“Queen of Tears”

• Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Ji-won, etc.
• Premiere on Saturday, March 9th at 9:20 PM, tvN weekend drama (follows "The King: Eternal Monarch")
• Streaming on TVING and Netflix
  
  

Kim Soo-hyun returns to romantic comedy drama after three years. This drama depicts the romance of Hong Hae-in, a chaebol’s daughter who runs a department store, and Baek Hyun-woo, a supermarket owner who is the son of a village chief. Kim Soo-hyun plays Baek Hyun-woo and Kim Ji-won plays Hong Hae-in. From the moment the casting news was released, the two actors' visuals together have been a hot topic and sparked anticipation.

“Queen of Tears” has several differences from the typical Korean romance dramas. First, it is a subversion of the stereotypical Cinderella narrative where a chaebol male lead falls for a poor female lead. Instead, this drama focuses on the love story between a chaebol female lead and a man from a rural area. After the success of the Cinderella narrative, a plethora of dramas featuring similar storylines were produced. This led to viewers becoming tired of this setting, and it gradually disappeared from the romance genre. It will be interesting to see how this gender reversal will add a fresh and exciting layer to the storyline. The second difference is that the main characters are already married. Unlike conventional romantic comedy dramas where the couple starts from an accidental first meeting and eventually becomes lovers, “Queen of Tears” begins with a married couple. The drama portrays the rekindling of love between a couple on the verge of divorce, promising a blend of humor and freshness.

The released teaser video offers a glimpse into the drama's storyline. Kim Soo-hyun, who seems afraid of his wife, and Kim Ji-won, who confidently confronts her husband, evoke memories of their previous characters in “Dream High” and “The Heirs,” respectively.

“My Love From the Star”, “The Legend of the Blue Sea”, and “Crash Landing on You” - Park Ji-eun, the writer known for her box-office hits in the romantic comedy genre, is penning the script for this drama, further increasing anticipation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAsAWogLdyY

You can watch the first teaser video for "Queen of Tears" at the link above.

Starting with "Queen of Tears", a string of Korean romance dramas are scheduled to premiere in 2024. Let's take a quick look at the upcoming 2024 releases that are garnering attention with their star-studded casts.

1. “Saying Hello”

• Han Ji-min, Lee Jun-hyeok, etc.
• Scheduled to air on SBS
  
  

Lee Jun-hyeok, who captured the hearts of many women as the "handsome villain" in “The Roundup”, finally returns to the romance genre. The anticipation for this drama is heightened as he stars alongside Han Ji-min. They briefly displayed their chemistry as presenters at the 2023 SBS Drama Awards, and after watching them on-screen together, the public's expectations for the drama have only grown.

“Saying Hello” features Han Ji-min as a CEO and Lee Jun-hyeok as her secretary. Lee Jun-hyeok is playing a father with a child, adding a unique twist to the storyline. This fresh concept has sparked considerable interest.

2. “When Life Gives You Tangerines”

• IU, Park Bo-gum, Moon So-ri, Park Hae-joon, etc.
• Scheduled to release on Netflix
  
  

Following “Our Blues” and “Welcome to Samdal-ri”, another drama set in Jeju Island is born. “When Life Gives You Tangerines” is said to mean “thank you for your hard work” in the Jeju dialect. Unlike previous dramas set in Jeju Island, this one takes place in the 1950s, offering a glimpse into the era's distinct characteristics of the island. This Netflix series, which has become a hot topic due to the reunion of IU and Park Bo-gum, has gained even more attention with the confirmation of Moon So-ri and Park Hae-joon for the older versions of IU and Park Bo-gum’s characters. Adding to the excitement, the casting of renowned supporting actors, including Na Moon-hee, Oh Jung-se, and Yum Hye-ran, has been confirmed.

This drama marks the collaboration of director Kim Won-seok, known for his works like “The Signal” and “My Mister”, and writer Im Sang-choon, who wrote "Fight for My Way" and "When the Camellia Blooms". The anticipation for what kind of masterpiece they will create together is high.

3. "My Mom's Friend's Son"

• Jung Hae-in, Jung So-min, etc.
• Scheduled to air on tvN as a weekend drama starting in August
• Streaming on TVING
  
  

Jung Hae-in's first romantic comedy drama is set to premiere in August 2024. The drama is expected to depict a love story where a woman struggling with life encounters a man from her past who she feels embarrassed about. This drama is directed by the director who helmed "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" and "Crash Course in Romance". It's exciting to learn more about what kind of drama this will turn out to be.