Dear Hongrang actor Lee Jae Wook talks about his first non-fantasy historical drama role

Actors Jo Bo Ah and Lee Jae Wook's Dear Hongrang is the new K-drama that fans are falling in love with. The story offers a mix of romance, supernatural elements, and mysteries, all set during the Joseon era.

The drama kicks off with the mysterious disappearance of Hongrang, a young heir from the influential Min family guild. He goes missing when he’s just eight years old. After twelve long years, a man turns up claiming to be Hongrang.

But there's a catch. He doesn’t remember anything about his childhood, and this is what raises immediate red flags. Especially for Hongrang's half sister Jae-yi, who has been holding onto hope and searching for her lost brother.

The chemistry between Jo Bo Ah and Lee Jae Wook is being loved by fans, and interestingly, Jae Wook also felt a deep connection to his role. Howeve,r the actor also shared that Dear Hongrang is his first proper historical drama that isn’t blended with fantasy elements.

During an interview with ELLE Korea, Jae Wook said:

"This is my first time doing a full-fledged historical drama that isn’t fantasy."

The Alchemy of Souls actor explained that the full historical setting created a unique energy that made him feel deeply connected to the world of the story.

Keep reading to learn more about their interview!

Dear Hongrang stars talk about their experience of the acclaimed historical drama

As previously mentioned, Netflix's latest K-drama, Dear Hongrang, is receiving all the love from fans, thanks to Jo Bo Ah and Lee Jae Wook, who left no stone unturned to bring an authentic portrayal of the characters.

During the same interview, Jo Bo Ah was asked to shed light on what drew her to the role of Jae-yi. The actress said:

"I was touched by the affectionate relationship between half siblings Jae Yi and Hong Rang. After reuniting as adults, a subtle emotional tension forms between them."

The Tale of the Nine Tailed actress continued:

"It made me wonder—has there ever been a drama that portrayed sibling dynamics this way? I’m very close with my real-life sibling, so I could easily relate."

Similarly, her co-star Lee Jae Wook was intrigued by Hongrang's journey. The actor wanted to explore why the character became so emotionally closed off and distant. The Dear Hongrang star added:

"It was a story beyond what I had imagined. I personally have a lot of affection for Hong Rang and wanted to understand and portray him as well as I could."

Jae Wook was surprised after reading the script, as he didn't expect the events and story to unfold in such a layered and interesting way. This made him feel strongly about doing justice to the role and portraying Hongrang in the most honest way possible.

At the same time, the project also became his first historical drama that didn't rely on fantasy elements. Jae Wook described the experience by saying he felt like a single tree within a vast forest

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