'Queen of Tears' finale achieves highest viewership ratings for tvN
The final episode of tvN drama, Queen of Tears, has scripted history by achieving the highest viewership ratings ever for the South Korean network. Airing on Sunday, the episode—featuring Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won—garnered an unprecedented average nationwide rating of 24.85%, according to Nielsen Korea. This impressive figure surpassed the previous record set by Crash Landing on You in February 2020, which stood at 21.68%.
'Queen of Tears' topped Netflix's global Top10 non-English series
Internationally, the hit romance K-drama made waves by topping Netflix's Global Top 10 Non-English series for the week of March 25 to 31. The drama amassed a total viewership of 93.8M hours and secured a spot in the top 10 in 68 countries, including the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, and India. Comprising 16 episodes—QoT revolves around the married couple Baek Hyun-woo (Soo-hyun) and Hong Hae-in (Ji-won), as they confront challenges in their relationship before rediscovering their love.
Plot intensified as Yoon Eun-Sung threatened Hong's life
Spoilers ahead. In the concluding episode of QoT, Baek continued his relentless search for the kidnapped Hong, despite being involved in a car accident. Tensions rose as Yoon Eun-sung (Park Sung-hoon), rejected by Hong, threatened her life. The climax unfolded dramatically as Baek sacrificed himself to save Hong, taking a bullet intended for her, while Yoon met his demise in a fatal encounter with the police.
Finale of 'Queen of Tears' faced some criticism
While QoT enjoyed widespread success, its finale received criticism from viewers for relying heavily on clichés and introducing implausible plot points. Among these were scenes depicting Hong, who had previously undergone surgery for a brain tumor resulting in memory loss, miraculously regaining her memory through love. Additionally, the portrayal of the Queens family as helpless against their adversaries raised eyebrows.
'QoT' marked a crucial point in Soo-Hyun's career
For It's Okay to Not Be Okay actor Soo-hyun, QoT signified a successful return to television after a three-year hiatus. This marked a crucial point in his career following the less successful 2021 mystery drama One Ordinary Day. Meanwhile, Ji-won's performance in the drama further solidified her position as a leading figure in the K-entertainment industry. Post the show's conclusion, she reportedly has several endorsement deals lined up.
