It’s official! The 2024 tvN Kdrama Queen of Tears has surpassed the global hit, Crash Landing on You in ratings, achieving a record 24.85% Nationwide for South Korea. It is now the highest rated tvN drama ever, overtaking JTBC’s Sky Castle to move it into third place overall. Due to Queen of Tears immense popularity, comparisons between the show and Crash Landing on You, also penned by Park Ji-eun, are inevitable. So how did Queen of Tears crack the formula of its big sister drama Crash Landing on You?
First – a quick synopsis of Queen of Tears. Kim Soo-hyun portrays legal director of the Queen’s Group and all-around nice guy, Baek Hyun-woo. After three years of marriage, Hyun-woo wants a divorce from Queen’s heiress, Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won). Living under the pressure of Hae-in’s family is difficult, but not as hard as the space that has grown between the couple. Ready to give his wife the news, Hyun-woo instead learns a secret from Hae-in that changes their lives forever. The road back to their love is not an easy one, especially with investor Yoon Eun-sung (Park Sung-hoon) lurking around Hae-in. With so much conspiring against them, will Hyun-woo and Hae-in recapture all they have lost and realize a miraculous story of love?
- Series Title: Queen of Tears (Korean: 눈물의 여왕)
- Starring: Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Ji-won, Kwak Dong-yeon and Lee Joo-bin
- Written by: Park Ji-eun
- Directed by: Jang Young-woo, Kim Hee-won
- Network: tvN
- Where to watch in the US: Netflix
- Premier Date: March 9, 2024
- # of episodes: 16
- KafeNook Rating: 4.9 sips
How Queen of Tears Cracked the Formula of Crash Landing on You – – !!!Spoilers Ahead!!!
If a how-to manual existed on duplicating the success of the global hit, Crash Landing on You, Queen of Tears follows it closely:
- Start with the writer of Crash Landing on You, Park Ji-eun, who also penned other hits like My Love from the Star and Legend of the Blue Sea
- Bring on some of Kdramaland’s most experienced directors including Jang Young-woo and Kim Hee-won, award winning director of Vincenzo
- Cast multi award winning actor Kim Soo-hyun in his first romantic lead role since the critically acclaimed It’s Okay to Not be Okay
- Pair him with the incomparable Kim Ji-won who first stole the hearts of viewers in Descendants of the Sun
- Fill the remaining cast with Kdrama veterans like Kwak Dong-yeon (Gaus Electronics), Park Sung-hoon (The Glory), and Lee Mi-sook (Perfect Marriage Revenge)
- Sprinkle in buzz-worthy cameos even Song Joon-ki’s Vincenzo would be excited about
- Feature breathtaking cinematography in a foreign local
- Load the soundtrack with tunes sung by major artists like Seventeen’s BSS Unit, Crush and Heize
This imaginary how-to manual features eight ways Queen of Tears cracked the formula of Crash Landing on You. Ready to dive in?
1) Anchor the Story on a Fierce Chaebol Heiress with a Troubled Family History
Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won), the female lead in Queen of Tears, is rumored to be based on the real-life story of Lee Boo Jin, the Samsung heiress who married a regular employee of the company. In reality, she has more in common with Crash Landing on You’s Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin). Both women are a force to be reconned with. They rely on their brains and business acumen to lead their companies to success. (And looking chic while doing it). Se-ri is the founder of her own company and her father’s choice as successor for the Queen’s Group. The CEO of the Queen’s Department store, Hae-in is close to getting her store into the exclusive One Trillion Club.
Both Se-ri and Hae-in come from wealthy families but have mother issues. Se-ri is her father’s illegitimate daughter. Even though she enters his household at a young age, her stepmother, Han Jeong-yeon (Bang Eun-jin) never recognizes Se-ri as her daughter. Hae-in’s relationship with her mother became strained with the death of her older brother. Blaming Hae-in for the accident, Kim Seon-hwa (Na Young-hee) keeps her daughter at arm’s length. Hae-in accepts her mother’s behavior, afraid of upsetting her further since she already lost a child. This lack of a strong mother-daughter relationship may be a key to why neither Se-ri or Hae-in have close female friends.
Hae-in and Se-ri each face questions of their own mortality and will to live. Burdened by a lack of self-worth, Se-ri seeks to end her life until Ri Jeong-hyeok gives her a reason to live. Hae-in, who suffers from a rare type of brain tumor, faces death but wants to live because of Baek Hyun-woo. The scars they bare and their journey to healing form the backbone of both shows. It is their struggles that invite the viewer into the story as they experience both the worst and best moments in their lives.
2) Immerse Characters in a Breathtaking Foreign Setting
No need to go the movie theater when shows like Crash Landing on You and Queen of Tears feature stunning, feature-quality cinematography. This is especially apparent in the foreign settings highlighted in each drama. After the airing of Crash Landing on You, Switzerland experienced the Crash Landing on You effect – a surge in visits to the region where filming took place. Watching those scenes, it’s easy to see why people would want to explore the beauty of the region. All the while listening to Sigriswil, of course!
Taking a page from its sister drama, Queen of Tears features numerous scenes filmed in Germany. Who wouldn’t want to take a stroll down the Eiserner Steg in Frankfurt to locate Hyun-woo and Hai-in’s lock on the bridge? Or marvel at the magnificent Berlin Cathedral? A trip to the picturesque lavender garden at Botanischer Duftgarten in Lage, Germany is a must. Not to mention ascending the stairs at the Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam where Hyun-woo and Hai-in shared their most passionate kiss. Is Germany ready for the surge in visitors?
3) Feature Cameos Tied to Popular Kdramas
While Crash Landing on You did not invent big cameos, the show set a high bar for them. Before seeing Crash Landing on You, I wasn’t familiar with Kim Soo-hyun’s movie, Secretly Greatly, where he portrays North Korean undercover agent, Won Ryu-hwan. After watching Secretly Greatly, it’s easier to see brilliance of the cameo – both in the concept and in Kim Soo-hyun’s performance. (If only Hyun Bin or Son Ye-jin had returned the favor to cameo in Queen of Tears!)
If water coolers were still a thing, the surprise cameos in Queen of Tears would be the topic of the day. News of Song Joong-ki’s cameo spread like wildfire when it was first announced. But who imagined he would return in one of his most iconic roles? Song Joong-ki said it only took one sentence to convince him to make the appearance. “You will get to play Vincenzo.” Fans of the series, Vincenzo, know the drama ends with Vincenzo as a wanted man in South Korea. Any future return he makes to the country is strictly under the radar. It goes to show the power of the Hong family that Hae-in is able bring him back to South Korea as her divorce attorney!
Song Joong-ki’s return to the screen as Vincenzo is nothing short of brilliant. Vincenzo’s introduction alone is worth talking about – the rumors of who he is covering many of Song Joong-ki’s most famous roles. (Soldier, chaebol heir, werewolf, oh my!) Add to that images of Consiglieri Vincenzo cooly performing his own brand of justice before turning that justice on Hyun-woo and this is a cameo for the ages!
And More Cameos
Like Crash Landing on You, Queen of Tears features many cameos, several with actors who “crossed over” from the older drama. This includes Ko Kyu-pil (Se-ri’s team manager) and Im Chul-soo as private investigators following Hyun-woo. Im Chul-soo, as Park Su-chan, is the insurance agent who believed Se-ri was alive when no one else did. His best line in Queen of Tears is delivered when he brags to Hong Beom-jun (Jung Jin-young) how he can even find a target in North Korea!
Oh Jung-se, Kim Soo-hyun’s It’s Okay Not to be Okay brother shows up in a hilarious scene as Hyun-woo’s psychiatrist. And Sebastian Roché, known for The Vampire Diaries and Supernatural, is Hae-in’s German doctor, Liam Braun. Plus, who could forget Hong Jin-kyung’s My Love from the Star character, Bok-ja? She portrayed Cheon Song-y’s best friend and proprietor of a comic book store. Apparently, she has left the store behind and is now a private investigator – but still has her two right (and left) hand men by her side!
4) Showcase a Perfectly Imperfect Walking Green Flag
They may not be perfect, but Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin) and Baek Hyun-woo are cut from the same cloth. And it is mighty fine cloth. Both men wear their integrity like a cloak. They inspire loyalty from others and are born leaders. Intelligence is their middle name. When it comes to skills – both have backgrounds as exemplary soldiers and crack shots. If daring motorcycle riding, hand to hand combat, boxing or swimming are needed, these two are ready for action. Being extremely goodlooking almost seems like a bonus. Best of all, they will do anything to protect the ones they love – including risking their own lives.
The term commonly given to men like this is a walking green-flag. Traits include (but are not limited to):
- Being a good listener
- Comfortable talking about their feelings
- Having high self-awareness but also empathy
- Engaged in the relationship
- Willing to be vulnerable
- Knowing what they want
- Treating others well
Sound familiar with these two?
Green Flags also inspire loyalty and are typically good leaders and friends. Jeong-hyeok’s company of soldiers would follow him to the ends of the Earth – or at least South Korea – to support him. This group can sit in comfortable silence on a hill or brave the unfamiliar streets of Seoul to help their Captain. Hyun-woo’s lawyer pack of friends follow him into a different kind of battle – legal ones. They may specialize in other areas of the law, but that doesn’t stop them from pulling out all the stops to clear Hyun-woo of fake murder charges.
When it comes to love, these men fall fast and hard. For Jeong-hyeok and Hyun-woo, it’s the forever kind of love. (Even if Hyun-woo forgot that for a bit.) They each prioritize the health, safety, and happiness of the woman they love over their own needs. Is it any wonder Se-ri and Hae-in fall hard for them? Plus – Hyun Bin and Kim Soo-hyun. Need I say more?
5) Drop Breadcrumbs to the Leads’ Secret Past
In Kdramas, leads often share a past where they knew each other as children, teenagers, or young adults. Crash Landing on You brings Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok together in Switzerland several years before they meet in North Korea. At a low point in her life, Se-ri is in Switzerland to seek a humane end. Piano prodigy, Jeong-hyeok is visiting there when he sees Se-ri for the first time. He asks her to take a picture of him and fiancé Seo Dan (Seo Ji-hye). Se-ri unknowingly records their brief conversation. Before Jeong-hyeok leaves Switzerland, he learns of his brother’s death. At the prompting of a young girl, he plays the song he wrote for his brother on a piano at the dock. Sailing on a boat nearby, Se-ri hears his song. The hauntingly, beautiful melody gives her the will to live and is the turning point in her life.
As Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok’s story unfolds, they learn of these chance meetings in Switzerland and how much the encounters affected each other’s life. To Jeong-hyeok’s surprise, Se-ri plays his own melody for him and learns how hearing it saved her life. They retain tangible reminders of this meeting. Jeon-hyeok finds the film in his camera from his trip to Switzerland and is shocked to see a picture of Se-ri on the roll. Se-ri discovers her recording from Switzerland and is stunned at hearing Jeong-hyeok’s voice on it.
Baek Hyun-woo, in Queen of Tears, meets Hae-in for the first time when he arrives at her high school. Rumors surround teenage Hae-in about the death of her older brother. She flees to the school yard, listening to an MP3 player – the very same one she found in Hyun-woo’s drawer with the initial “H” engraved on it – and falls to her knees crying. At that moment, a young Hyun-woo appears and offers her a bandage. Adult Hae-in is the one to recognizing the MP3 player and the first to realize the truth of their chance meeting. She is thrilled to know Hyun-woo kept this memento of his first love – her – all these years. It takes a little time for Hyun-woo to process the fact his first love in none other than Hae-in. But proving what the encounter meant to him – he lovingly describes her from that day.
But wait! Going back further in their lives, Hyun-woo saved Hae-in from drowning when they were children. Both Hae-in and her older brother are part of a boating “accident”. Nearby, Hyun-woo is with a group of junior marines and sees a girl in the water. Excellent swimmer that he is, Hyun-woo dives in and saves her. All these connections show how their fates are intwined.
6. Surround the Leads with Characters Who Have a Life of Their Own
Captivating Second Leads
Second leads Seo Dan (Seo Ji-hye of Kiss Sixth Sense) and Gu Seung-jun (Mr. Queen’s Kim Jung-hyun) are a highlight of Crash Landing on You. Seung-jun is self-centered and somewhat gutless until Dan enters his life. With her, he experiences love for the first time and is willing to sacrifice his own freedom for her sake. Their narrative is almost as captivating as that of Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok. The scenes between the two of them are fascinating and heartbreaking, to watch. While in Queen of Tears, Se-ri’s brother, Soo-cheol, starts as a pampered, naïve manchild. Actor Kwak Dong-yeon expertly conveys Soo-cheol’s growth into a strong father and a supportive husband to Cheon Da-hye (Lee Joo-bin).
Villains You Love to Hate
Crash Landing on You features North Korean Lt. Commander Cho Cheol-gang (Oh Man-seok) as its main villain. Cheol-gang is a corrupt man who was indirectly responsible for the death of Jeong-hyeok’s brother. An orphan, he grew up with little and will do anything and kill anyone, for power and money. And don’t forget Se-ri’s twisted half-brother, Yoon Se-hyung (Park Hyung-soo), who tries to sell out his own sister in order to take over Queen’s Group.
For a villain who brings conflict and chaos, look no further than tortured Yoon Eun-sung (Park Sung-hoon) in Queen of Tears. All but abandoned by his mother, he is a man grasping for love. Power, to him, is necessary to obtain what he wants – Hae-in – and a place by her side. Proving he is a villain with depth, there are times when I truly felt sorry for him. This is contrasted with his mother, Moh Seul-hee (Lee Mi-sook), the big villain of the show who has no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
Supporting Characters with Compelling Stories
Creating depth to these fictional worlds, both dramas also feature supporting characters with compelling stories of their own. Many of these characters also bring levity to the show, creating much needed interludes from the tense and emotional scenes. From Crash Landing on You there is Jeong-hyeok’s soldiers in the Company of Five, the women of the North Korean village, and wire tapper Jung Man-bok (Kim Young-min who also graces the screen in Queen of Tears).
Queen of Tears boasts stand out characters like Hae-in’s Aunt Hong Beom-ja (Kim Jung-nan – another Crash Landing on You veteran), two-faced secretary Grace Ko (Kim Joo-ryoung), and Hyun-woo’s best friend, Kim Yang-ki (Moon Tae-yu). Admittedly, there are a few secondary characters (Baek siblings and their spouse dramas anyone?) whose stories add little to the drama. Maybe that is one formula Queen of Tears did not completely crack.
7) Record a Playlist Ready Soundtrack Easy to Play on Repeat
The soundtrack for Crash Landing on You is one of the best of any Kdrama. It’s hard to go wrong with songs performed by top artists like 10cm, Davichi, Crush, So Soo Bin, and IU. Music director Nam Hye-seung, along with Park Sang-hee, created a soundtrack that perfectly complements the drama through the music and lyrics. While listening to The Hill of Yearning (April 2nd), it’s easy to picture the Company of Five sitting side by side on that little hill. Or Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok’s growing attraction through 10cm’s But Its Destiny. Then there is the sweeping, Sigriswil (Kim Kyung-hee) reflecting the awe-inspiring beauty of Switzerland. Even the instrumental songs are phenomenal with tracks like Spring in My Hometown and The Song for My Brother. Or my personal favorite, Time of Jeong-hyeok, a driving melody reflecting Jeong-hyeok’s desperation as he waits for Se-ri to recover.
From the release of the first song, The Reason for My Smiles (BSS), each song beautifully fits the narrative of Queen of Tears. Once again, music director Nam Hye-sung, partnered with Kim Kyung-hee and Park Jin-ho, presents hit songs sung by some of the best artists in the business.
Tell Me It’s Not a Dream (10cm) and Hold Me Back (Heize) express various aspects of Hyun-woo’s conflicted feelings toward Hae-in. While Love You with All My Heart (Crush), reflects Hae-in’s realization she was Hyun-woo’s first love. She wonders – was he born to love her? My favorite, Fallin’ (Isaac Hong), beautifully portrays the rekindling of Hyun-woo and Hae-in’s love.
The smooth tones of Can’t Get Over You (Paul Kim) shed warmth as Hyun-woo and Hae-in ride the commuter train to see the sunset. And From the Bottom of My Heart (Kim Na-young) echoes Hae-in’s heartfelt thoughts for Hyun-woo. The person she wants to live for. The wistful Last Chance (So Soo-bin) and heartfelt Promise (Choi Yu-ree) express the depth of Hae-in and Hyun-woo’s feelings and promise of being there for each other. This is followed by Heart Flutter (Park Dori), an upbeat song reflecting the couple’s happy hearts as they time spend together after she accepts his divorce withdrawal.
More than Enough (Kim Tae-rea), the only song not centered around the main couple, reveals Soo-cheol and Da-hye’s true feelings for each other. Kim Kyung himself, provides the vocals for the opening song In a Beautiful Way. And as a gift to viewers, Kim Soo-hyun sings the hauntingly beautiful Way Home. These are Hyun-woo’s final words to his love, Hae-in.
8) Pen a Love Story for the Ages
Writer Park Ji-eun knows what it takes to create a love story for the ages. While not exactly a formula, she, along with directors Jang Young-woo and Kim Hee-won, incorporates several key elements into the framework of Crash Landing on You and Queen of Tears that elevate the romance.
Placing Obstacles in the Way of Forever Love
Placing obstacles in the way of the lead’s love story builds tension and suspense. In Crash Landing on You, Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok are citizens of two countries that are technically at war – automatically creating a barrier between them. This division underlies every aspect of the story and leaves viewers wondering if a happy ending is possible. Add to that the shady characters on both sides of the DMZ working, at best, to undermine Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok, and at worst – to kill them. It’s hard to see how they will overcome the forces against them.
Hyun-woo and Hae-in’s initial obstacle is more subtle – a relationship sacrificed to the pressures around them and the misunderstandings between them. While Hae-in’s terminal diagnosis may seem like an obstacle, in reality, it is the catalyst that brings them back together. Even as their first obstacle continues to haunt them, Hyun-woo and Hae-in’s road back to each other is further complicated by the maneuverings of Eun-sung and his mother. Then, Hae-in’s memory loss amps up the tension, bringing into question a happy ending for the duo.
Falling in Love is Easy – Staying Together Takes Work
Park Ji-eun shows how falling in love is easy but staying together takes work. Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok’s initial attraction to each other becomes a bittersweet love when Se-ri must return to South Korea. The two believe they will never see each other again. Then Jeong-hyeok shows up on Se-ri’s doorstep and they are given a chance for their love to blossom. Despite the happiness of their reunion, the specter of Jeong-hyeok’s return to the north hovers over them. Once he goes back to North Korea, the two face a long period of separation. During this time, the pair works hard to meet in Switzerland, their neutral zone, and the one place they can be together.
Hyun-woo and Hae-in fall naturally in love before Hyun-woo knows about Hae-in’s family. Their first bump in the road comes when Hyun-woo learns that Hae-in is part of the Queen’s Group Hong family. Once this is smoothed over the couple is firm in their belief that love will triumph over any future obstacles. Then life happens – Hong family pressures, a miscarriage, lack of communication – and this once over the moon in love couple is getting a divorce. In the process of navigating Hae-in’s illness, they slowly learn how to get through hardship as a couple. It’s this effort that teaches them the lessons that allow them a lifetime together.
Love Can Mean Sacrificing for the Other Person
While Park Ji-eun features small acts of sacrifice in both dramas, it’s the big swings that stand out. Jeong-hyeok takes a bullet for Se-ri during an attempt to get her back to South Korea and later sacrifices his freedom when he goes to South Korea to protect her. Not to be outdone, Se-ri sacrifices her own freedom to take care of Jeong-hyeok after he is shot. Later, she drives her car in front of the gunman, taking a bullet for Jeong-hyeok.
In Queen of Tears, Hae-in sacrifices her happiness by divorcing Hyun-woo. She feels bad for all he has endured during their marriage. Then she sacrifices her privacy by telling the world about her condition to save Hyun-woo from going to jail. Hyun-woo sacrifices himself by taking the figurative bullet in their divorce, and the literal bullet when he saves her from Eun-sung.
Cherish Moments Together
Romance dramas wouldn’t be any fun to watch if they only contained obstacles, hard work, and sacrifice. Couples need small moments together – the quite between the storms. For these two dramas, this includes gestures like decorating a Christmas Tree, fixing or drying the other’s hair, taking care of bruises and scrapes, planning a surprise party, visiting lavender fields, leaving a year’s worth of messages on how to take care of yourself, and gifting rings. These moments are scattered throughout Crash Landing on You and Queen of Tears like soft rays of healing sunlight.
Neither Time nor Distance can Separate True Love
In Crash Landing on You, Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok spend years apart – praying desperately for the day they will be together again. Jeong-hyeok leaves the army and tours the world as a concert pianist in the hope he can get back to Se-ri. Se-ri provides funds to open a music school in Switzerland, one for international students where it’s possible for Jeong-heok to be a teacher. They each visit Switzerland often in an attempt to meet again until they eventually find each other on that beautiful mountain top.
After Hae-in and Hyun-woo divorce, they work to slowly rebuild trust and reconnect. Then Hae-in loses her memory and Hyun-woo is framed for murder. Instead of losing each other, their efforts to stay together help them overcome these obstacles. Hae-in’s diary is key to reminding her post-surgery self of the person she was and how much Hyun-woo means to her. (Not to mention her grand gesture to Hyun-woo in the rented out the aquarium!) Instead of forcing his affections on Hae-in, Hyun-woo gives her space to come to him. His patience pays off when she agrees to marry him once more. Their love spans the next fifty years of Hae-in’s miraculous life and carries into the afterlife with beautiful angel Hae-in greeting her beloved husband.
Wrap-up on How Queen of Tears Cracked the Formula of Crash Landing on You
After cracking the formula of Crash Landing on You, is it any wonder Queen of Tears is such a massive hit? Both dramas expertly balance the love story with humor, action, suspense and heartache. These kind of shows don’t come around very often. But who knows – maybe another series able to crack the formula is right around the corner!
