Hotel Del Luna - Characters & Cast

Initially, her motivation is purely survival and hedonism—enjoying the luxuries of the world while waiting for a sinner worse than herself to take her place. As the series progresses, her motivation shifts to protecting Gu Chan-sung and resolving the lingering threads of her past, especially her complicated relationship with Go Chung-myung and Princess Song-hwa. Ultimately, her goal becomes finding peace and ensuring those she cares for can live happily after she's gone.

Jang Man-wol begins as a cynical, greedy, and emotionally detached immortal, burdened by a 1,300-year-old curse. Her lavish spending and cold demeanor are defense mechanisms hiding deep-seated guilt and heartbreak from a past filled with betrayal and violence. The arrival of Gu Chan-sung slowly dismantles her walls. Through him, she rediscovers empathy, vulnerability, and the capacity to love and trust again. Her arc is a journey from being a resentful soul trapped in time to a woman who confronts her sins, forgives her enemies, and ultimately accepts her fate, choosing to move on to the afterlife rather than cling to a borrowed existence.

His primary motivation is his sense of duty and his inability to turn a blind eye to suffering. At first, he is motivated by the promise made by his father and a desire to protect himself. This quickly evolves into a deep-seated affection and love for Jang Man-wol. His ultimate motivation becomes helping her find peace and resolve her ancient grudge, even at the cost of his own happiness.

Gu Chan-sung starts as a rational, pragmatic, and slightly cowardly hotelier who is terrified of ghosts. Forced into managing the Hotel Del Luna, he initially tries to escape his fate. However, his inherent compassion and strong moral compass compel him to help the ghostly guests. His arc is one of courage and acceptance. He evolves from a man who fears the supernatural world to one who embraces it, becoming a compassionate guide for both the dead and for Man-wol. He learns to see beyond Man-wol's harsh exterior and becomes the key to her salvation, even though it means he must eventually let her go.

His sole motivation for 1,300 years has been to atone for his past and protect Jang Man-wol. He endures an eternity of loneliness out of love and a sense of responsibility for her suffering, waiting for the day she can finally forgive him and be free from her curse.

Introduced in flashbacks as the Captain of the Guard who betrays Man-wol, Chung-myung is initially seen as the source of her long-held grudge. However, his arc reveals a tragic story of sacrifice. To save Man-wol's life, he made a deal that forced him to be seen as a traitor. Instead of moving on to the afterlife, he chose to remain by her side for over a millennium, transformed into a firefly, silently watching over her. His arc is a revelation of his unwavering love and guilt, culminating in his final act of guiding her across the bridge to the afterlife, achieving his own peace in the process.