K-drama Achieves Highest Viewership Figures, Surpassing Previous Hits

Courtesy of tvN

The final episode of "Queen of Tears" aired on Sunday, marking a significant milestone for tvN as it garnered the highest viewership ratings in the channel's history. The drama surpassed the ratings of acclaimed series such as "Crash Landing on You" (2020) and "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" (2017).

According to tvN, the finale of "Queen of Tears" achieved an average viewership rating of 28.4 percent in the Seoul metropolitan area and 24.9 percent nationwide.

Pop culture critic Jung Duk-hyun remarked that "Queen of Tears" not only resonated with domestic audiences but also met the standards expected by global viewers for K-romance. The success of the drama can be attributed to the popularity of lead actors Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won, as well as the renowned screenwriter Park Ji-eun, known for her previous works like "Crash Landing on You" and "My Love From the Star."
 

▲ A scene from "Queen of Tears," starring Kim Ji-won(left) and Kim Soo-hyun / Courtesy of tvNKim Soo-hyun is reportedly considering a role in the upcoming black comedy series, "Knock Off," directed by Park Hyun-suk. Production will be handled by ARC Media and SLL, known for their previous works on platforms such as Disney+ and U+ Mobile TV.

While Kim Ji-won's next project remains undisclosed, Park Sung-hoon, who portrayed the main villain in "Queen of Tears," is set to appear in the second season of the Netflix original series, "Squid Game," scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Despite its record-breaking success, the final episodes of "Queen of Tears" faced criticism for their slow and unrealistic plot development. Viewers expressed dissatisfaction with Baek Hyeon-woo's (Kim Soo-hyun) sudden involvement in a series of misfortunes, including dismissal from his job, assassination attempts, and a traffic accident, all occurring in the last two episodes.

All 16 episodes of "Queen of Tears" are currently available for streaming on Netflix and Tving, with two additional special episodes titled "Queen of Tears: Miraculous Records.zip" scheduled to air on tvN.

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