The Netflix series “Dear Hongrang” has confirmed its release date as May 16 (Friday) and has revealed the teaser poster and teaser trailer.
Lee Jae-wook, Jo Bo-ah, Jung Ga-ram, Um Ji-won, Park Byung-eun, and Kim Jae-wook star in an ensemble of actors with freshness and acting ability, heightening expectations for the Netflix series “Dear Hongrang,” which is set to meet viewers around the world on May 16 (Friday).
“Dear Hongrang” is a mystery melodrama that depicts Hong-rang, the son of the largest merchant company in Joseon who returns after 12 years of disappearance with no memory, while his half-sister Jae-i is the only one who suspects his true identity amidst their blossoming emotions. The production team further raises anticipation with the involvement of director Kim Hong-sun, who helmed the Netflix series “Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area,” the occult drama “The Guest,” and the fresh setting noted in “Voice,” alongside Kim Jin-ah, the writer of Apple TV+’s sci-fi thriller “Dr. Brain.”
The teased poster grabs attention with a scene of “Hong-rang” (Lee Jae-wook) and “Jae-i” (Jo Bo-ah), who are meeting again after 12 years. The strange psychological battle between “Hong-rang,” who has returned to the merchant company with lost childhood memories, and “Jae-i,” who suspects him to be an imposter, stirs curiosity about their evolving relationship.
Next, a scene of young “Hong-rang” wandering in a dark forest with a fearful expression raises questions about the reasons for his disappearance, while the tagline “Swallowing secrets and sincerity” piques curiosity about whether the returning “Hong-rang” is indeed the true brother “Jae-i” has been desperately searching for, and what truth he may be hiding.
The teaser trailer released alongside the poster starts with scenes of young “Hong-rang” seeking his sister while wandering through an eerie forest, and young “Jae-i” desperately looking for him. As more people show up claiming to be “Hong-rang” to seize the assets of the merchant company, the real “Hong-rang” unexpectedly appears after 12 years.
However, upon confronting him, “Jae-i” instantly denies his identity, claiming he is an imposter, while the tension unfolds between “Hong-rang” and “Jae-i,” who keep each other at arm’s length. Meanwhile, the appearance of “Mujin” (Jung Ga-ram), an adopted child of the merchant company replacing “Hong-rang,” and the merchant company’s lady, “Min Yeon-hee” (Um Ji-won), the biological mother of “Hong-rang,” as well as “Shim Yeol-guk” (Park Byung-eun), the merchant company’s head and father of “Hong-rang” and “Jae-i,” and “Han Pyeong-daegun” (Kim Jae-wook), an artist with the finest aesthetic sense in Joseon, raises curiosity about the roles these characters will play in the surrounding incidents involving “Hong-rang” and “Jae-i.” The final scene, where “Hong-rang,” who suppressed unidentified individuals with elegant swordsmanship, questions, “Did you dare to act recklessly? My sister,” while saving “Jae-i,” captures attention on how the relationship between the two, initially colored with doubt and caution, will evolve.
Based on the popular novel “Dear Hongrang: Swallowing Gold” by Jang Da-hye, “Dear Hongrang” depicts the beautiful yet brutal fate faced by its protagonists, as signified by its title, which refers to an ancient Chinese punishment of having to swallow gold until death. The fresh setting that breaks the conventional notions of the time and the narratives of captivating characters battling fate are expected to enchant viewers.
In particular, the romance blossoming between “Hong-rang,” who returns after 12 years of disappearance, and his half-sister “Jae-i,” who doubts his identity, along with the case of missing children that resumes with “Hong-rang”’s return, and the suspicious rumors surrounding the Yeti tied to the missing cases all intertwine. The story, crossing the boundaries of mystery and melodrama, is expected to provide multifaceted enjoyment.
The mystery melodrama “Dear Hongrang,” which hints at the captivating story of “Hong-rang” and “Jae-i,” who feel a strong attraction amidst deep suspicion, will be released on Netflix at 4 p.m. on May 16 (Friday).
[Photo] Netflix
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