Whatever We Lose, We Seek Inside Ourselves
The last episode of Dear Hyeri Broadcasted. I watched it yesterday night.
Dear Hyeri is one of those rare dramas that gets under your skin in the gentlest yet most haunting way. This story revolves around Eun-ho, a news anchor carrying a lifetime of loss: her parents died when she was young, and her only sister, Hyeri, went missing in a forest during a college trip. This tragic past isn’t just something Eun-ho “went through”, it’s a wound that defines her, shaping the person we meet at the beginning of the show. Its also a story about Hyun Oh her ex-boyfriend who broke up with her after 8 year of relationship like its nothing. Both of them works in same PPS broadcast as announcers nitpicking each other.
This series is a reflection of today’s reality as well. There are infinite moments that makes us connect majorly because it’s set in the workplace. Plus it also reminds me how complicated relationships can be.
From the first episode, the story grabs you with an unusual question: Is this a psychological thriller? A mystery? As we learn, Eun-ho is diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, creating an alternate personality who embodies her lost sister, Hyeri. But here’s the real magic of the story, you start to wonder if this other Hyeri, this vibrant, lively persona, is more than just a coping mechanism. And all along, there’s this hope, maybe irrational, that the real Hyeri will somehow be found, alive, somewhere out there. The story is interlinked with how these two characters loves each other.
The Characters: Living with Loss, Finding Connection
Eun-ho (played by Shin Hye-sun)
Eun-ho is no typical K-drama heroine. She’s layered, strong, and raw in her pain. You think she has her life together as a news anchor, yet she’s broken, holding together shards of her heart, each piece reminding her of the life she’s lost.
Shin Hye-sun is incredible here, capturing both the subtlety and intensity needed to portray someone with multiple personalities. This is my first time seeing a show portraying a female character with dissociative identity disorder.
You’ll see Eun-ho the way she presents herself to the world, composed, resilient—but with Hyeri, we see her unfiltered, carrying her fears and her hope, her light and her dark. I rooted Eun ho more. I feel like alot of us woman will relate to her more.
Hyun-oh (played by Lee Jin-wook)
Then there’s Hyun-oh, the ex-boyfriend who is both a frustrating memory for Eun Oh and for me as well. Lee Jin Wook is one of the top tier handsome actor in Korean entertainment. I have never hated any of his characters before.
At first, I didn’t like this character at all. As he’s the guy who broke her heart, ending an eight-year relationship as if it meant nothing. Also he reminded me of someone I know. But as the story unfolds, his layers start to peel back, and you can’t help but see he’s just as haunted as Eun-ho.
He’s not a “bad guy” but a flawed one, carrying his own guilt and regrets. Watching his interactions with Eun-ho is like watching two broken halves that fit together, each trying to heal in their way.
Men are complicated too. Not many stories talks about it. And here at Hyeri we’ll get to see that Men are nothing different from us woman, they are emotional too, they have layers and they overthinks too. Some men really try their best to unlearn and learn too.
Supporting Characters
Everyone in Dear Hyeri leaves an imprint. The “second lead” Joo Yeon, who falls for Hyeri brings a unique, bittersweet twist, he really did earn my respect when he slammed Hyun ho with a words. My most favorite scene it was.
And the friends and colleagues at the newsroom and her psychiatrist become essential anchors, grounding Eun-ho and Hyun-oh in a way they can’t do for each other. Every single character is a reminder that, while loneliness and love shape us, human connections are the lifelines we sometimes don’t realize we need. At the same time we see how hard the workplace are for in such an industry. We all could find a common ground there.
Jae Young and Hye Yoon are my other favourite character who often comes into the frame to lift the spirit and gave me a cathartic relief. Every female character in this series is strong and brave. I can’t stop myself from admiring them. Ofcourse the show also showed what messed up woman and man do to their children as well. The grandmothers who raise Hyun Oh and the siblings are such an example and projection of there is always things beyond black and white.
Themes of Self-Discovery and Healing
At its core, Dear Hyeri is about identity. Eun-ho’s multiple personalities aren’t just a clinical disorder they’re pieces of her grief, expressions of her pain and her desire to be someone happy, like her sister.
Grief and healing are painted in quiet, subtle tones throughout the show. The forest where Hyeri disappeared is hauntingly symbolic, a place that holds Eun-ho’s most tragic memory and her deepest hope. This drama doesn’t rush through grief or healing. Instead, it sits with you, showing that healing is a process, often an incomplete one.
Memory and reality blur in such an interesting way. The show isn’t afraid to ask difficult questions about what’s real and what’s imagined. In some ways, the story’s slower pacing and lingering shots feel melodramatic, but that’s part of the magic. It’s like time stops, letting us travel back and forth with Eun-ho, living her memories as she does.
Cinematic Poetry: Visuals and Soundtrack
The cinematography of Dear Hyeri is like a soft hug. The opening is very artistic and sets the stage for what to come.
The colors are warm, muted, almost sepia-toned, creating a gentle backdrop for the show’s intense emotions. These visuals don’t overwhelm the scenes; instead, they highlight the quiet beauty of Eun-ho’s journey. Everything takes place in a handful of familiar spots: the newsroom, the parking lot, the forest, and Eun-ho’s apartment, yet each place feels like its own little world, a space for her to process her memories. While showing past and scenes with peak emotions the edges gets blurred giving us a melodramatic feel. I remember each and every places the drama set. Not every drama would pull it off, trust me.
The soundtrack is another hidden gem. It’s subtle, flowing through scenes like a quiet echo of Eun-ho’s feelings. The slow, haunting melodies stay with you long after an episode ends, letting each moment linger in your heart. The music works with the visual tone, capturing Eun-ho’s sadness, her small moments of hope, and the weight of memories she can’t let go.
Final Thoughts: A Drama of Gentle Power
Watching Dear Hyeri feels like reading someone’s diary, each page filled with raw, unfiltered emotions. Ofcourse, alot of you might find it too slow. But it comes down to the entire plot giving us a realistic feel. It lingers back and fourth from past and present that create a sense of nostalgia. It’s a show that dares to slow down, letting you sit with the characters and their silent heartbreaks.
Shin Hye-sun’s portrayal of Eun-ho and Hyeri is phenomenal—she captures the subtle yet stark difference between the two, making each one feel unique yet interconnected. It’s a true art piece, one that refuses to give you simple answers or rushes through its plot. It respects the healing process, the messiness of grief, and the beauty of finding ourselves in the ruins of what we’ve lost. Moreover the series also redefined the concept of family, love and breakup.
For those who appreciate dramas that leave a lasting impact, Dear Hyeri is a must-watch. It’s a reminder that sometimes, no matter how much we lose, the journey to finding ourselves is the most beautiful one we can take. I loved the ending of this drama. Its been a while since I am satisfied with an ending.
Some of My Favorite Quotes:
- Being alive is a good thing. Its an amazing thing to be alive. So be grateful… (Hyeri)
- You don’t care whether I exist or not. You are not interested because me not being there it’s not end of the world. Then, isn’t it about time I forgot about you? Isn’t it about time I give up on you? (Hye Yoon)
- When friends say goodbye, its a falling out, but I never eraser her from my life. Thats why I can’t say goodbye Hyeri. (Min Young)
- I lived a good life, didn’t I? I made sure I was never lonely. (Grandmother)
- Why do you think people fall in love? (Eun Ho) – Mmm… to find the one we’ll spend the rest of our lives with. To not be lonely at that moment. Until that time comes its to have someone who will always be by your side. Thats why even though we argue and hate passionately, we endure it. While thinking this could someday lead to love… But you know that will eventually turn into love. Its to like the same things and be happy together. (Hyun Oh)
- Answer to how to be happy is… it wasn’t anything grand. All you have to do is to be with the ones you love. (Eun Oh)
- You don’t make friends with those who are cool. You befriend people for who they are. You open your heart to those you click with. (Eun Oh)
- No of Episodes: 12
- Run Time: 60 Min per eps
- Genre: Psychological/ Melodrama/Workplace
- Where to Watch: Viki
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