Netflix’s Dear Hongrang Kdrama isn’t your typical sageuk (historical) drama. It is the story full of historical mystery, emotional depth, and a complex love story.
From its haunting opening to its bittersweet finale, the series keeps viewers hooked with a storyline which is not only mysterious but also explore the darkest sides of human desire and trauma.
If you’re wondering whether this Kdrama is worth your time, or if you’re curious about its ending and season 2 possibilities, keep reading.
What Is Dear Hongrang Story About?
Set in the late Joseon era, Dear Hongrang follows the sudden return of a mysterious man who is supposed to be the long-lost heir, named Hongrang, of the powerful Min family.
Twelve years after young Hong-rang disappears from the Sim household, a quiet, mysterious man (played by Lee Jae-wook) walks back into their lives, claiming to be him. His return throws the family into emotional turmoil, especially his half-sister Jae-yi (Cho Bo-ah), who spent her life searching for him.
But here’s the twist: this man isn’t really Hongrang.
What begins as a suspense filled reunion story quickly transforms into a haunting exploration of identity, deception, and trauma.
The Tragic Truth Behind Hongrang’s Disappearance
Driven by hatred and jealousy, Min Yeon-ui, Hongrang’s own mother, plotted to have Jae-yi killed using black magic. And why did she hate her? It is because Jae-yi had invited Hongrang to honour her own mother’s memory, an unforgivable insult in Yeon-ui’s eyes.
But when young Hongrang witnessed the ritual, he tried to remove the cursed talisman placed on Jae-yi’s door. He slipped and hit his head. A servant found him, but before help arrived, Gwigokja, the shaman who served Yeon-ui, disposed of young Hongrang’s body in a well.
Years later, Jae-yi discovers her brother’s remains. And in one of the drama’s most painful moments, she confronts Yeon-ui, who still refuses to accept the truth.
What is the real identity of Hongrang ?
The man pretending to be Hongrang isn’t a con artist. He is a broken soul shaped by horror. As a child, he was abducted and used in rituals by a royal psychopath known as “The Painter,” who is later revealed to be the Crown Prince himself.
This “Painter” tattooed enslaved boys with disturbing symbols representing power, wealth, fertility, and control. The boys were treated with alum and arsenic to bleach their skin, making them “canvas-ready.” The fake Hongrang, along with his best friend In-hoe, eventually escaped, but not without lasting damage, both physical and emotional.
Taken in by Kkot-nim, a woman with her own vendetta against the Min family, the fake Hongrang is raised and trained to infiltrate the Sim household and destroy them from within. But what no one predicted was his growing connection with Jae-yi.
The main cast shine
Fans of Lee Jae-wook from Alchemy of Souls will recognize his ability to command the screen, but Dear Hongrang takes his acting to a new level. Unlike his previous role as the coming-of-age warrior Jang Uk, here he plays a man already shaped by loss, vengeance, and survival.
His chemistry with Cho Bo-ah feels natural and heartbreaking. As Jae-yi, she brings warmth and steel in equal measure, offering one of the strongest female leads in recent Kdrama history. Together, their scenes radiate tension, affection, and unspoken pain.
The Ending: Happy or Sad?
Let’s address the big question: does Dear Hongrang have a happy ending?
Not quite. After stopping a cruel royal ritual and exposing years of corruption, fake Hongrang returns to Jae-yi only to die in her arms, his body poisoned by chemicals used on him as a child. Still, the story ends on a note of peace. Jae-yi survives, rebuilds her life, and opens an orphanage to help other children escape the pain she and Hongrang endured.
It is not the fairytale ending viewers may expect, but it feels earned. It reminds us that love, even when short-lived, can heal and empower.
How Dear Hongrang Stands Out from Other Historical Kdramas
Compared to other historical dramas like Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo or Mr. Sunshine, Dear Hongrang feels more grounded and emotionally intimate. It skips royal politics and palace schemes in favor of deeply personal conflicts, childhood trauma, family betrayal, and forbidden love.
It also shares the emotional complexity of The Smile Has Left Your Eyes and Flower of Evil, but with a unique historical twist. The mystery isn’t just about who the imposter is, it’s about what makes someone worthy of love, trust, and forgiveness.
Will There Be a Season 2 of Dear Hongrang?
Netflix has not announced any plans for Dear Hongrang Season 2. The story wraps up with closure for all major characters. While a second season isn’t likely, the show’s rich world and unexplored characters leave room for potential spin-offs or anthology extensions.
That said, Dear Hongrang tells a complete and satisfying story. It is a masterpiece wrapped in grief, layered with vengeance, and softened by the purest expressions of love.
If you’re looking for a drama that tells the truth about human pain and resilience, don’t miss this one.
