Queen of Tears (Korean: 눈물의 여왕) is a 2024 South Korean romantic comedy TV series starring Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Ji-won, Park Sung-hoon, Kwak Dong-yeon, and Lee Joo-bin. The story follows a married couple going through a tough time together. It aired on tvN from March 9 to April 28, 2024, and can be streamed on TVING in South Korea and Netflix in some regions.
The series was a huge hit, with its finale reaching a 24.85% nationwide rating—the highest in tvN history. On Netflix, it became the most-watched Korean series ever, with 682.6 million hours viewed. Queen of Tears also won major awards, including Best Direction, Best Scriptwriting, and Best Drama.
K-Drama Profile
- Name (English): Queen of Tears
- Name (Korean): 눈물의 여왕
- Revised Romanization: Nunmurui yeowang
- Genre: Romantic comedy
- Writer: Park Ji-eun
- Directors: Jang Young-woo, Kim Hee-won
- Main Cast: Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Ji-won, Park Sung-hoon, Kwak Dong-yeon, Lee Joo-bin
- Country: South Korea
- Language: Korean
- Episodes: 16 + 2 special
Plot Synopsis
Queen of Tears follows Hong Hae-in, a wealthy heiress, and Baek Hyun-woo, a farmer’s son, whose marriage is on the verge of divorce. When Hae-in is diagnosed with brain cancer, they must face their past mistakes, understand their differences, and rebuild their love. Hae-in’s childhood friend, Yoon Eun-sung, also steps in to support her, making this a heartfelt story of love, forgiveness, and personal growth.
Main Cast
Kim Soo-hyun (as Baek Hyun-woo)
- Name (English): Kim Soo-hyun
- Name (Korean): 김수현
- Revised Romanization: Gim Suhyeon
- Birthday: February 16, 1988
- Age: 37
- Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
- Occupation: Actor
- Active Since: 2007
- Agency: Gold Medalist
Kim Ji-won (as Hong Hae-in)
- Name (English): Kim Ji-won
- Name (Korean): 김지원
- Revised Romanization: Gim Jiwon
- Birthday: October 19, 1992
- Age: 32
- Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
- Occupation: Actress
- Active Since: 2010
- Agency: HighZium Studio
Park Sung-hoon (as Yoon Eun-sung/David Yoon)
- Name (English): Park Sung-hoon
- Name (Korean): 박성훈
- Revised Romanization: Bak Seonghun
- Birthday: February 18, 1985
- Age: 40
- Birthplace: Gwacheon, South Korea
- Occupation: Actor
- Active Since: 2008
- Agency: BH Entertainment
Kwak Dong-yeon (as Hong Soo-cheol)
- Name (English): Kwak Dong-yeon
- Name (Korean): 곽동연
- Revised Romanization: Gwak Dongyeon
- Birthday: March 19, 1997
- Age: 28
- Birthplace: Daejeon, South Korea
- Occupations: Actor, musician
- Active Since: 2012
- Agency: Blitzway Entertainment
Lee Joo-bin (as Cheon Da-hye)
- Name (English): Lee Joo-bin
- Name (Korean): 이주빈
- Revised Romanization: I Jubin
- Birthday: September 18, 1989
- Age: 36
- Birthplace: Gangneung, South Korea
- Occupations: Actress, model
- Active Since: 2010
- Agency: KeyEast
- Height: 163cm (5 ft 4 in)
Drama OSTs
In a Beautiful Way (by Kim Kyung-hee)
The Reasons of My Smiles (by BSS)
Tell Me It’s Not a Dream (by 10cm)
Hold Me Back (by Heize)
Love You With All My Heart (by Crush)
Fallin (by Hong Isaac)
Can’t Get Over You (by Paul Kim)
From Bottom of My Heart (by Kim Na-young)
Last Chance (by So Soo-bin)
Promise (by Choi Yu-ree)
Heart Flutter (by Dori)
More Than Enough (by Kim Tae-rae)
Way Home (by Kim Soo-hyun)
Audience Ratings
Queen of Tears has been widely praised by critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 100% positive rating from 6 reviews, averaging 8.2/10. Forbes highlighted its strong cast and talented team, while NME called it a “fun and comic” office romance. Critics also praised its mix of family drama, corporate intrigue, and romance, with But Why Tho? giving it 9/10 and naming it one of the year’s best dramas.
Viewership
Queen of Tears was a huge success on both TV and Netflix. Its finale on tvN scored 24.85% nationwide, making it the network’s highest-rated series ever, with average viewership around 15–17% per episode, impressive for a cable show.
On Netflix, the series quickly became a global hit, topping charts in its fourth week with 41.4 million hours watched. By the end of its run, it had 373.2 million hours viewed on Netflix and became the most-watched Korean drama of all time, with 682.6 million total hours and 29 million views worldwide.
Awards and Achievements
Queen of Tears (Korean: 눈물의 여왕) is a 2024 South Korean romantic comedy series starring Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Ji-won, and Park Sung-hoon. The 16-episode drama follows chaebol heiress Hong Hae-in and her husband Baek Hyun-woo as they face marital struggles, illness, and personal growth.
The show aired on tvN from March 9 to April 28, 2024, and is available on TVING and Netflix. Its finale became tvN’s highest-rated episode ever, and on Netflix, it became the most-watched Korean drama with 682.6 million hours viewed.
Critics praised its strong cast, emotional story, and mix of romance, comedy, and family drama. The series won multiple awards, including Best Drama, Best Direction, and Best Scriptwriting, and its soundtrack, featuring songs like “Love You With All My Heart” and “Way Home,” became very popular.
Queen of Tears FAQs
What is the genre of Queen of Tears?
Queen of Tears is a romantic comedy with elements of family drama, corporate intrigue, and emotional storytelling.
Who wrote the series?
The series was written by Park Ji-eun, known for hits like Crash Landing on You and My Love from the Star.
Who directed the series?
It was co-directed by Jang Young-woo (Crash Landing on You) and Kim Hee-won (Vincenzo, Little Women).
How many episodes does the series have?
The drama has 16 main episodes and 2 special episodes.
Where was Queen of Tears filmed?
Filming took place across various cities in South Korea and Germany from April to December 2023.
What is the average runtime of each episode?
Each episode runs for 80 to 90 minutes.
What is the main storyline?
The series follows a married couple on the verge of divorce. Hae-in is diagnosed with brain cancer, forcing both to confront past mistakes and rekindle their love, while also navigating family drama and corporate challenges.
Is Queen of Tears based on a true story?
No, it is a fictional story created for television.
Who composed the music for the series?
The music director is Nam Hye-seung, with a soundtrack featuring artists like Crush, Heize, 10cm, BSS, and Kim Soo-hyun himself.
What was the budget for the series?
The total budget was approximately ₩56 billion, averaging ₩3.5 billion per episode.
Where can I watch Queen of Tears?
It aired on tvN and is available for streaming on TVING (South Korea) and Netflix (selected regions).
Did the series receive any international awards?
Yes, it won Best Direction at the Asian Academy Creative Awards and Best Scriptwriting at the Asian Television Awards.
Watch Queen of Tears on Netflix
