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The mystery that surrounds the last episodes in My Dearest is the fate of Jang-hyun. To answer the question as to what happened to Jang-hyun, the answer is, he did not die. He is assumed dead when he falls during the fight, but actually makes it through with amnesia, reuniting with Gil-chae years later.
His story does not end in tragedy, however, but in a bittersweet yet hopeful reunion that ties up the drama's overarching themes of love and survival. My Dearest's ending is sentimental, complicated, and occasionally perplexing, and that's why so many viewers are left confused.
What begins with betrayal and presumed deadness turns into one of rediscovery and recollection. To fully enjoy Jang-hyun's journey, let's run through the final events in clear detail: his reveal as Jang-hyun, his collapse, his years in the wings, and the ultimate spark of reunion that wraps up his character.
Jang-hyun's secret was revealed
Jang-hyun's past has always been a secret. It's only in the later part of the drama that the truth is revealed: he is, in fact, the illegitimate son of scholar Jang Cheol. This turns everything around, as Jang Cheol is part of the elite class, and Jang-hyun has struggled most of his life on behalf of the downtrodden.
When the truth comes out at last, Jang-hyun confronts his father face-to-face. He pleads with him not to condemn innocent rebels unjustly and not to punish the rebels against oppression. But Jang Cheol does not budge. He burrows deeper into his mission, joining with the oppressive ambitions of the court. He even instructs Nam Yeon-joon to kill his own son, and a chain of events follows that leads Jang-hyun deeper into danger.
This revelation, his lineage, and the related treachery are some of the most seminal of My Dearest, illustrating how political and personal tension meet.
The war and the alleged death
As the rebellion grows stronger, so too is Jang-hyun drawn into battle to defend Gil-chae and the rest. This generates a violent and tense confrontation, ratcheting up the survival dynamic. Jang-hyun faints in battle and is left behind, his body still hidden. This was treated as death by the authorities and by everyone around him.
Finally, Nam Yeon-joon brings news to the King that the rebels and Jang-hyun have been executed. It is one of the biggest emotional shock waves in My Dearest. To Gil-chae, it is just another brutal separation, something she has already lived through. To the audience, Jang-hyun's hope for survival bids farewell to the audience and never comes back. It is dramatic omnipotence on the part of the drama, playing with loss and death.
The fall of the ruling class
Since Jang-hyun is presumed murdered, the authorities are subjected to their own degradations. The king, shamed and incompetent, kills himself. Jang Cheol, also guilty and eaten up by what he had done, also chooses to die. These parallel failures are what make the ruin of corruption and betrayal stand out in My Dearest.
Nam Yeon-joon, a fine scholar and beloved of Gil-chae at first, also collapses. Tormented by shame and despair, he attempts suicide but is stopped by his wife. To everyone's surprise, it is Yeon-joon who informs Gil-chae that Jang-hyun did not pass away. He tells her that Jang-hyun suffers from amnesia but is alive.
This twist changes the direction of the finale, giving the show a chance to deviate from hopelessness and enter the realm of reunions.
Amnesiac life: Jang-hyun's secret years
The revelation of Jang-hyun's amnesia is yet another tear-jerking factor. After getting into a brawl and collapsing, he is fine but has no memory. Cut off from the past, he lives in the shadows, unaware that he has any connection to Gil-chae or the previous life he had mapped out with her.
In so many ways, it's a symbolic death, alive in body but cut off from his name, his love, and his cause. Gil-chae discovers this reality herself, and it devastates and motivates her. She knows now that there is a Jang-hyun somewhere, even though he no longer recalls her. This brings us to the third act of My Dearest, where remembrance and love intersect.
The emotional reunion
Years afterward, Gil-chae encounters Jang-hyun once more in an isolated region of the village. At first, he cannot remember her; his memory is fragmented. But the landscape offers subtle reminders. They have built a home that is close to what Gil-chae envisioned years ago, a symbolic connection between past and present.
The climax arrives when Jang-hyun is reminded by Gil-chae of their shared dreams and shows him the ring he gave her earlier. It triggers his memories, and he remembers everything he lost. The scene is emotive and deadpan, proof that love and memory are powerful enough to transcend even the most apocalyptic ruptures. For My Dearest viewers, this reunion is the best closure for Jang-hyun's storyline.
Hope in tragedy: grasping the ending
So, what happens to Jang-hyun in My Dearest, then? The sequence is clear:
- His father's secret of being Jang Cheol's son is exposed.
- Deceived by his father and pursued by Nam Yeon-joon.
- Ill in combat and thought dead.
- Lives with almost no memories, leading a secret life for years.
- He is later found by Gil-chae, and his memories are restored.
- They see each other again and stabilize in a new life together. It is hopeful.
As Jang-hyun goes through betrayal, presumed death, and amnesia, he ultimately regains memories and attachment for Gil-chae. The process of recovery is prolonged and agonizing, yet the ending brings resilience and rebirth.
Why My Dearest's ending stands out
The last few episodes of My Dearest refuse to resort to simplistic conclusions. Rather than the tidy "happily ever after," the show confronts us with the price of war, betrayal, and loss. Jang-hyun survives without losing the pain but gets to start anew with Gil-chae. Their reunion is not perfection, but grit. That is what sets My Dearest apart from the rest of K-dramas in history.
Rather than wrapping everything up in a bow, it shows that life just continues with scars and memories, but still, hope can be attained. Jang-hyun's life, a secret son turned rebel turned lost love turned reunited partner, tipping that scale of hurt and possibility.
The ending of My Dearest retro-rays and affirms the depth and meaning of the narrative. The fate of Jang-hyun is a mesh of identity, betrayal, love, and survival. After the journey full of loss and hardships, the ending is one of reconnection and hope.
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Jang-hyun does not die. He survives, recalls everything, and returns with Gil-chae. That tragic, yet inspirational ending is what provides My Dearest its depth of emotions.
Also read: 10 new K-Dramas that’ll hook you from episode one
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