Lee Jae Wook And Jo Bo Ah Walk The Line Between Suspicion And Longing In "Dear Hongrang"

Apr 24, 2025

Netflix’s upcoming drama “Dear Hongrang” has unveiled new character stills featuring its main cast!

“Dear Hongrang” is a historical mystery romance that follows Hong Rang (Lee Jae Wook), the long-lost son of Joseon’s largest merchant guild, who returns after 12 years with no memory of his past. As his half-sister Jae Yi (Jo Bo Ah), who spent years desperately searching for him, becomes the only one to question his true identity, an inexplicable emotional bond starts to form between them.

The newly released stills showcase the charismatic gaze of Hong Rang, the son of the powerful Min Merchant Guild, who returns shrouded in mystery after disappearing 12 years ago. Having lost all memory of his past, Hong Rang returns harboring secrets.

Meanwhile, Jae Yi (Jo Bo Ah) is captured with sharp eyes full of suspicion, reflecting the emotional turmoil of reuniting with the brother she longed for, yet cannot wholeheartedly welcome. As the one who searched most desperately for Hong Rang’s whereabouts, her distrust toward the unfamiliar version of her returned brother is accompanied by conflicting, indescribable emotions she feels toward him.

Additional stills featuring the pair together tease the evolving tension between them. A stoic Hong Rang and a guarded Jae Yi exude a sense of unease, while a more intimate moment shared between the two hints at a deeper, more complex connection—leaving viewers eager to see how their relationship unfolds.

Speaking about their characters, Lee Jae Wook shared, “To Hong Rang, Jae Yi is someone far sharper than any blade,” while Jo Bo Ah described, “He’s such a frustrating and exasperating presence [to her]. His sudden return brings all her years of searching to a halt, and that alone would’ve been incredibly upsetting for her.”

Netflix also released stills of the characters surrounding the two leads within the Min Merchant Guild. Jung Ga Ram plays Moo Jin, the adopted son who stepped into Hong Rang’s place at the guild. Dressed in a proper, refined manner, Moo Jin has managed the affairs of the guild in Hong Rang’s absence but now finds his position at risk following Hong Rang’s return.

Uhm Ji Won portrays Min Yeon Ui, the guild’s matriarch and Hong Rang’s biological mother, while Park Byung Eun plays Shim Yeol Guk, the guild’s head and the biological father of both Hong Rang and Jae Yi. Their reactions and moves following Hong Rang’s return remain a point of intrigue.

Also joining the story is Grand Prince Han Pyeong (Kim Jae Wook), a renowned artist known for having the finest aesthetic sensibility in Joseon. His connection to Hong Rang and Jae Yi’s story adds yet another intriguing twist.