‘Queen of Tears’: Why you need to watch the best K-drama yet this year

‘Queen of Tears’, which stars Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won, one of the most highly anticipated K-dramas this year, continues to exceed expectations, astounding audiences worldwide

As Queen of Tears nears its end, with the finale scheduled to air on April 28, 2024, the romance K-drama’s popularity continues to soar, scoring its highest viewership ratings yet. According to Nielsen Korea, episode 14 of the 16-episode series climbed to an average nationwide rating of 21.625 per cent, marking a new personal record for the series.

Queen of Tears is anticipated to surpass the record-high rating of 21.7 per cent set by 2019’s hit K-drama, Crash Landing on You. Should that happen, it would be a historic milestone for tvN. It’s also in the global Top 10 TV series on Netflix, ranking third in the non-English category, and it has clinched the top spot in 12 countries including Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Malaysia–a testament to its widespread popularity.

Here’s why you need to watch Queen of Tears, the best K-drama yet this year.

It’s written by a screenplay mastermind

Above Park Ji-eun, who has worked on many hit K-dramas, is the mastermind behind the screenplay for ‘Queen of Tears’ (Photo: Tumblr)

Park Ji-eun might not be a familiar name to many, but she boasts an impressive resume. Aside from Queen of Tears, she also wrote SBS’ My Love from the Star (2013), which starred Kim Soo-hyun and Jun Ji-hyun (who made her small-screen comeback in 14 years). The series scored a viewership rating of 28.1 per cent and influenced Korean fashion, with clothes, accessories and make-up products worn by Jun seeing an unprecedented surge in sales.

In 2019, Park wrote tvN’s Crash Landing on You, starring Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin as the main leads. The K-drama took the world by storm and left an indelible mark on the hearts of the global audience due to its originality, outstanding performances from the cast, and breathtaking cinematography. It’s the highest-rated rated tvN drama and the third-highest-rated K-drama in cable television history, and it remained in the Top 10 on Netflix in almost all major Asian markets and accumulated 1.75 billion online views globally.

A cast that’s a match made in K-drama heaven

Above Hong Hae-in and Baek Hyun-woo will see a remarkable revival in their married life in ‘Queen of Tears’ (Photo: Netflix)

Casting Kim Soo-hyun, a household name in K-dramas, as Baek Hyun-woo, and Kim Ji-won, known for playing strong female leads, as Hong Hae-in is a match made in K-drama heaven. Both are versatile actors with multiple awards and accolades under their belts.

Soo-hyun is the highest-paid K-drama actor in the industry and for good reasons. He nails each role he takes on with exceptional acting chops, sweeping fans off their feet with his performances. Soo-hyun’s works have earned him numerous awards including four Baeksang Arts Awards, one of the most prestigious entertainment awards in the country.

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From The Heirs (2013) to Arthdal Chronicles (2019) to Descendants of the Sun (2016) and My Liberation Notes (2022), most roles that Ji-won play often deviate from damsel in distress characters. Through her characters, she exudes strength but also allows her feminine side to shine by showing vulnerability. Not forgetting, she also has amazing chemistry with any actor she is paired with.

An amazing storyline that has captivated audiences

Above A clip from ‘Queen of Tears’

The storyline for Queen of Tears will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. What starts as a cute rom-com gradually evolves into an intense love story with plot twists and a wicked element lurking beneath the surface. Also, it would be hard not to ship Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won because their performances are stellar, and their chemistry is fire.

Praised for its emotional maturity, well-thought-out scenes, and attention to detail, Queen of Tears tugs at heartstrings, leaving audiences laughing, crying, and rooting for a happy ending.

tvN has announced that ‘Queen of Tears’ will include two special episodes after its April 28, 2024 finale. The episodes will be released on May 4 and May 5, 2024.

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Topics

Queen of Tears Kim Soo-hyun Kim Ji-won

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