Latest news with #Tangeum
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Dear Hongrang star Lee Jae Wook reveals his ‘jealous personality,' says Park Ji Hoon's Weak Hero made him envious: ‘It could become poison'
Actor Lee Jae Wook, riding high on a streak of historical fantasies and sword-swinging roles in K-dramas like The Alchemy of Souls and the new Netflix hit Dear Hongrang, opened up about his work ethic and how he picks projects. The actor who debuted in 2018 with Memories of the Alhambra sat down with Dispatch Korea to talk about his latest drama alongside Jo Bo Ah, drawing parallels between the show's title, Tangeum, and his own life. The series's title, based on Jang Da Hye's original novel, translates to an ancient Qing Dynasty punishment, swallowing gold until death. Lee shared what that 'gold' symbolises for him. The 27-year-old has tasted success in very little time and earned the title of Netflix's son from fans, thanks to his multiple hits on the OTT platform. His new K-drama Dear Hongrang, written by Kim Jin Ah and directed by Kim Hong Sun, is a tragic tale of people crushed by status, power, desire, and revenge. Here, gold stands for the ideal everyone chases. When asked what gold means to him, Lee said, 'I think it's a lack or deficiency. I really enjoy meeting people and working. When I'm alone, I just get jealous of hit dramas. Like the series title says, it could become poison.' Also read: Dear Hongrang ending explained: 7 burning questions answered in Lee Jae Wook and Jo Bo Ah story finale Lee explained that when he's alone, he often binges on new shows and pictures himself in their shoes, wondering how he would have performed. 'I always think about how I'd act in those roles. Then I get jealous, thinking, 'Why didn't that script come to me?' That's probably why I keep working without rest,' he laughed. For Lee, he completed Tangeum fueled by that same power of jealousy, determined to show his acting skills so well that no one would think of anyone but Lee Jae-wook as 'Hongrang', and maybe even spark a little envy. 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 In Dear Hongrang, Lee Jae Wook plays the long-lost son of Joseon's wealthiest merchant family. He returns after a decade with no memories. Opposite him is Jo Bo Ah as Jae Yi, his half-sister, who suspects this newly returned family member and is convinced he's not her brother. In a talk with Dispatch, Lee revealed he initially turned down Hongrang's script because he had already done two historical hits, Alchemy of Souls and Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow. But what changed his mind was a handwritten note from writer Kim Jin-ah. Lee said the letter was five or six pages long, where the writer carefully described Hongrang's onscreen personality and his character arc. 'She explained Hongrang's character and gave detailed feedback on my acting. I read that letter overseas and cried my heart out,' he said. 'I was grateful there was a writer who saw me so closely. That's when I reopened the script. I joined with the desire to express Hongrang's pain after unimaginable torture.' Lee's character Jang Uk from Alchemy of Souls is one of his most widely praised roles globally. So when news of him signing a new historical drama broke, fans naturally expected him to return in the same avatar. But the actor surprised them with a darker role. Comparing the two characters, he explained, 'Jang Uk was a growing character. Hongrang's story starts after he has already grown. I pushed through without confusion about the character's nature.' On the other hand, for Hongrang, he said, 'I tried to bring out Hongrang's sharpness. I had to convince viewers with minimal lines. I aimed to show restraint. And I added the detail that Jae Yi was always at the end of his gaze.' Lee Jae Wook took his first role at the age of 21. He's 27 now, with six leading roles already under his belt. The actor revealed he watched Weak Hero Class 1, led by Park Ji-hoon, and felt a twinge of jealousy, spending time thinking about what he would have done if he played that character. 'I think the reason I work without rest is also because of jealousy. Since I'm just watching other works and feeling jealous, I think I'm motivated to work quickly.' Lee is currently planning to enlist in the military and wants to belt out as many shows as he can.
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Will there be Dear Hongrang season 2 based on the original novel Tangeum's ending? Netflix keeps the possibility open
Lee Jae Wook and Jo Bo Ah's new historical mystery K-drama Dear Hongrang ended its 11-episode run on May 17 after debuting the same day on Netflix. If you've already watched it, you're probably aware of the bittersweet ending and may have even found yourself scrolling through a fan thread, trying to piece it all together. Now, fans are wondering if Dear Hongrang will follow in the footsteps of Lee Jae Wook's previous historical fantasy Alchemy of Souls and return with a Part 2 to continue the story. While there's no official word from the streamer yet, it's worth noting that the series is based on the 2021 novel Tangeum: Swallowing Gold, which also inspired a webtoon under the same name. So, whether the show expands or stops here depends a lot on how the novel wrapped things up. 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 Yes, the story is inspired by Tangeum by the renowned Korean author Jang Da Hye. Just as shown in the Netflix adaptation, the story is set in the late Joseon Dynasty, where a young boy, the only son of a powerful merchant guild, disappears on the very night he promises to pick red camellias for his little stepsister. Ten years later, he returns with the same habits and same scars but claims he remembers nothing about his past life. An ancient blood-mixing technique somehow proves he is the long-lost son of the family, but his sister, Jae Yi, isn't convinced. Jae Yi grows up searching for her brother her whole life while living in a suffocating home, filled with opium smoke and betrayal. Then there's Mu Jin, the adopted son of the Min family. He grew up with Jae Yi. Once, he may have seen her as a sister. Now, his feelings have twisted into love. Also read: Dear Hongrang ending explained: 7 burning questions answered in Lee Jae Wook and Jo Bo Ah story finale Why Tangeum? Tangeum translates to 'swallowing gold.' It's a poetic Korean phrase used to describe suicide, especially among 'noblewomen or courtesans driven by despair.' The story focuses less on uncovering Hong Rang's identity and more on the characters themselves, each broken in a different way, and how one incident fractures every bond — three people, caught in a web of memory, pain, desire, and guilt. The possibility of Dear Hongrang getting a renewal is quite low, or even a complete no, given the current series has wrapped up all the arcs written in the novel, and Hongrang's character met the same fate as Lee Jae Wook's: taking his last breath in the arms of Jae Yi. The series covered everything, including the brutal history of the soul reaper, how he was poisoned in childhood, which slowly led his body and organs to give up.. The villain meets a tragic end after Hongrang chops off the same arms that claimed the lives of so many innocent kids. According to author Jang Da Hye, she painstakingly rewrote her characters' emotional arcs multiple times before publishing. The book is drenched in symbolism and emotion. However, when adapted on screen, writer Kim Jin Ah (The Devil Judge) and director Kim Hong Sun (The Guest, The Witch's Diner) leaned harder into the political intrigue and suspense, though the story and character arcs largely stayed true to the source. What's surprising is that Netflix still hasn't marked the series as Limited, leaving the door slightly open. But if the story expands, it'll likely go beyond the book, into completely original fiction. If you can read Korean, or even if you're semi-fluent and willing to work through it with tools, Tangeum is 100% worth it. There's no official English translation yet, but the demand has skyrocketed. There's also a webtoon version on Ridibooks.
News18
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Lee Jae Wook Vows To Work ‘Until The Moment He Leaves' For Military Service
Last Updated: Lee Jae Wook has been dropping hints about his military enlistment, with reports suggesting that he might enlist in 2025. South Korean actor Lee Jae Wook has been in the headlines for his latest show, Dear Hongrang. Apart from that, details surrounding his future plans, dating rumours with aespa's Karina, and military enlistment have also piqued interest among fans. In a recent interview, Lee Jae Wook dropped a major update about reaching a deadline to enlist. Speaking at a press conference in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, the actor shared that he wants to work till the last moment before leaving for service. 'I've reached the final deadline. I wasn't diligent enough to pursue graduate school or other options." He continued, 'Even if I enlist, I want people to be able to find a lot of my work and writings. So I plan to keep working as much as possible until the moment I leave," he said, as quoted by Allkpop. This is not the first time that the actor has hinted at the enlistment plans. In 2024, Lee Jae Wook appeared on KBS's The Seasons: Artist With ZICO, where he informed his fans about having very little time before going for the mandatory services. 'There is not much time left until I leave for the military. I'm thinking about going next year, but I'll try to do a lot of activities before I leave," he said at the time. More On Lee Jae Wook's Dating Life, Projects While both Lee Jae Wook's and Karina's agencies had already confirmed the artists' relationship status, their romance was short-lived after the couple parted ways due to mental strain from hate comments. The Alchemy of Souls actor also addressed the same during the interview and asserted how it didn't affect his role during the filming of Tangeum (Dear Hongrang). 'It didn't really affect my immersion in the role. Going into more detail would make it too personal, so I'd rather not," he shared. Dear Hongrang is currently streaming on Netflix. The show, which also features Jo Bo-ah, revolves around the mysterious tale of the youngest son of a wealthy family in the Joseon Era. After Hongrang goes missing at the young age of 8, his half-sister (played by Jo Bo-ah) leaves no stone unturned to search for him. 12 years later, a man claiming to be Hongrang appears before the family, leaving everyone puzzled. First Published:
Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Dear Hongrang: 3 key points to look out for before watching Netflix's new historical romance, starring Lee Jae Wook and Jo Bo Ah
Dear Hongrang premiered on Netflix on May 16. While the makers have made sure not to leave you guessing every week, they do want you to check out a few details before tuning into the historical mystery romance, also titled Tangeum, starring Alchemy of Soul star Lee Jae Wook and Tale of the Nine Tailed actor Jo Bo Ah. The K-drama revolves around the lives of Hong Rang and his half-sister, Jae Yi. Dear Hongrang marks Lee Jae Wook's second stint in the world of sword-wielding, hanbok-wearing heroes. However, for Jo Bo Ah, the show's success is important as it comes after her mega project with Kim Soo Hyun was cancelled because of the actor's controversy. Set in the Joseon era, the backdrop for many South Korean historical shows, the K-drama explores the mysterious relationship that develops between the protagonists. Also read: Tastefully Yours first impression: Weirdly addictive duo Go Min Si, Kang Ha Neul cook up quirky kitchen romance in Netflix's new-age Business Proposal The Netflix original K-drama has been marketed as a unique blend of three genres: mystery, melodrama, and historical. The storyline itself is quite interesting, and it's safe to say that the makers have entered untouched territory. It begins with Hong Rang's sudden disappearance. One day, the long-lost son of Joseon's biggest merchant guild reappears, but with all his memories wiped away. What follows is a series of strange and mysterious events. No one is happier than his half-sister Jae Yi, who spent years desperately searching for him, only to end up questioning his identity after noticing strange behaviour. Knowing him inside out since childhood, Jae Yi starts having doubts that, despite having the same face and almost identical habits, this person who reappeared doesn't quite fit into Hong Rang's shoes. Yet, she can't stop herself from forming an inexplicable emotional bond. The show also includes a stepson arc, the adopted son of Min Sang Dan, Mu Jin (Jung Ga Ram), who is the direct successor of the association. Also read: Alchemy Of Souls First Impression: Lee Jae-wook and Jung So-min's fever dream of a fantasy is an adrenaline rush Netflix is betting big on the stellar cast of the K-drama, who have already delivered multiple hits on the streamer, including Alchemy of Souls, Destined with You, Tale of the Nine Tailed, Military Prosecutor Doberman, and more. Lee Jae Wook dons a hanbok again for the role of Hong Rang, a character who is complex and conflicted from the very start. He returns to his village with a secret, but his attraction and confusion toward Jae Yi spark inner conflicts and tension. Jo Bo Ah plays Jae Yi, the only person who suspects Hong Rang and senses something is off, even as no one else is convinced by her observations. As the poster suggests, their relationship, which begins as a war of nerves, gradually shifts into attraction. Meanwhile, Park Byung Eun's Sim Yeol Guk brings a villainous edge as the power-hungry guild leader. Uhm Ji Won plays Min Yeon, the landlady of Minsangdan, who will do anything to protect Hong Rang, the long-lost son who has just returned. Kim Jae Wook stars as Grand Prince Han Pyeong. As director Kim Hong Sun describes, 'The actors performances make each character's deep narrative shine, from confusion, suspicion, tension, and a war of nerves to affection, friendship, and love, as well as the ensemble that goes beyond mystery and melodrama. ' The acclaimed showrunner behind Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area wants viewers to also pay attention to the technical details that set this Joseon period drama apart from others. Unlike the usual village setups with forts, concrete walls, and horses running around, Dear Hongrang features evocative set pieces. Take a closer look at the carefully crafted costumes, and you might find answers to questions you hadn't thought of. Even the music and production design in the K-drama are carefully chosen to fit the theme and capture the overall mood, varying from character to character. Some of the most impressive details appear in the stills showing the interior of Minsangdan, highlighting the lifestyle of Joseon's merchant class, a rich display of colours and styles rarely seen in typical rich-prince-poor-girl stories. The cinematography is emotionally powerful and creates a deeply immersive experience for viewers. The powerful background score by 4BOUT brings out the old-time feel, meanwhile, Kwon Jin Ah's vocals capture the growing feelings between Hong Rang and Jae Yi.
