Queen of Tears: K-Drama Inspired by Millionaire Heiress Scandal Breaks Records

Queen of Tears, a South Korean television series inspired by the scandal of a millionaire heiress, has taken the entertainment world by storm. The series, which premiered on March 9, 2024, has shattered viewership records and become a global phenomenon on streaming platforms like tvN, TVING, and Netflix.

The series depicts the tumultuous marriage of Hong Hae-in, a third-generation chaebol heiress of Queens Group, and Baek Hyun-woo, the son of farmers from Yongdu-ri. Queen of Tears reached a nationwide rating of 24.850% for its final episode, becoming the highest-rated tvN series and surpassing the previous record held by Crash Landing on You. It also secured its place as the third highest-rated series in Korean cable television history for viewership ratings and the second highest by number of viewers.

The production of Queen of Tears was a massive undertaking, with a total budget of ₩56 billion (US$48.95 million) and a cost of ₩3.5 billion (US$3.06 million) per episode. The series was co-directed by Jang Young-woo and Kim Hee-won and starred Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won in the lead roles. Screenwriter Park Ji-eun began preparing the project two years after completing her previous hit series, Crash Landing on You.

Principal photography for the series took place from April to December 2023 in various cities across South Korea and Germany. The first script reading was conducted on March 30, 2023, near Sangam-dong, Mapo District, Seoul. The soundtrack, led by music director Nam Hye-seung, features a star-studded lineup of artists, including BSS, 10cm, Heize, Crush, Isaac Hong, Kim Na-young, Paul Kim, Choi Yu-ree, So Su-bin, and Dori.

Critics have praised Queen of Tears for its unique approach to the romance genre. Forbes noted that "many K-dramas end with 'happily ever after', but Queen of Tears starts that way", adding that the series "not only has a solid cast, but boasts a talented screenwriter and two directors with a track record of drama success". Tanu I. Raj of NME described the series as "a whirlwind office romance" that is "buoyant and decidedly comic".

Queen of Tears has also made a significant impact on global streaming platforms. The series ranked seventh in Netflix's Global Top 10 TV (Non-English) category just two days after its release and received a warm response in 12 countries from March 4-10, amassing 3.3 million hours watched by 1.2 million viewers in its first week. It remained on the chart for the next four weeks, accumulating a total of 373.2 million hours watched since its release on March 9.

The success of Queen of Tears has solidified its place in Korean television history and showcased the global appeal of K-dramas. With its captivating storyline, talented cast, and record-breaking viewership, the series has set a new benchmark for the industry and left audiences eagerly anticipating futureprojectsfrom its creative team.

Key Takeaways

• Queen of Tears, a South Korean TV series, broke viewership records and became a global phenomenon.
• The series reached a nationwide rating of 24.850% for its final episode, a new record for tvN.
• The production budget was ₩56 billion (US$48.95 million), with ₩3.5 billion per episode.
• The series ranked 7th in Netflix's Global Top 10 TV (Non-English) category just two days after its release.
• Queen of Tears accumulated 373.2 million hours watched on Netflix since its release on March 9.