“Queen of Tears,” the South Korean drama starring Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won, has surpassed its initial production cost, earning over 65 billion won in revenue. This achievement has crowned the show as a massive commercial hit for the first half of 2024.
The Triumph of “Queen of Tears”
“Queen of Tears” has not only exceeded its production cost of 56 billion won but also gained an additional 10 billion won. This financial success has made it a box office sensation for the first half of 2024. The show’s popularity is further reflected in its ratings, with viewership soaring above 20 percent for a Saturday episode release, the highest to date.
According to a Korean media outlet, the total production cost of “Queen of Tears” was initially estimated at 40 billion won. However, it increased by 16 billion won, bringing the total daily cost of each episode to 3.6 billion won. Despite these costs, the show has managed to recoup its investment through Netflix streaming in over 190 countries and through tvN programming in South Korea. This success has crowned “Queen of Tears” as the highest-grossing K-drama released in the first half of 2024.
The Show’s Popularity and Future Prospects
On Netflix, “Queen of Tears” has topped the non-English-speaking TV series category. With only three episodes left, the show has already achieved major milestones. Although the show’s production cost is less than “Moving,” which has a total of 65 billion won in production spanning over 20 episodes, both series have similar costs per episode.
“Queen of Tears” is a captivating drama that follows the love story of a chaebol heiress and an ordinary employee of her company. Despite their contrasting upbringings and economic backgrounds, their marriage faces many issues. However, when the heiress is diagnosed with a rare brain tumor, their relationship begins to rekindle.
Directed by Jang Young Woo and Kim Hee Won, “Queen of Tears” is scheduled for 16 episodes in total. Each episode airs every Saturday and Sunday at 21:10 KST. The final episodes will be released on April 27, 2024, and April 28, 2024. As the show nears its conclusion, fans worldwide eagerly anticipate how this captivating story will unfold.
