Two charismatic actors, Lee Jae-wook and Kim Jae-uck, are making waves in the historical mystery romance drama 'Dear Hongrang'. Known for their charming personas off-screen, the duo showcases a powerful range of acting skills in this series.
'Dear Hongrang' is a mystery melodrama set in the Joseon era, revolving around Hongrang, the son of the largest merchant group, who returns after 12 years with no memory. His half-sister, Jae-i, played by Jo Bo-ah, is the only one suspicious of his true identity, leading to an enigmatic relationship between them. The series is based on the novel 'Tangeum: Swallowing Gold'.
Lee Jae-wook takes on the role of Hongrang, the long-lost son, embodying the character's fierce nature with meticulous attention to detail in his gaze, swordplay, and subtle body movements, delivering a stylish action performance.
Impressively, Lee Jae-wook performed over 90% of his action scenes without a stunt double, highlighting the ginkgo tree action scene as his favorite, which took three days and nights to film.
In a tense confrontation at Hanpyeong Daegun's villa, Lee Jae-wook's mix of sorrow and determination, combined with precise movements, heightened the drama's intensity. The clash between the two characters is marked by intense action, enhancing the viewer's immersion.
Kim Jae-uck returns to historical drama as Hanpyeong Daegun, an artist with an unparalleled aesthetic sense. His languid speech and noble demeanor add depth to his character, while the underlying tension he brings to each scene keeps viewers on edge. His commanding presence influences the fate of the characters until the very end.
Interestingly, the set had another Jae-wook, a crew member named Jang Jae-wook, leading to jokes about the abundance of 'Jae-wooks' on the 'Dear Hongrang' set.
'Dear Hongrang', featuring the distinct charms of both actors, is currently streaming on Netflix. According to Netflix's weekly viewing time rankings released on the 21st, 'Dear Hongrang' ranked 6th in the non-English TV show category with 2.2 million views and 24.1 million hours watched from May 12 to 18.
Reporter: Ryu Ye-ji, TenAsia ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr