About My Dearest
My Dearest (Korean title Yeonin) is a sweeping MBC period romance set in 17th-century Joseon, in the years surrounding the 1636 Qing invasion. At its heart is Yu Gil-chae, a celebrated young noblewoman of Neunggun-ri admired throughout her region, and Lee Jang-hyun, a worldly, free-spirited man whose easy charm hides a guarded past. Their first meetings are wary and combative, but a deep attraction takes root just as the country is plunged into upheaval.
When war reaches Joseon, the comfortable world Gil-chae has always known is swept away. Families are scattered, fortunes are lost, and survival becomes a daily test of will. Across the chaos of invasion, captivity, and long separation, Gil-chae and Jang-hyun are repeatedly torn apart and drawn back together, their bond deepening even as circumstances conspire to keep them apart. The drama treats the violence of the era in restrained, broad strokes, keeping its focus on endurance and the cost of love in wartime.
Frequently compared to Gone with the Wind for its scale and its strong-willed heroine, My Dearest aired in two parts, with the first half debuting on MBC in August 2023 and the concluding half following in early 2024. Anchored by acclaimed performances from Ahn Eun-jin and Namkoong Min, the series earned strong viewership and warm critical reception, becoming one of the standout Korean historical romances of its era.