"Queen of Tears": Is the "Korean-style Romance" Losing Its Charm?

In 2013, the blockbuster Korean drama "My Love from the Star" propelled Kim Soo-hyun to the top of the Korean entertainment industry. Whether you were a working professional or a student, everyone was captivated by the romantic love story of Professor Do Min-joon and the national goddess Cheon Song-yi. From then on, "Do Min-joon" became the indelible "dream man" in the hearts of countless women. With his superpowers, handsome appearance, and unwavering devotion, a university professor like him would still be highly sought after today.

However, Kim Soo-hyun's career peak lasted only a short time. After "My Love from the Star," he had no more smash hits, with few projects to his name. After enlisting in the military, the "K-drama myth" he created gradually faded away as more talented young actors emerged, one after another. After all, the Korean entertainment industry is always full of rising stars, and Kim Soo-hyun no longer holds the same allure it once did.

Upon Kim Soo-hyun's return to the public eye after completing his military service, he was left with only minor cameo opportunities. For instance, his first post-military cameo was in "Hotel del Luna," followed by a cameo as a North Korean spy in Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin's romantic drama "Crash Landing on You." It wasn't until a year after his discharge that he landed his first leading role in "It's Okay to Not Be Okay." Despite his continued acting prowess, it failed to reignite the same enthusiasm among viewers.

This year, the writer of "My Love from the Star" presents a new drama, "Queen of Tears," starring Kim Soo-hyun as Baek Hyun-woo, alongside the visually stunning Kim Ji-Won. With such a stellar cast and familiar faces in supporting roles, including Park Sung-hoon from "The Glory," Kim Kap-soo from "Hospital Playlist," Song Joong-ki from "Descendants Of The Sun," Na Young-hee from "My Love from the Star," and Kim Joo-ryeong from "Silenced," this drama, coupled with its dramatic theme, seems poised for success.

However, "Queen of Tears" fails to meet expectations regarding viewership ratings and even falls short in buzz, word-of-mouth, and atmosphere compared to the previous hit drama, "My Demon." Both dramas explore themes of love, but while "My Demon" at least garnered positive reviews and generated buzz, "Queen of Tears" struggles to make an impact. It's somewhat perplexing—could it be that the "Korean-style Romance" formula is no longer effective?

"Queen of Tears" begins with the married life of the main characters, which is a departure from the typical "marriage before love" trope. In the drama, the main characters decide to marry after falling in love freely. However, the sweet romance doesn't extend into their married life due to the unbearable pressure from their disparate social statuses and family obligations, especially for Baek Hyun-woo. Despite his impressive credentials and accomplishments, he is married to Hong Hae-in, a wealthy heiress.

Hong Hae-in's family imposes numerous rules and expectations, including daily greetings to her parents, preparing food for ancestral rites fifteen times a year, and enduring the control exerted by her family's conglomerate at work. Baek Hyun-woo's boss is his wife, followed by her father and grandfather, reducing his role to that of a mere company lackey, with minimal communication between husband and wife.

In the confines of his home, Baek Hyun-woo assumes a subordinate role, silently enduring unbearable circumstances while concealing his genuine emotions. The atmosphere at home is tense, forcing him to vent his frustrations outside. But even there, freedom is elusive, as he is constantly monitored to avoid negative media attention. This marriage has left Baek Hyun-woo feeling only despair to the extent that he requires psychiatric help. Though he's fortunate not to suffer from depression, he must maintain a facade of affection in public, a charade that even he finds repulsive.

Is Hong Hae-in indifferent to Baek Hyun-woo? Her mother resents her for the death of her child and favors her younger brother. She adopts a cold and aloof demeanor to prove herself, masking her true feelings behind a façade of indifference. She appears self-absorbed and aloof to everyone because it's the best way to protect herself. Since she chose to become the female demon lord, she has shouldered the heavy burden of being the heir to the entire family, determined to prove to her grandfather that she is the most qualified and outstanding heir.

While it may seem like Hong Hae-in doesn't favor Baek Hyun-woo, her coldness is merely a defense mechanism. She loves Baek Hyun-woo more than he knows. Hong Hae-in deeply loves Baek Hyun-woo but struggles to express it because she never experienced love in her original family and doesn't know how to love. Consequently, she finds it challenging to communicate and maintain intimate relationships, as giving and receiving love are blind spots for her.

Hong Hae-in has often shown her love for Baek Hyun-woo, but he remains unaware. For instance, when her brother disrespects Baek Hyun-woo at a family meeting, she privately warns her brother not to bully her husband in the future. When Baek Hyun-woo returns home drunk in the middle of the night, she waits for him in their room, hoping he will come to her. Upon receiving a call from the doctor about her declining health, her first instinct is to ask Baek Hyun-woo to accompany her to the hospital. When she learns she only has three months to live, she immediately informs Baek Hyun-woo, making him the only person aware of her condition.

As for Baek Hyun-woo, he also loves Hong Hae-in deep down. His dislike for her stems from his desire to escape. The oppressive environment has numbed his emotions, temporarily overshadowing his love. The challenges of marrying into a wealthy family amplify his grievances, leading him to express thoughts of divorce to his friends. However, despite his words, he still cherishes every moment with Hong Hae-in, especially when he's intoxicated. Initially planning to confront Hong Hae-in about divorce, he abandons the idea upon learning of her terminal illness, overcome with shock and sorrow.

After processing the situation, he finds a fleeting sense of relief in Hong Hae-in's impending death, revealing human emotions' selfish and complex nature. Although it may seem far-fetched for the writer to depict Baek Hyun-woo in this light, it's understandable considering the circumstances. After three years of repression, the prospect of freedom from retaliation would naturally evoke immense joy. Yet, his love for Hong Hae-in is deeply ingrained, evident in his willingness to protect her in times of danger and his jealousy toward potential rivals.

The entire plot revolves around the journey from post-marital indifference to resentment towards Hong Hae-in and, finally, rediscovering love for her. As Hong Hae-in's tumor progresses, her memories of Baek Hyun-woo become increasingly blurred, setting the stage for both sweet moments of romance and heartbreaking scenes to come.

The two leads deliver captivating performances, combining good looks with impressive acting skills, making this series perfect for a springtime binge-watch. However, audiences are no longer buying into the romance genre. In today's fast-paced entertainment economy, viewers prefer straightforward, thrilling dramas with multiple twists and turns. Pure, unadulterated romance has lost its appeal. It's time for "Korean-style Romance" to evolve and attract the support of young viewers once again.