verge of death are forced to model for him. Such scandalous rumours have led to his fame. The prince finds it insulting and claims no one can replicate his own brushstrokes which capture life. Meanwhile, Mu-jin meets Hong-sik, a cousin who felt inferior to Hong-rang. He suddenly has an idea to expose Hong-rang as a fraud. That night, Jae-yi tries to play the hide-and-seek hand game with Hong-rang. But before he can reciprocate, Mu-jin interrupts and tells her he has a plan to expose Hong-rang. It is Hong-rang's birthday. Mu-jin riles him up by gifting him a bow, befitting of his assassin past. Hong-rang doesn't take the bait and they make a toast. Once everyone drinks, Hong-sik causes a scene. It is pomegranate wine and Hong-rang is allergic! No one knows since Little Hong-rang and Hong-sik had promised never to tell anyone. Hong-rang looks scared when he suddenly breaks out in hives, confirming that he is allergic to pomegranate. It cuts to Yeon-ui beating Jae-yi who ends up taking the fall. Her maid, Eul-bun, who swapped the wine, and Mu-jin, who was the mastermind, try to protect her but Yeon-ui doesn't stop. Finally, Hong-rang stops Yeon-ui and she is ashamed when he looks disappointed. Mu-jin tries to rationalise Hong-rang's tricks but Jae-yi is tired of the constant second-guessing. She points out that if it is the real Hong-rang, Mu-jin just tried to kill him. Anyway, she is the one who is locked up as punishment. Yeol-guk watches them and looks troubled as his assistant reveals that Mu-jin's reputation is now tainted. Yeol-guk orders his man to get an object from Jin Arts ready. That night, Jae-yi dreams of Little Hong-rang telling her the story of a rat doppelganger. He worries that she may not recognise him if he has a doppelganger. She wakes up and finds that Hong-rang has brought her food. He is upset that she went along with the plan to hurt him but understands why. He tells her how he had no one and how he will earn the title of her little brother. She is sympathetic and hopes he is not in pain. At the end of Dear Hongrang Episode 3, Hong-rang secretly asks a nobleman how he knew that the real Hong-rang is allergic to pomegranate. Looks like Hong-rang is a fake after all! We learn that Fake Hong-rang and the nobleman are investigating the Min Guild and the Painter. A flashback shows the nobleman giving Fake Hong-rang poison ivy. During the toast, Fake Hong-rang watches Mu-jin and Hong-sik acting shifty. He drinks the wine and applies poison ivy to his neck which causes the hives. The Episode Review Dear Hongrang Episode 3 is the perfect example of enjoying a puzzle despite being aware of the big picture. Hong-sik and Mu-jin's trap initially has us second-guessing Hong-rang's identity when he gets the hives. And then there is the hide-and-seek game which Hong-rang almost plays with Jae-yi. Ironically, she finally seems to be buying into his act while the show outright confirms to the viewers that Lee Jae-wook's character is indeed an impostor, pretending to be Hong-rang. However, the show keeps the suspense high by introducing a new mystery, and that is, who has hired Fake Hong-rang and how does he know all about the real Hong-rang. Then there is the main conflict of the Evil Painter who apparently seems to fit the description of Du-ryeong rather than the Grand Prince. This chapter may be full of questions with barely any answers, however, the investigation is bound to keep viewers hooked. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
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Business Standard
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
5 top OTT releases to stream this week across Netflix, Prime Video and more
With the weekend around the corner, entertainment lovers are on the hunt for new films and series to binge from the comfort of their homes. This week brings a variety of fresh releases on platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and SonyLIV — offering something for every taste. No matter what genre you love, this weekend there is something for everyone. Top 5 OTT releases to watch this week Here's the list of OTT movies or series to watch this weekend: Hai Junoon! Dream. Dare. Dominate Hai Junoon is an upcoming Indian musical drama series featuring Neil Nitin Mukesh and Jacqueline Fernandez in the lead roles. The soundtrack for the series Hai Junoon! is composed by Shankar Mahadevan. Abhishek Sharma directed series will stream on JioHotstar. Dear Hongrang Dear Hongrang is a historical Korean drama series, which features actors Lee Jae-wook and Jo Bo-ah in the key roles. The series revolves around Jae-yi ( played by Bo-ah), who is searching for her half-brother, Hong-rang (played by Jae-wook). Hong-rang returns after 12 years, and it falls upon Jae-yi to find out who the man truly is. Where to watch: Netflix Release Date: May 16, 2025 Murderbot Murderbot is an adaptation of the best selling book series, 'The Murderbot Series' written by Martha Wells. Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz are the writer, director and producer of the series and Wells joined them as a consulting producer. The sci-fi comedy revolves around Alexander Skarsgard, a security robot, who hacks his system and now has free will. Assigned to protect a new group of clients on a perilous mission, the robot begins to experience a gradual transformation—becoming increasingly human in thought and behaviour. The series is full of thrill and wry humour. Where to watch: Apple+ Release date: May 16 Maranamass on SonyLIV Maranamass is ready for its OTT debut after theatrical release last month. The plot revolves around two friends who think they've witnessed a murder, setting off a chain of paranoia, political twists, and unexpected chaos. The movie features Basil Joseph, Rajesh Madhavan, Siju Sunny, and Babu Antony in key roles. Where to watch: SonyLiv Release date: May 16 Love, Death and Robots Volume 4 The animated series features a compilation of short films, each created by different teams of cast and crew—though a few episodes share some of the same contributors. The title reflects the central themes explored in each episode, which revolve around love, death, or robots. The series features Red Hot Chilli Peppers, John Boyega, Kevin Hart, Dan Stevens in the key roles. Release Date: May 15, 2025
Time Magazine
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
Breaking Down the Bittersweet Ending of Netflix's Melodrama Mystery Dear Hongrang
Hong-rang, the beloved child of a wealthy Joseon merchant family, vanishes into thin air, leaving half-sister Jae-yi (Cho Bo-ah), mother Min Yeon-ui (Uhm Ji-won), and father Sim Yeol-guk (Park Byung-eun) bereft and the future of the guild unclear. Twelve years later, a man (Lee Jae-wook) suspected to be the long-lost Hong-rang wanders back into the Min family's life. Such is the Anastasia -like setup for Dear Hongrang, Netflix's Korean-language mystery melodrama. With Dear Hongrang, actor Lee Jae-wook steps into another sword-wielding, hanbok-wearing role following his turn as Jang Uk across two seasons of Netflix's hit fantasy romance Alchemy of Souls. 'If you compare the characters as their grown selves, there could be some similarities,' Lee tells TIME about Jang Uk and Sim Hong-rang. 'But in Alchemy of Souls, it was really more about the growth arc of the character. In Dear Hongrang, he is someone who has already grown and who returns to the scene after that growth arc.' Min Yeon-ui is desperate to believe the man, who claims to have no memory of his childhood, is her missing son. She has spent the years since Hong-rang's disappearance in a deep depression and drug-induced fog. Not only would this mean reuniting with her beloved son, but it would bolster her position in the Min family guild. Follow's Hong-rang's disappearance, Sim Yeol-guk (Park Byung-eun), adopted Mu-jin (Jung Ga-ram) against Yeon-ui's wishes, and has been training to take over the role as guild grandmaster. For Jae-yi, the return of her younger half-brother is only worth celebrating if it is true. 'She grew up being completely neglected and oppressed, and Hong-rang was the only person within her family or around her that treated her in a humane way and also with love,' explains Cho. 'And so, after he goes missing, it really becomes her sole goal to find that hope [for living and] that brother once again.' In Hong-rang's absence, Jae-yi has dedicated her life to finding her missing brother, employing a network of peasant friends to put up missing person portraits and follow leads alongside her. When Lee's character surfaces in Episode 1, she is positive he is an imposter. Mu-jin, who stands to lose everything if Hong-rang is reinstated as guild heir, teams up with his adoptive younger sister Jae-yi to prove Lee's character is not the Hong-rang. Is Lee Jae-wook actually Hongrang, Jae-yi's brother? By the end of Episode 3, it is revealed that Lee Jae-wook's character is not Jae-yi's missing brother, but rather an imposter sent to infiltrate and take over the Min family guild. Later, we learn his true history: He was born as 'a lowly and insignificant slave' to a noble family, in which he was forced to be the 'talisman' for the son of a noble family. He endured consistent abuse until he managed to escape, with the help of his friend, the non-verbal In-hoe. Unfortunately, the two boys are captured by the entities known as 'The Snow Man' and 'The Painter.' Kept captive by the Painter, both Hong-rang and In-hoe were subjected to horrific abuses. A decade later, they still suffer from the aftermath of this trauma, and seek to take down the men who hurt them. Note: While Lee Jae-wook's character was not born as Hong-rang, he is called Hong-rang throughout the series. Because of this, we will refer to his character as 'Hong-rang' and the actual Hong-rang as 'the real Hong-rang.' Who sent Hong-rang to take the Min family down? Hong-rang was sent by Kkot-nim, the leader of a mysterious, deadly organization known as Geomgyedan. She is also Sim Yeol-guk's former mistress, disappeared by a jealous Min Yeon-ui while Min was pregnant with Yeol-guk's child. Kkot-nim came upon Hong-rang and In-hoe as boys, after they managed to escape the Painter as children. She took them in, and began training Hong-rang to infiltrate the Min family guild. Initially, Kkot-nim and Hong-rang's goals are aligned: Kkot-nim wants revenge on Yeol-guk and Yeon-ui for leaving her for dead all those years ago, and Hong-rang wants to take down the people who kidnapped and tortured him as a child. (The Min family guild deals mostly in art, and seems to have some connection to the Painter.) However, when Hong-rang begins to fall for Jae-yi, things get complicated. When Kkot-nim tasks Hong-rang with killing Jae-yi in Episode 4, he cannot go through with it. 'The one thing [Hong-rang] feared the most was being alone,' Lee says of his character's confused motivations. 'I think he was always drawn to [Jae-yi]. She was on his mind all along. But that emotion turned into compassion, and that almost became explosive in Episode 4, where he realizes it.' Similarly, Jae-yi quickly comes to care for Hong-rang. 'There's a line that Jae-yi says, 'whether or not you are indeed you are, in fact, my brother. I just don't want you to get hurt,'' Cho tells TIME. 'And I think that's a point in time when she feels that it doesn't really matter what the character dynamics are. She really cares for this character as another human being.' After Hong-rang reveals his true identity to Jae-yi in Episode 8, the two admit their attraction to one another. They run away together, and lead a simple, happy life for a short while. While Hong-rang and Jae-yi do not have a ceremony, they consider themselves to be married to one another, and consummate their love. Who is the Snow Man? Tall and lithe with long white hair, pale skin, and blue eyes, the Snow Man has become a boogeyman of sorts for the people living in and around the Min family guild. He is often sighted alongside the mysterious abduction or return of a young boy. While we never learn the true identity of the Snow Man, we know he is mortal. Hong-rang kills him in Episode 10, slitting his throat after they battle. With this death, the Painter loses a strong fighter. Who is the Painter? The Painter is eventually revealed to be Crown Prince Han-pyeong, who we see throughout the series as a benefactor of Jae-yi's father, Sim Yeol-guk. The Crown Prince's favor comes at a high price. For years, Yeol-guk has been helping the Crown Prince abduct boys; bleach their skin using a mixture of toxic chemicals; and cut, ink, and burn 'art' into the flesh of their backs. Hong-rang was one of those boys. Han-pyeong sees Hong-rang as one of his seven living 'talismans.' He plans to use the now grown men in a ritual that he thinks will make him holy. "My search for greatness is not driven by selfish aspirations or avarice,' he claims, in Episode 10. '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.' Hong-rang and the Geomgyedan are able to stop the ritual. In the final episode, Hong-rang kills the Crown Prince. "So you are just an idiot,' Hong-rang tells Han-pyeong, before cutting off the hands that caused innocent people so much pain. 'You were simply a grotesque madman. A mere nobody, bound by a vain delusion in hopes of becoming someone.' He sees the man behind the masks of royalty and cruelty, and strips them of their power in the process. Is the real Hongrang dead? The real Hong-rang did, in fact, die, after falling and hitting his head on a rock. The young boy overheard his mother and shaman Madame Gwigokja talking about a talisman that marked Jae-yi for death. The real Hong-rang climbed a hanok wall in an attempt to remove the talisman, but slipped and fell. A servant found the injured boy, and hid the young master, fearing she would be punished for his injuries. When she decided to seek help, she left the real Hong-rang. Upon her return, the boy had vanished. Though the servant convinced herself that the real Hong-rang could have been taken by the Snow Man, he was actually found by Madame Gwigokja. She ordered her servant to throw the boy into a nearby well. It is unclear if he was dead or not at the time. Either way, the result was the same. Do Hong-rang and Jae-yi end up together? Though Hong-rang and Jae-yi love one another, their time together is cut short. When Hong-rang was held by the Crown Prince as a child, Sim Yeol-guk treated his skin with alum and arsenic. The chemicals were used to make a young Hong-rang's skin whiter in preparation for the Crown Prince's 'art.' Years later, the toxic chemicals have poisoned Hong-rang's body. His organs begin to shut down. After Hong-rang kills the Crown Prince, he returns to Jae-yi's side, as promised. The two vow to meet again one day, in whatever form that may take. Hong-rang dies in Jae-yi's arms. Does Dear Hongrang have a happy ending? This is a complicated question. While Hong-rang dies, many characters are able to find the peace and justice they deserve. Jae-yi finally discovers the truth about her brother's disappearance. In discovering the truth, she is able to stand up to her stepmother. Jae-yi turns the Min family guild's ledger, which includes ample evidence of years of corruption, over to the authorities. Kkot-nim kills Yeol-guk, the man who betrayed her all those years ago and who helped the Crown Prince hurt innocent children. After trying to force Jae-yi to marry him and siding with the Crown Prince, Mu-jin dies protecting his adoptive sister. "I am relieved,' he tells her, after sustaining fatal injuries fending off the Crown Prince's men. 'Now, at last, I can stop. Truthfully, I feared that you would never forgive me." Jae-yi uses her time and energy to start an orphanage. She is able to give countless children something that neither she nor Hong-rang had: a safe home. 'I think that, in a way, you can say that Dear Hongrang has a tragic ending,' Cho tells TIME, 'but I hope that that can serve as an opportunity for those who have followed the story to really look into the character's journey and into all of [the feelings that were] expressed by each character that have to do with human desires, human greed, forbidden love, and deep, truly-felt compassion or empathy. And I hope that, because of the nature of the ending, it almost lets you really sit with those emotions in a more grave way. I hope that can be a common viewing experience.' After all of the suffering Hong-rang and Jae-yi have endured, it doesn't seem fair that they are so quickly parted by death. However, both characters are able to reach a sort of peace in their short time together—a peace that seems to stay with Jae-yi even after she loses her love. 'I think that the love that is felt between these two characters, it is something that should not be looked upon lightly,' adds Lee. 'So I hope that's something that the audience can truly feel.'
