Oh, absolutely. And not just any love triangle—I’m talking about a Grade A, soul-crushing, scream-into-your-pillow kind of love triangle that had me pacing my living room at 2 a.m.
If you thought My Dearest was just a polite historical drama about war and duty, think again.
I don’t just watch dramas—I experience them, and let me tell you, this one had me clutching my pillow, screaming at my screen, and rethinking every romantic decision I’ve ever made.
Who’s Stuck In This Emotional Train Wreck?
Let’s break down the people responsible for my emotional instability:
- Gil Chae – Our leading lady. Smart, stubborn, and torn between two men who won’t stop haunting her thoughts (and, honestly, mine too).
- Yeon Jun – The intellectual Sungkyunkwan scholar she once had feelings for. Too bad he’s engaged to her best friend.
- Jang Hyun – The mysterious warrior who falls madly, deeply, irreversibly in love with Gil Chae and is not afraid to show it.
- Eun Ae – Gil Chae’s best friend and Yeon Jun’s fiancée, who is caught in the middle of this mess through no fault of her own.
And just when I thought I could breathe—boom! Gil Chae ends up married to yet another man, Won-moo, making this whole situation even more of a Shakespearean tragedy.
How Did This Hot Mess Even Happen?
At the start, Gil Chae is low-key obsessed with Yeon Jun, who, unfortunately, is already engaged to her best friend. Yeon Jun, being the duty-bound Confucian scholar that he is, won’t even entertain the thought of breaking things off. (Sir, read the room.)
He makes it very clear that he wants her, while she insists she still has feelings for Yeon Jun. (Girl, seriously?)
Then walks in Jang Hyun—a man with no time for hesitation. He falls for Gil Chae hard and doesn’t do the whole waiting patiently in the friend zone thing. He makes it very clear that he wants her, while she insists she still has feelings for Yeon Jun. (Girl, seriously?)
Love, War, And The Cultural Weight Of Duty
This love triangle isn’t just messy—it’s deeply rooted in Korean history and cultural expectations.
And let me tell you, this isn’t just about who Gil Chae loves—it’s about me emotionally investing in a fictional relationship like my life depends on it.
It’s about survival, duty, and making impossible choices when your world is falling apart.
In Joseon-era Korea, love wasn’t just about personal feelings—it was about duty, honor, and societal expectations.
Marriage was often dictated by Confucian principles, and breaking engagements wasn’t just frowned upon, it could ruin an entire family’s reputation. That’s why Yeon Jun’s loyalty to his engagement isn’t just indecisiveness—it reflects the weight of tradition that bound many men of his status.
The war forces them to grow, change, and sometimes make choices that go beyond romance.
The war forces them to grow, change, and sometimes make choices that go beyond romance. For women like Gil Chae, survival often meant putting aside love and choosing security over passion—something that was all too real for women in Korean history, especially during times of political upheaval.
Every time I thought this drama had reached its emotional peak, it threw another gut punch.
Seriously, why do I do this to myself?
So, Who Does Gil Chae Really Love, And What Does That Say About Korean Drama Tropes?
If you’re hoping for a straightforward answer, ha! Good luck with that.
My Dearest is not the type of drama to serve up easy conclusions. Instead, it drags us through the agonizing struggle of past love versus present devotion.
K-dramas are famous for their slow-burn romances and second-lead heartbreaks, and My Dearest plays right into those classic tropes.
Will Gil Chae choose the man who once held her heart, bound by tradition? Or the one who loves her with abandon, challenging societal norms?
This tension is what makes historical K-dramas so gut-wrenching—they force characters (and us) to wrestle with the clash between tradition and personal happiness.
This tension is what makes historical K-dramas so gut-wrenching—they force characters (and us) to wrestle with the clash between tradition and personal happiness.
That, my fellow drama addicts, is the reason I spent several nights dramatically staring out my window, questioning the meaning of love and loyalty.
Final Thoughts
The love triangle in My Dearest isn’t just some side plot to keep things spicy—it is the heart of the show. Every decision, every war, every single moment is shaped by the characters’ deep, complicated, and sometimes maddening love for each other.
So, if you’re thinking of watching My Dearest and expecting a simple romance—think again.
Watching this drama felt like willingly stepping into an emotional blender—yelling at my screen, dramatically collapsing onto my couch, and asking myself why I do this to my heart over and over again.
What do you think? Are you Team Yeon Jun or Team Jang Hyun? Or are you just here to witness the chaos like the rest of us? Let’s talk in the comments!
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