My Dearest () is a 2023 South Korean television series starring Namkoong Min, Ahn Eun-jin, Lee Hak-joo, Lee Da-in, Kim Yoon-woo, and Lee Chung-ah. According to writer Hwang Jin-young, it is inspired by the 1936 novel Gone with the Wind. It aired on MBC TV from August 4 to November 18, 2023, every Friday and Saturday at 21:50 (KST). It is also available for streaming on Wavve in South Korea, and on Viki in selected regions.
The series was divided into two parts: Part 1 aired from August 4 to September 2, 2023, for ten episodes, while Part 2 aired from October 13 to November 18, 2023, for eleven episodes.
Synopsis The series is set during the Qing invasion of Joseon, and portrays the inspiring story of people who find hope and positivity even in the most challenging times.
Cast Main Namkoong Min as Lee Jang-hyun: an enigmatic nobleman who does not give his sincerity to anything, but after getting to know a woman, he opens the door to his unexpected fate. Moon Seong-hyun as young Lee Jang-hyun Ahn Eun-jin as Yoo Gil-chae: the daughter of a noble family who gets entangled with Jang-hyun. Lee Hak-joo as Nam Yeon-joon: a promising Confucian student at Sungkyunkwan. Lee Da-in as Kyung Eun-ae: Yeon-joon's fiancée and Gil-chae's closest friend. Kim Yoon-woo as Ryang-eum: Jang-hyun's close friend who is the best pansori singer in Joseon. Lee Chung-ah as Gak-hwa: Hong Taiji's daughter and princess of Qing dynasty.
Supporting People around Gil-chae Ji Seung-hyun as Gu Won-moo: a military officer. Park Jung-yeon as Jong Jong-yi: Gil-chae's maid. Kwon So-hyun as Bang Du-ne: Eun-ae's maid.
People around Jang-hyun Park Kang-seop as Gu-jam: Jang-hyun's servant. Choi Moo-sung as Yang-cheon: a gangster.
Joseon royal family and subjects Kim Jung-tae as King Injo: the sixteenth ruler of Joseon. Kim Moo-jun as Crown Prince Sohyeon: King Injo's eldest son. Jeon Hye-won as Crown Princess Kang: Crown Prince Sohyeon's wife. So Yoo-jin as Royal Consort So-yong Jo: King Injo's favorite concubine. Yang Hyun-min as Pyo Eon-gyeom: Crown Prince Sohyeon's loyal eunuch. Kim Tae-hoon as Choe Myeong-gil: a pragmatist who does not bend his decisions and prioritizes the national interests. Choi Jong-hwan as Kim Sang-heon: a loyal subject. Ha Kyung as Shin I-rip Jung Byung-cheol as Bong-si: King Injo's eunuch.
People from Qing dynasty Choi Young-woo as Yonggoldae: a military officer. Kim Jun-won as Hong Taiji: the emperor of Qing dynasty. Kang Gil-woo as Jung Myung-soo: an interpreter.
People in Neunggun-ri Oh Man-seok as Yoo Gyo-yeon: Gil-chae's father. Jo Seung-yeon as Kyung Geun-jik: Eun-ae's father. Park Jong-wook as Gong Sun-yak: the only son of the village head. Park Eun-woo as Yoo Young-chae: Gil-chae's younger sister. Jung Han-yong as Song-chu: a clerk at Neunggun-ri seowon. Nam Gi-ae as Yi-rang: Song-chu's wife. Park Jin-woo as Park Dae: Du-ne's husband and Gil-chae's helper. Jin Geon-woo as Dae-oh: a Confucian scholar. Kim Ga-hee as Yoo-hwa Kim Eun-soo as Jun-jeol: a Confucian scholar. Ha Gyu-rim as Im-chun: a lady who has bright and cheerful personality. Nam Tae-hoon as Tae-seong: a Confucian scholar. Choi Su-gyeon as Jung-yeon
Others Moon Sung-keun as Jang-cheol: spiritual leader of Confucian scholars. Min Ji-ah as In-ok: a captive woman taken by barbarians.
Extended Kim Seo-an as Young-rang: a young kisaeng. Jeon Guk-hyang as Ae-bok Kim Eun-woo as a general of the Qing dynasty Lee Young-seok as Deok-chul: a blacksmith worker. Lee Nam-hee as Lee Young-ik Jeon Jin-oh as Maeng-tan Yoo Ji-yeon as Hwa-yu Kim Jung-ho as Yoon Chin-wang
Special appearances Lee Soo-min as So-ya Yoo Jae-suk as a farmerSpecial appearance of Hangout with Yoo cast members:
Haha as a farmer Joo Woo-jae as a farmer Park Jin-joo as a farmer Lee Yi-kyung as a farmer Lee Mi-joo as a farmer Lee Mi-do as Yang-sseu
Production The script reading of the cast was held in December 2022.
In May 2023, MBC announced the termination of the contract with an external company providing background actors, after it was revealed that an actor who was cast for a minor role in My Dearest was one of the twelve perpetrators of a sexual assault in 2004.
On November 9, 2023, it was announced that the series would be extended by one episode due to its popularity, and would end with 21 episodes. The final episode aired on November 18.
Reception Viewership
+ Average TV viewership ratings Original broadcast date Average audience share Nielsen KoreaNielsen Korea ratings:
TNmSTNmS ratings:
Nationwide Seoul Nationwide Part 1 1 August 4, 2023 5.4% 5.4% rowspan="2" 2 August 5, 2023 3 August 11, 2023 5.5% 5.3% 4 August 12, 2023 5.2% 5.0% 4.4% 5 August 18, 2023 8.4% 8.3% 6.5% 6 August 19, 2023 8.8% 8.3% 7 August 25, 2023 10.6% 10.1% 8.0% 8 August 26, 2023 10.3% 9.9% 9 September 1, 2023 10.6% 9.8% 9.0% 10 September 2, 2023 12.2% 11.5% Part 2 11 October 13, 2023 7.7% 7.5% 6.6% 12 October 14, 2023 9.3% 9.5% 6.9% 13 October 20, 2023 10.3% 9.9% 7.9% 14 October 21, 2023 11.7% 10.9% 15 October 27, 2023 11.8% 11.2% 16 October 28, 2023 12.0% 11.3% rowspan="2" 17 November 4, 2023 11.4% 11.3% 18 November 10, 2023 10.8% 10.3% 7.6% 19 November 11, 2023 11.6% 11.3% rowspan="3" 20 November 17, 2023 12.4% 12.5% 21 November 18, 2023 Average Special September 8, 2023 3.4% 3.5% In the table above, the represent the lowest ratings and the represent the highest ratings. N/A denotes ratings that were not published.
Accolades + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Baeksang Arts Awards 2024 Best Actor Namkoong Min Best Drama My Dearest Best Actress Ahn Eun-jin Grimae Awards 2023 Best Actor Namkoong Min Best Actress Ahn Eun-jin Directing Award Kim Seong-yong and Cheon Soo-jin Grand Prize (Daesang) My Dearest Lighting Award Kwon Min-gu MBC Drama Awards 2023 Best Character Award Best Couple Award Namkoong Min and Ahn Eun-jin Best New Actor Kim Mu-jun Kim Yoon-woo Best New Actress Park Jung-yeon Best Supporting Actor Drama of the Year My Dearest Grand Prize (Daesang) Namkoong Min Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Ahn Eun-jin Lee Chung-ah Best Character Award Choi Moo-sung Best New Actress Jeon Hye-won Best Supporting Actress Kwon So-hyun Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Lee Hak-joo Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Lee Da-in Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Namkoong Min Seoul International Drama Awards 2024 Outstanding Korean Drama My Dearest
Listicles +Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, recipient and placementPublisherYearListicleRecipientPlacementGallup Korea2024Best Television Couple of the Past 10 YearsNamkoong Min and Ahn Eun-jin
Notes
References
External links