Ah, the eternal question that haunts every historical K-drama fan. “Did this really happen, or is this just another beautifully tragic love story designed to wreck me emotionally?”
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably been pacing your living room, Googling historical events, and questioning whether you just signed up for a heartbreak that’s actually rooted in reality.
So, is My Dearest a true story, or just a well-crafted illusion? Let’s break it down.
A Love Story Wrapped In Real History
Okay, let’s get one thing straight—Lee Jang Hyun and Yoo Gil Chae’s heart-wrenching romance didn’t happen. I know, I know. Take a deep breath.
But before you flip your table in despair, hear me out.
While the star-crossed lovers themselves are fictional, the historical backdrop they exist in? Very real.
The drama is set during the Qing invasion of Joseon (1636-1637), which was not just a minor inconvenience in history. It was an absolute disaster.
The drama is set during the Qing invasion of Joseon (1636-1637), which was not just a minor inconvenience in history. It was an absolute disaster.
Tens of thousands of Koreans were taken as prisoners, noble families were ripped apart, and the entire kingdom was thrown into chaos.
And that gut-punch feeling you get every time war rips our characters apart? That’s because the show does an eerily good job of mirroring what real people went through.
The History My Dearest Gets Right
Even though Jang Hyun and Gil Chae aren’t historical figures, their experiences are pretty spot-on for the time period.
- Arranged Marriages & Zero Say in Love. Back then, love wasn’t exactly a priority. Status, duty, and family reputation were. So when Gil Chae struggles with choosing between duty and love? That’s not just drama magic. That was real life for noblewomen in Joseon Korea.
- Survival & Captivity. The Qing invasion didn’t just bring war—it brought mass abductions. Many noblewomen were taken to Qing China as prisoners. Those left behind often had to marry against their will or live with the constant threat of being captured.
Joseon Korea had some very strict ideas about women and loyalty. Staying faithful—even to a deceased or missing husband—was seen as the ultimate virtue.
- Confucian Loyalty & Societal Expectations. Joseon Korea had some very strict ideas about women and loyalty. Staying faithful—even to a deceased or missing husband—was seen as the ultimate virtue. Gil Chae’s internal conflict over love and survival? It’s exactly the kind of impossible choice women actually faced.
- The Role of Nobility and Commoners. The drama accurately depicts the rigid class hierarchy of Joseon society. Jang Hyun, a man without noble status, faces systemic barriers that prevent him from being with Gil Chae, who comes from a privileged background. Social mobility was nearly impossible, and love across class lines was often forbidden.
- Korean Honor and National Identity. The Qing invasion was more than just a war—it was a national crisis that deeply wounded the pride of Joseon Korea. The drama reflects this struggle, showing how characters must choose between personal desires and the duty to their homeland. The idea of “loyalty to the nation” is deeply ingrained in Korean history, making this conflict even more poignant.
Where Drama Meets Dramatic Effect
Now, as much as we all love a good historically accurate K-drama, let’s not pretend we don’t also live for the extra layers of pain that the writers love to sprinkle in for maximum devastation.
- The sweeping, once-in-a-lifetime romance? Fictional. The kind of poetic longing Jang Hyun and Gil Chae go through? Highly unlikely in real life.
- The ridiculously cinematic, slow-motion gazes and dramatic rescues? That’s K-drama gold, not historical record.
- The perfectly timed, fate-driven encounters? Let’s just say, real Joseon folks were not bumping into their one true love in a field of perfectly wind-blown grass.
Historical dramas love to take real struggles and wrap them up in an emotionally gripping story. And honestly? I’m not mad about it.
Should You Watch It For The History?
If you’re looking for a straight-up history lesson, My Dearest is not your go-to.
But if you want a drama that makes you feel the weight of history—the pain, the sacrifice, the heartbreak—then yes, it’s an excellent window into the struggles of the Joseon era.
It’s not a documentary, but it does capture the emotional and cultural essence of the time.
It’s not a documentary, but it does capture the emotional and cultural essence of the time. And if that means I get to swoon and suffer over a fictional couple while secretly learning about history? Count me in.
Final Thoughts
So, is My Dearest based on a true story? Not exactly. But does it reflect real historical struggles, heartache, and resilience? Absolutely.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to dramatically stare out my window and recover from the emotional trauma this drama has inflicted upon me.
What do you think? Do you like when K-dramas mix history with fiction, or do you prefer pure historical accuracy? Let’s discuss in the comments.
And if you know someone debating whether or not to watch My Dearest, send this their way. They deserve a warning.
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