Swoon-worthy gestures of love, hilarious banter, action-packed sequences, breezy small-town life, and cut-throat business deals — Netflix’s hit Kdrama Queen of Tears has it all. If you’ve already binged your way through the romantic comedy, here’s our pick of a few other shows just like it for your watchlist.
2024 has been a good year for the Korean entertainment industry — with titles like Lovely Runner and Doctor Slump clocking in high ratings and jaw-dropping viewership percentages. Front and centre of this are Netflix’s Queen Of Tears — directed by Jang Young-Woo and Kim Hee-won and starring popular Kdrama actors Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won. The story sees a bold heiress marry the company’s senior legal official and the son of a supermarket owner after a dreamy courtship.
However, three years in the two seem entirely disconnected and headed for a divorce — the former overtly critical of her husband and the latter feeling trapped in the messy dynamics of her influential family. However, two major crises hit — seeing them grow closer together. Action, romance, comedy, drama — the show touches upon it all, peppering in legal ups and downs that are relieved by small-town charm and simplicity. And if you enjoyed it all, there’s plenty more where that came from. Here’s our pick of the lot.
Kdramas like Queen Of Tears for your next romance binge
Crash Landing On You
Directed by: Lee Jung-hyo
Cast: Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Seo Ji-hye, Kim Jung-hyun
Episodes: 16
Release date: 14 December 2019
Synopsis: A paragliding accident sees millionaire heiress Yoon Se-ri (played by Son Ye-jin) ‘crash land’ in North Korea. There, she’s discovered by the upstanding North Korean army captain Ri Jeong-hyeok (played by Hyun Bin). The former struggles to find her way back home, and the latter decides to help her get there. Along the way, they fall in love.
About the show: Besides being written by the same Kdrama writer as Queen Of Tears (QOT) — read, Park Ji-eun — Crash Landing On You (CLOY) has similar friction between the leads at the beginning that blossoms into romance. The two also navigate dangers together. Besides, CLOY features a laid-back, breezy small-town life in contrast to the hustle of big city Seoul like QOT — with actor Kim Young-min being a critical part of the former in both dramas.
Go Back Couple
Directed by: Ha Byung-hoon
Cast: Son Ho-jun, Jang Na-ra
Episodes: 12
Release date: 13 October 2017
Synopsis: Bogged down by the challenges of marriage and parenting — a couple wishes they’d never met each other. Soon enough, the universe makes this happen — transporting them 18 years back in time to the moment they’d first met as 20-year-old students. The two attempt to keep their future selves happy and fall in love all over again, albeit with a whole new perspective.
About the show: Like the Queen Of Tears, this K-drama touches upon the themes of marriage and divorce and sees the leads falling in love all over again — proving they’re destined for each other.
Strangers Again
Directed by: Kim Yang-Hee
Cast: Kang So-Ra, Jang Seung-Jo, Jo Eun-ji, Lee Jae-won, Jeon Bae-soo, Gil Hae-yeon
Release date: 18 January 2023
Episodes: 12
Synopsis: Divorce lawyer Oh Ha Ra (played by Kang So-Ra) is dubbed the goddess of litigation by her peers. Meanwhile, her ex-husband Goo Eun Beom (played by Jang Seung Jo) is also an ace lawyer. However, he’s a stranger to her after their separation. Things get complicated when they begin working at the same law firm as colleagues.
About the show: Like in the Queen Of Tears, the protagonists of this Kdrama rediscover love after separation — all while working under the same roof and engaging in hilarious heated banter that quickly becomes flirtatious. Besides, like Baek Hyun Woo (Kim Soo-hyun) — the male lead of this drama is a talented lawyer.
Encounter
Directed by: Park Shin-woo
Cast: Song Hye-kyo, Park Bo-gum
Episodes: 16
Release date: 28 November 2018
Synopsis: The daughter of an influential political family — Cha Soo-Hyun (played by Song Hye-Kyo) is treated like an asset all her life. After discovering her husband’s affair, she files for divorce and heads to Cuba. There, she meets the free-spirited Kim Jin-hyuk (played by Park Bo-gum) — things turn interesting when he gets hired as an employee of the hotel she leads.
About the show: Like Queen Of Tears — the female lead in this Kdrama comes from a rich and powerful family while the male lead has had an ordinary upbringing. The two — like Hong Hae In (Kim Ji Won) and Baek Hyun Woo (Kim Soo Hyun) — the male lead is employed at the female lead’s company and the two must work through their differences to be together.
Hometown Cha Cha Cha
Directed by: Yoo Je-Won
Cast: Shin Min-a, Kim Seon-ho, Lee Sang-yi
Episodes: 16
Release date: 28 August 2021
Synopsis: Big-city dentist Yoon Hye-jun (played by Shin Min-a) moves to a seaside town to start her practice. Once there, she locks horns with small-town jack-of-all-trades Hong Doo-sik (played by Kim Seon-ho). As she adapts to her new life — with a little help from him — the two engage in fun banter and navigate hilarious misunderstandings. Soon enough, they fall in love.
About the show: Hong Doo-sik (Kim Seon-ho) has a rather hero-like reputation in his town, capable of solving any problem — much like Baek Hyun Woo (Kim Soo Hyun) in the Queen of Tears. Meanwhile, Yoon Hye-jun (Shin Min-a) is accustomed to city life and finds the small-town life quite an adjustment — like Hong Hae In (Kim Ji Won) who’s fascinated by it all. Besides, the loyalty, breeziness, and simplicity of small-town life are depicted quite similarly in both shows.
It’s Okay To Not Be Okay
Directed by: Park Shin-woo
Cast: Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Ye-ji, Oh Jeong-se
Episodes: 16
Release date: 20 June 2020
Synopsis: Moon Kang-tae (played by Kim Soo-Hyun) is a psych ward caretaker with an autistic brother. He crosses paths with antisocial children’s book writer Ko Moon-young (played by Son Ye-ji) while working in a hospital. The two eventually fall in love.
About the show: Besides having Queen Of Tears Kim Soo-Hyun in the lead role — the male lead in this Kdrama is just as patient, selfless, and kind in this drama. Plenty of light-hearted moments offset heavy depictions of medical conditions and hospitals in this one as well.
Which of these Kdramas do you think most resemble the storyline and production of Queen Of Tears?
Hero and Feature Image: Courtesy Crash Landing On You/Netflix
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– What is the Queen of Tears K-drama about?
Queen Of Tears chronicles the relationship between an heiress/CEO and her company’s senior legal official — from marriage to divorce and back to falling in love — after a crisis hits. Along the way, they navigate several challenges, including life-threatening ones.
– Does Queen of Tears have a happy ending?
Queen Of Tears has a happy ending.
– How many episodes are there in Queen of Tears?
Queen of Tears has 16 episodes.
