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Netflix's latest historical mystery K-drama Dear Hongrang is all the hype right now and it stars famous South Korean actor Lee Jae-wook.
I have mostly seen Jae-wook in modern K-dramas like Extraordinary You, When the Weather is Fine, and Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol, which is why I believed Dear Hongrang is the actor's first foray into the historical genre.
However, I was surprised to find that Jae-wook has also starred in another historical K-drama, which is apparently very famous and is considered one of his best works.
This K-drama is a 2022 historical fantasy show Alchemy of Souls, which was also made available on Netflix for International audiences.
In addition to some similar themes to Dear Hongrang, this 2022 show is set in a fictional town where magic and mages exist. Nak-su (Resident Playbook fame Go Youn-jung), a dangerous assassin practices the forbidden alchemy magic which lets her shift souls with any human by entering their body.
But when she accidentally enters a weak body and becomes incapable of doing magic further, she crosses paths with Lee Jae-wook's character.
More on Alchemy of Souls in our story.
Dear Hongrang star Jae-wook's breakthrough role was in Alchemy of Souls
While Dear Hongrang is making waves on Netflix, Jae-wook's breakthrough role came in another historical fantasy drama, which is also a must-watch.
If you loved the plot of mistaken and confused identities in Dear Hongrang, Jae-wook's 2022 K-drama Alchemy of Souls will hit all your spots. While historical K-dramas are not usually my cup of tea, I enjoyed this one thoroughly because it has it all.
The K-drama is divided into two parts and the second part is set some years later, giving a perfect conclusion to this epic tale of love, magic and destiny.
If you liked Dear Hongrang's intricate world-building and setting of the Josean era, you will also appreciate this K-drama because it transports you to the magical city of Daeho.
Reminiscent of Western works like The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, the intricate world designed in Alchemy of Souls will delight you.
I have grown up watching Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the magical city of Daeho was surely its Korean counterpart. A city with young and powerful mages of Jeongjingak to the royal families and their secret societies, watching Alchemy of Souls is like opening Pandora's magic box.
While the setting is larger than life, the K-drama's premise suffices and justifies its grandeur in every sense. Jae-wook plays Jang Uk, a young mage in the city of Daeho, who is cursed by his father following which he cannot perform magic.
Jang Uk must find someone to teach him the forbidden spells to fulfill his destiny as a mage and unlock his full potential.
Alchemy of Souls is a perfect blend of many genres
Just like Dear Hongrang perfectly blends drama and mystery to create a compelling premise, Alchemy of Souls is also a balanced mix of many genres, which is why it is a perfect watch for all types of K-drama lovers.
Before Jang-uk discovers Nak-su, she is a dangerous assassin who uses the titular forbidden spell to shift shapes and transfer into different bodies. However, when she gets trapped in Mu-Deok's weak and blind body and is sold into pr*stitution, her fate changes.
The fearless and notorious assassin can no longer practice her magic, and that is when she meets Jang-uk. Their unusual romance starts after Jang-uk becomes her master and asks her to become his teacher and teach him her powerful tricks.
Alchemy of Souls sets the stage for their forbidden romance, in which the characters share a symbiotic relationship, each holding the key to unlock the other's destiny. Destiny is one big theme that runs across the K-drama, and I was highly impressed at how the show concludes the theme with a full-circle moment.
The show also aptly justifies its name. Just like Nak-su used alchemy to transform into other people, she is forced to guide Jang-uk so that he can use alchemy to change his destiny. The characters fall in love in the process and understand the meanings of identity, legacy, and duty.
Like Dear Hograng, this K-drama makes you feel like you are witnessing a historical epic tale of times gone by.
Dear Hongrang and Alchemy of Souls are available on Netflix.
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