“My Dearest” Part 1 Ending: Tears & Pain for 4 Characters and 1 Couple

The first part of “My Dearest” has ended with heartbreak. The show has never promised a happy ending, and we doubt that Lee Jang Hyun (Namgoong Min) and Yoo Gil Chae (Ahn Eun Jin) will ever be happy. But we can’t stop watching this emotional roller coaster. As we wait for the second part, let’s see where our characters are.

Nam Yeon Joon: Self-righteous hypocritical asshole

He was such a fool. The biggest fool in all of Joseon. He made so many promises, but he ended up ruining his family. Eun Ae didn’t deserve this. She was so smart and sensible.

Nam Yeon Joon, a stubborn and naive official, was jailed by King Injo for refusing to go to Simyang, a base of the enemy empire, to take a message to the crown prince. His wife, Kyung Eun Ae, and his sister-in-law, Yoo Gil Chae, were kicked out to the street with their maids and family. 

Eun Ae tried to be positive, but they barely had money for food and clothes. Gil Chae, who was still grieving her lover Jang Hyun, whom she thought was dead, decided to try business with the help of Goo Won Moo, a soldier who lied about saving her on Ganghwa Island. But this led to a tragedy that would change their lives.

Eun Ae: Gil Chae stands by her side despite her broken heart

Gil Chae tries to help their family by starting a business with the help of a lying soldier. Eun Ae also seeks out a scholar who criticizes the king’s unfair, paranoid behavior and sends petitions to free her husband, who was jailed for refusing to go to the enemy base. 

The king, who fears losing his throne, releases him because of the people’s anger. Eun Ae is sad to see Gil Chae work hard and face gossip for her actions. She also proves Jang Hyun’s point that her husband depends on the women in his life.

Gil Chae: From love and loss to sacrifice and success

Gil Chae has been waiting for three years for Jang Hyun, who left for Simyang and is presumed dead. She has become a successful tradeswoman, but she still loves him and thinks of him often. However, she faces pressure from her sister and maid, who need her to marry well for their own sake. Won Moo, who owns the forge that Gil Chae depends on, knows about her feelings for Jang Hyun, but he keeps proposing to her, hoping that she will accept him. 

One day, she meets Ryang Eum, who was supposed to tell her that Jang Hyun is alive and on his way back to her, but he lies out of jealousy and says that he is dead. Gil Chae is devastated and asks him if Jang Hyun suffered a lot before dying. She then decides to marry Won Moo, giving up on her true love.

Jang Hyun: Lose his love and hates himself

Jang Hyun has been living a dangerous and miserable life as a double agent for Joseon and Qing in Simyang, where he has to hunt down and kill his own people who are trying to escape. He finally gets an opportunity to go back to Joseon with the crown prince, who has been more pragmatic than his father King Injo in dealing with Qing. He is eager to see his love Gil Chae, who has grown into a successful and intelligent tradeswoman, but has also agreed to marry Won Moo for the sake of her sister and maid. 

He is devastated to find out that she is engaged, and she is conflicted between him and her duty. They have a secret meeting and a heartfelt conversation, where they realize how much they have changed and suffered in the past three years. He begs her to run away with him, hoping to start a new life together.

How our couple ended up: Heartache and separation

Jang Hyun and Gil Chae, who have been separated for three years, finally confess their love and decide to run away together. However, their plan is ruined by Won Moo, who evicts Gil Chae’s father from his home, knowing that she will come back to take care of him. Gil Chae returns to her family and writes Jang Hyun a letter that she does not mean, telling him that she doesn't love or trust him enough. Jang Hyun, heartbroken, throws away the shoes he bought for her as a gift. They watch each other sail away in tears, while Ryang Eum, who lied to Gil Chae about Jang Hyun’s death, observes them with envy.

Two years later, Jang Hyun is still working as a double agent in Simyang, where he meets a mysterious woman who is also hunting down Joseon refugees. He saves her from falling off her horse and finds himself in a close position with her, suggesting a possible love triangle.~~

Last words

It’s so painful to watch how Gil Chae and Jang Hyun keep misunderstanding each other 😭

I admired the realistic writing of "My Dearest" but blamed Jang Hyun for not giving Gil Chae the benefit of the doubt, even though she had to sacrifice her love for her family. I also speculated about the fate of Ryang Eum, who deceived them, and the chance of Jang Hyun being dead in the present timeline. I was curious about the new character of the blue-dressed escapee hunter, who could be involved in a love triangle with Jang Hyun in Part 2. Generally, the drama’s plot gives a mix of pain and pleasure, which is heartbreaking and captivating.