Dear Hongrang ~ Grim Reaper, Snow Man, or Soul Reaper?

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“Dear Hongrang” (aka “Tangeum”) is a 2025 Korean drama series, with 11 episodes, categorized as Historical, Romance, Fantasy, and Supernatural; streaming on Netflix. SUMMARY: A young boy goes missing at the age of 8, and returns home with no memory of his past. Yet all of the tests prove that he is the legitimate heir, including the blood test. Even so, his sister does not believe it, so she keep looking for her lost brother. She must find the real one and bring him home. The fake one who showed up and tricked everyone in the household needs to be exposed. Uuhh … yeah. He doesn’t like her either! He may not have his memories, but there’s no way he’d have a sister like her.
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Dear Hongrang ~ Grim Reaper, Snow Man, or Soul Reaper?

“Dear Hongrang” (aka “Tangeum”) is a Netflix 2025 Korean drama series, with 11 episodes, categorized as Historical, Romance, Fantasy, and Supernatural.

popgeeks.com

 

[JinnyGoesKrazy]

I was impressed with how Dear Hongrang balances emotional drama with fantasy without becoming confusing. Sim Jae-Yi’s role really caught my attention. Her loyalty to her brother was painful to watch, but I admired her strength. She was the only one who refused to be fooled, and that determination made her a standout character for me. Also, Mu-Jin surprised me. I thought he'd turn bitter or jealous, but his sense of responsibility won me over. The idea of Hongrang being a soul reaper added more mystery than horror. It’s not clear whether he’s a villain or someone just lost and searching. That kind of ambiguity kept me interested until the last episode. I also liked how the show didn’t overly rely on special effects. The storytelling was strong enough. Historical fantasy dramas sometimes get too heavy or slow, but this one felt tight and purposeful. I did find the “snowman” concept a little strange at first, but by the end, it worked.

 

[RedStateGal76]

This show didn’t work for me. The pacing was slow, and I found the tone hard to follow. One moment it was serious and emotional, then the next it was about a giant white monster that looked like a snowman. I just couldn’t take that seriously. I do like Cho Bo-Ah, and she did well with the material, but the plot felt too stretched out. I expected more clever twists and instead got scenes that felt repetitive. I also didn’t understand why everyone accepted the fake Hongrang so easily just because of a blood test. That made it feel less believable.

 

[Poncho]

I’m not usually into historical dramas, but this one pulled me in. What stood out most to me wasn’t the fantasy part, though that was interesting. It was the characters. I felt Mu-Jin’s frustration and fear. You could tell he wanted to protect Sim Jae-Yi but didn’t know how to talk about his feelings. I thought that was realistic. Also, I liked that the story didn’t paint anyone as completely good or evil. Even Hongrang, if he is a soul reaper, wasn’t shown as purely dangerous. He had doubts and conflicts of his own. The snowman thing was strange at first, but by the end, I understood it as a symbol of forgotten pain. The soundtrack was beautiful. That’s one thing I agree with 100% in the article. I kept replaying the closing theme.

 

[Blond Ambition]

This show gave me a headache. Too many identity twists, and I didn’t care for the soul reaper plot. Felt like the show wanted to be mysterious, but instead it became vague. I didn’t hate it, but I won’t recommend it.

 

[moookgol]

I found the psychological tension more interesting than the fantasy. Imagine being a child taken from your life, then coming back to people who don’t believe you are who you say you are. That’s disturbing. The show touched on memory, identity, and even jealousy in a quiet but deep way. Mu-Jin’s fear wasn’t just about losing his position — it was about losing control over the only family he knew. Sim Jae-Yi’s belief in her real brother was inspiring, but also heartbreaking. Sometimes the truth doesn’t matter to others. Only you know what feels real. This series reminded me how people chase truth, but sometimes, when they find it, it isn’t what they hoped for. The costumes and lighting were also very good.

 

[Van Nuys Guy]

I liked it, especially the way the supernatural was introduced slowly. It wasn’t just fantasy for the sake of it. The snowman, the soul reaper thing — it was weird but kind of worked. I don’t know why but the scenes where Sim Jae-Yi dressed like a man to go searching made me feel emotional. Her belief never changed. Even when others gave up, she didn't. I liked her the most.

 

[Skipper]

I have to say Dear Hongrang felt fresh. There’s a strong emotional backbone here. The tension between the adopted siblings and Mu-Jin added more layers than I expected. I liked how the show didn’t rush to explain everything. The mystery felt earned. I did think some scenes were a bit too slow, but the overall mood made up for it. The article’s comparison to the Grim Reaper made me think too. I agree that traditional depictions might’ve been easier to understand, but I admire the creators for trying something different with the snowman creature. That visual was unexpected. I wouldn’t say it’s perfect, but it’s ambitious and that counts for something.

 

[Watson]

I was surprised how much I liked the tension between Hongrang and Mu-Jin. You expect rivalry, but this one had real stakes. Mu-Jin’s suspicion made sense, and it built up well. The twist about Hongrang being a soul reaper gave the story a strange new direction, but I think it fit. I also liked that there was no clean solution. Everyone has doubts, but they must live together. It’s rare to see that kind of unresolved emotional tension done well.