10 Shows To Watch After Queen Of Tears

Netflix’s latest K-drama hit, Queen of Tears, is finished, but there are several other shows that can fill the void left by Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun) and Hong Hae-in’s (Kim Ji-won) love affair. Long before they gained worldwide acclaim with projects like Parasite and Squid Game, Koreans have always been great when doing romances. Over the years, the genre has evolved, incorporating new elements that make them feel modern. At its very core, however, K-drama love stories are always effective, since they almost always focus on the ups and downs of being hopelessly in love with someone, regardless of the circumstances.

That is exactly why Queen of Tears has captured the hearts of worldwide viewers. Its main premise deals with the troubled marriage of lawyer Baek Hyun-woo and rich CEO Hong Hae-in. The pair’s social status difference may be the initial hook, but ultimately, its primary asset is the love affair between the couple, who goes through a rough patch when Hae-in gets seriously sick. Navigating through their hardships, they realize their strong love for each other, which is a universal theme in many K-drama romances. Because of this, and several more factors, other shows could be the perfect follow-up watch.

10

Autumn In My Heart

Kickstarting the Korean Wave was Autumn In My Heart in 2000. The first installment from the tetralogy Endless Love, it follows the love story between Yoon Joon-seo (Song Seung-heon) and Yoon/Choi Eun-seo (Song Hye-gyo), who were raised together as siblings only to realize that they were not blood-related. After being separated for years, the pair reunite to fall in love with each other, which brings about a whole host of complications for their respective families. As if that isn’t complex enough, Eun-seo gets leukemia and deals with the illness during the back half of its run.

Like Hyun-Woo from Queen Of Tears, Joon-seo does everything to save Eun-seo. He even refuses to visit her at the hospital because of his odd belief that if he doesn’t come, she will have the will to hold on and wait for him. Admittedly, it’s a controversial move, but it highlights the lengths he would go to make sure that she continues to live. There’s no shortage of heartwarming and romantic scenes in Autumn In My Heart, but make no mistake, it is a melodrama, which means that it leans on the sadness of the situation.

9

Stairway To Heaven

On the heels of Autumn in My Heart and the beginning of the Endless Love series, K-dramas leaned towards more dramatic stories, with signature tropes such as amnesia, blindness, and terminal illness being popularized. Stairway to Heaven perfectly encapsulated this era of sappy, once-in-a-lifetime romance, considering that it all has three heartbreaking storytelling tricks. In it, billionaire, playboy Cha Song-joo’s (Kwon Sang-woo) undying love for his childhood best friend, Han Jeong-Seo (Choi Ji-woo). Made better by an iconic soundtrack and amazing performances, Stairway to Heaven is dubbed as one of the best Korean dramas.

While Queen of Tears‘ story has been updated to appeal to the modern and growing global audience of K-dramas, Hyun-woo and Hae-in’s love story has all the hallmarks of Stairway to Heaven. It starts with a devoted male lead, who will go to the ends of Earth for the woman he loves. Considering its premise, the Netflix hit also has no shortage of harrowing moments for the main couple. Finally, both Queen of Tears and Stairway to Heaven have an infuriating pair of villains.

8

I’m Sorry, I Love You

Part of the initial wave of K-dramas that made them popular across Asia, I’m Sorry, I Love You is about the fateful meeting of Cha Moo-hyeok (So Ji-sub) and Song Eun-chae (Im Soo-jung). Stuck in their respective circumstances that make starting a romance a bad idea, the couple eventually fall for each other as they spend more time together. Unfortunately, their fates prove to be far worse than initially expected when they learn how their horrible pasts are tied. Despite that, I’m Sorry, I Love You proves that love conquers all, albeit not always in the traditional sense.

7

Worlds Within

While less sappy than Autumn in My Heart and Stairway to Heaven, and perhaps, even Queen of Tears, Worlds Within from 2008 tackles the complicated relationship between Jung Ji-oh (Hyun Bin) and Joo Joon-young (Song Hye-gyo), who are also challenged by unexpected illness. As fellow directors, the pair’s relationship as colleagues and sometimes friends go way back, but their history of dating each other has always weighed down their current dynamic. Ultimately, after their respective failed relationships, they revisit their romance, only for Ji-oh’s unexpected eye condition that could result in the loss of his eyesight derailing their reconciliation.

6

Scent Of A Woman

Released in 2011, Scent of a Woman follows Lee Yeon-jae (Kim Sun-a), a middle-aged, single woman on vacation after getting fired from her job. Being diagnosed with gallbladder cancer at the same time gives her a brand-new perspective, where she decides to live her life in a way that will make her happy and fulfilled. During her trip, she meets the man of her dreams, rich Kang Ji-wook (Lee Dong-wook), who eventually changes his cynical ways after falling in love with her. Unfortunately, with Yeon-jae’s sickness advancing, the pair’s love affair is threatening to be cut short.

5

A Thousand Days’ Promise

Lee Seo-yeon (Soo Ae) and Park Ji-Hyung’s (Kim Rae-won) story in A Thousand Days’ Promise starts ideally for a K-drama. Things are way too good that when the plot twist happens, it is more devastating. It takes a dramatic turn when she finds out that she is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s despite being just in her 30s. A Thousand Days’ Promise then tackles the hardships brought about by the brutal illness. As Seo-yeon slowly loses herself, to the point that she can’t even recognize herself in the mirror or her child, Ji-hyung stays by her throughout the whole ordeal.

4

It’s Okay, That’s Love

It’s Okay, That’s Love features the romance between novelist Jang Jae-yeol (Jo In-sung), who has obsessive-compulsive disorder, and psychiatrist, Ji Hae-soo (Gong Hyo-jin). The pair start out as roommates who don’t exactly like each other. Despite their contentious relationship, however, they eventually fall in love as they spend more time together. While It’s Okay That’s Love doesn’t feature any physical illness like Hae-In’s from Queen of Tears, it puts mental health at the forefront of its storytelling. Similarly, Jae-yeol’s condition poses big challenges for the couple, as they navigate their respective issues together.

3

Uncontrollably Fond

In 2016, Bae Suzy and Kim Woo-bin teamed up as Noh Eul and Shin Joon-young for Uncontrollably Fond. Like Hyun-Woo and Hae-in, the pair’s romance starts during their younger years. However, Noh Eul and Joon-young are forced to break up during their teenage years due to circumstances, only to reunite later. By then, Joon-young has become a popular actor, while Noh Eul is a documentary producer. A project that’s supposed to chronicle the life of Joon-young forces them to work together, but soon, it becomes clear that their feelings for each other have endured despite years of being broken up.

Like the majority of entries in this list, Uncontrollably Fond‘s No Eul and Joon-young’s reconciliation is hindered when he is diagnosed with cancer. From there, the pair’s story becomes centered on making the most of their time together. While they are not married like Hyun-Woo and Hae-in, and there is no sub-plot about divorce and reconciliation, No Eul and Joon-young’s struggle to be together for as long as possible is reminiscent of Queen of Tears‘ leads’ struggles.

2

Marriage Contract

Arguably one of the more peculiar pairings in this list comes from Marriage Contract, former girl group member Uee plays Kang Hye-soo, a single mother who struggles to get by after the death of her husband leaves her in a mountain of debt. She is forced to enter an arranged marriage with Lee Seo-jin’s Han Ji-hoon — the son of a wealthy man in South Korea who seeks a contract that would help him secure a liver donor for his mother’s transplant. The pair enters into this arranged set-up, only to genuinely fall in love with each other. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes when Hye-soo’s own illness threatens to claim her life.

1

Crash Landing On You

Released in 2020, Crash Landing on You immediately became one of the best K-dramas on Netflix. It features two of South Korea’s biggest stars Son Ye-jin’s snooty billionaire, Yoon Se-Ri accidentally landing in North Korea and meeting military man, Ri Jeong-Hyeok, played by Ri Jeong-hyeok. Stuck with her until Se-ri is able to get back home, Jeong-hyeok tries multiple ways to ensure that she can return to South Korea. Throughout the whole ordeal, however, they inevitably fall in love, making things more complicated.

While Crash Landing on You started as a lighthearted show, it eventually becomes more serious towards its end, with plots reminiscent of Queen of Tears. That includes a near-death experience for both female leads, leaving their respective partners in an utter state of heartbreak. Finally, both Crash Landing on You and Queen of Tears are made better by an effective and equally compelling B-plot romance and an amazing supporting cast. Their premises may be very different, but they both give the same romantic feeling that K-dramas have perfected.