Jo Bo Ah And Lee Jae Wook Share Their Thoughts On “Dear Hongrang,” Acting In Historical Dramas, And More

The cast of the Netflix original series “Dear Hongrang” recently participated in a photo shoot with the fashion magazine ELLE Korea!

“Dear Hongrang” is a historical mystery romance that follows Hong Rang (Lee Jae Wook), the long-lost son of Joseon’s largest merchant guild, who returns after 12 years with no memory of his past. As his half-sister Jae Yi (Jo Bo Ah), who spent years desperately searching for him, becomes the only one to question his true identity, an inexplicable emotional bond starts to form between them.

In an interview that followed the photo shoot, Jo Bo Ah revealed why she chose to star in the drama. She shared, “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. 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.”

Lee Jae Wook expressed his deep attachment to his character, saying, “When I first read the script, I was curious about what kind of life my character had lived and why he became so sharp and guarded. 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.”

They also shared their thoughts on acting in historical dramas. Jo Bo Ah remarked, “When I first debuted, my first historical drama was ‘Horse Doctor,’ and I found the genre quite difficult. But through projects like ‘The Tale of the Nine-Tailed‘ and ‘Destined With You,’ I gradually became more confident, and now I feel brave enough to take on the challenge again.”

Lee Jae Wook added, “This is my first time doing a full-fledged historical drama that isn’t fantasy. Historical dramas have their own unique atmosphere, and in that environment, it felt like I became a single tree in a big forest, which is the story itself.”

“Dear Hongrang” tells the story of Hong Rang, the heir to a powerful merchant group who mysteriously disappeared as a child and returns 12 years later. When asked what has remained unchanged in their lives over the past 12 years, Jo Bo Ah said, “I try not to lose my original mindset. I always try to look for the positive side of things, no matter the situation. When I do that, good things naturally follow, and that often leads to strong relationships.”

Lee Jae Wook commented, “What hasn’t changed is my desire to experience new things and my natural curiosity. Even 12 years ago, I vaguely knew I wanted to do something where I could keep learning and exploring. I think that curiosity is what led me to become an actor.”

Jo Bo Ah and Lee Jae Wook’s full pictorial and interview can be found in the June issue of ELLE Korea.