If you watched Queen of Tears on Netflix, you know the whirlwind romance between Baek Hyun-woo and Hong Hae-in kept millions glued to their screens. The breakout K-drama smashed viewership records, even surpassing Crash Landing on You to become one of tvN's highest-rated series. Behind that record-breaking run is an ensemble of powerhouse veterans and rising stars who breathed life into a chaotic chaebol family saga.
Here is your complete guide to the actors, their characters, and the real talent behind the hit television phenomenon.
The Lead Couple: Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won
Every great romance drama stands or falls on the chemistry of its leads. Queen of Tears succeeded because its central pair brought both comedic timing and devastating emotional gravity to their crumbling marriage.
Kim Soo-hyun as Baek Hyun-woo
Baek Hyun-woo is the legal director of Queens Group, born to modest apple farmers in Yongdu-ri. He enters the glittering, suffocating world of corporate royalty through marriage, only to find himself trapped, miserable, and planning a divorce.
Kim Soo-hyun portrays Hyun-woo with a masterclass in physical comedy and subtle heartbreak. Whether he's dramatically crying in rural fields or panicking over his wife's cold demeanor, Soo-hyun balances tragedy and farce effortlessly. As one of South Korea's highest-paid actors, known globally for My Love from the Star and It's Okay to Not Be Okay, his performance anchors the entire narrative arc.
Kim Ji-won as Hong Hae-in
Hong Hae-in is the ice-cold "Queen" of the Queens Department Store, an heiress who was raised to believe weakness is a fatal flaw. When she faces a terrifying medical diagnosis alongside marital alienation, her armor begins to crack.
Kim Ji-won brings incredible nuance to Hae-in, shifting from an intimidating corporate titan to a deeply vulnerable woman fighting for her life and love. Ji-won previously won hearts in Descendants of the Sun and My Liberation Notes, but her regal poise and sharp wardrobe choices in this series defined a modern K-drama icon.
The Queens Group Family: Wealth and Dysfunction
The sprawling Hong family provides much of the central conflict, operating as a golden cage filled with suspicion, ambition, and bizarre traditions.
- Park Sung-hoon as Yoon Eun-sung: A charismatic Wall Street analyst and M&A expert with a hidden, obsessive agenda against the Queens family. Park Sung-hoon plays the chilling antagonist with quiet menace, serving as the primary wedge driving Hyun-woo and Hae-in apart.
- Kim Kap-soo as Hong Man-dae: The patriarch and founder of Queens Group. He's a formidable, stubborn billionaire whose immense wealth hasn't bought him peace from familial betrayal.
- Lee Mi-sook as Moh Seul-hee: Man-dae's live-in partner of decades. Her seemingly gentle exterior masks a calculated, patient scheme to dismantle the family from the inside out.
- Kwak Dong-yeon as Hong Soo-cheol: Hae-in's immature, insecure younger brother. Kwak Dong-yeon balances humor and pathos as a man constantly trying to win his grandfather's approval while deeply loving his wife.
- Lee Joo-bin as Cheon Da-hye: Soo-cheol's seemingly devoted wife. Her character undergoes one of the most surprising transformations in the series, adding layers of suspense to the household dynamics.
The Yongdu-ri Clan: Heart and Comic Relief
When the story shifts away from the oppressive opulence of Seoul, it lands in the rustic countryside village of Yongdu-ri, where Hyun-woo's family provides grounding warmth.
- Jeon Bae-soo as Baek Du-gwan: Hyun-woo's father and the local village head. Down-to-earth and fiercely proud of his son, he represents the honest, hard-working values missing in the corporate elite.
- Hwang Young-hee as Jeon Bong-ae: Hyun-woo's mother, a powerhouse matriarch of the local agricultural cooperative. Her fierce loyalty to her daughter-in-law, Hae-in, provides some of the show's most emotionally resonant maternal moments.
- Kim Do-hyun as Baek Hyun-tae: Hyun-woo's older brother, a boxing gym owner whose bumbling attempts to help run the family farm offer consistent comic relief.
- Jang Yoon-ju as Baek Mi-sun: Hyun-woo's older sister and a beauty salon owner who isn't afraid to speak her mind to anyone, regardless of their net worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Queen of Tears?
The series is available to stream worldwide on Netflix with English subtitles.
How many episodes are in Queen of Tears?
The drama features 16 main episodes, along with two special recap episodes that aired following its conclusion to satisfy fan demand.
Who wrote and directed Queen of Tears?
The series was written by Park Ji-eun, the acclaimed screenwriter behind Crash Landing on You and My Love from the Star. It was co-directed by Jang Young-woo and Kim Hee-won.
Did Queen of Tears break any viewership records?
Yes. During its final episode broadcast in April 2024, it achieved a nationwide viewership rating of 24.85% on tvN, surpassing Crash Landing on You to become the highest-rated drama in tvN history.
