/Courtesy of Studio Dragon

The South Korean romantic series “Queen of Tears,” produced by Studio Dragon, concluded its 16-episode run on April 28. The drama broke the highest viewership record on the South Korean cable channel tvN, writing a new chapter in its success history.

Not only loved in South Korea, “Queen of Tears” has also gained immense popularity among viewers worldwide. It achieved notable standings in the Netflix Top 10 Non-English TV Series weekly rankings, entering the top 10 for eight consecutive weeks and fluctuating between first and second place for four months. It continues to maintain a position at the top of the chart, with a global cumulative viewing time reaching 370,320,000 hours. The series scored an audience rating of 94% on the international content review site Rotten Tomatoes and received a score of 4.5 out of 5 on Japan’s largest content review site, Filmarks.

The success of “Queen of Tears” has been spotlighted by foreign media, highlighting key factors behind its popularity.

Fusion of Genres: “Like a Piece of Comprehensive Art”

The drama does not merely contain the poignant and beautiful romance between the protagonists played by Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won. It also features conspiracies within a wealthy family, love and misunderstandings among family members, and the antics of surrounding characters, reminiscent of a comedy show. Time magazine said, “If there’s one thing that K-dramas do better than any other format, it’s blending genres to create fresh combinations.” Canadian media outlet Screenrant noted, “‘Queen of Tears’ showcases what the series does best, balancing well-written comedy with beautiful performances that seamlessly intertwine.”

Perfect Trio: Writer’s Narrative, Director’s Production, and Cast’s Dynamic Performances

“Queen of Tears” anticipated high expectations from the start, featuring a production team that includes writer Park Ji-eun, who has produced several global hits such as “Crash Landing on You” (2019), “The Legend of the Blue Sea” (2016), and “My Love from the Star” (2013), along with directors Jang Young-woo of “Bulgasal: Immortal Souls” and Kim Hee-won of “Vincenzo” and “Little Women,” and actors Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won, who are known for their unique charm.

The result exceeded expectations. Screenrant highlighted numerous success factors of “Queen of Tears,” including a “K-drama legend” writer, “fairytale-like cinematography,” well-balanced characters, and particularly the off-the-charts chemistry between Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun. It added that all cast members “deliver exceptional performances that really drive ‘Queen of Tears’ character-driven narrative forward.”

Rich Variations in Storytelling: Simple yet Unpredictable

The romantic comedy presents a storyline that is easy for viewers to follow but includes twists that are hard to predict, strongly drawing in viewers each episode. Forbes mentioned, “Many K-dramas end with ‘happily ever after,’ but ‘Queen of Tears’ starts that way.” Screenrant praised, “The plot continues to exceed expectations. The numerous subplots make each stride away from the main plot enjoyable and make every second of ‘Queen of Tears’ movie-length episodes worth it.” Time magazine also noted, “What starts as an attempt to worm himself free from his marriage sees Hyun-woo rediscover why he fell in love with Hae-in. It’s predictable, sometimes ugly, yet startlingly human.”

This article was originally published on May 6, 2024.

/Courtesy of Studio Dragon
/Courtesy of Studio Dragon
/Courtesy of Studio Dragon