The cover image of Kim Soo Hyun's song "Cheong-hon," meaning marriage proposal, which is featured in the "Queen of Tears" soundtrack / Courtesy of Goldmedalist

The tvN drama "Queen of Tears" concluded its run with a record-breaking finale, achieving the highest viewership ratings ever for a drama on the network.

According to Nielsen Korea on Monday, the final episode, which aired on the evening of April 28, garnered a 24.9 percent viewership rating. This figure surpasses the previous record held by the finale of "Crash Landing on You," which aired on Feb. 16, 2020, and recorded a rating of 21.7 percent.

In the dramatic finale, despite being in a traffic accident, Baek Hyun-woo (played by Kim Soo-hyun) relentlessly searches for the kidnapped Hong Hae-in (played by Kim Ji-won). The two reunite at a villa, where Hae-in was escaping from Yoon Eun-sung (played by Park Sung-hoon).

The tension peaked when an enraged Eun-sung, upon being definitively rejected by Hae-in, declared he would take her even if it meant killing her. In a pivotal moment, Hyun-woo is shot while protecting Hae-in. Eun-sung, while reloading his gun, is ultimately shot dead by police.

Mo Seul-hee (played by Lee Mi-sook) ends up in prison as evidence of her involvement in the murder of Hong Man-dae (played by Kim Kap-soo) surfaces. Ownership of Queens Group reverts to its rightful owners.

The drama also made a significant impact internationally, topping Netflix's Global TOP10 Non-English series for the week of March 25 to 31, with a total viewership of 93.8 million hours.

It ranked in the top 10 in 68 countries, including the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia and India. TIME magazine praised "Queen of Tears," highlighting its fresh approach to the familiar themes of K-dramas.

Kim Soo-hyun / Courtesy of Goldmedalist

Controversy over forced ending

However, the finale's use of excessive clichés and a forced sentimental ending has divided viewers.

Viewers have debated the plausibility and overuse of clichés, such as the amnesia plot line — where Hae-in miraculously recovers her memory through the power of love — and scenes depicting the Queens family being defenseless against their adversaries, both of which have become all too familiar in Korean dramas.

Additionally, the final episode featured an elderly Baek Hyun-woo visiting Hong Hae-in's grave 50 years after her death, which, rather than being touching, left some viewers puzzled.

For Kim Soo-hyun, "Queen of Tears" marked a triumphant return to television after three years, becoming a critical moment in his career following the less successful "One Day."

For Kim Ji-won, the drama solidified her status as a leading figure in entertainment, with numerous endorsement deals reportedly in the works following the show's conclusion.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.