From 'Secret Garden' to 'What's Wrong With Secretary Kim': 5 K-dramas for fans of 'Queen of Tears' on Netflix
LOS ANGLES, CALIFORNIA: Fans were filled with excitement when Netflix unveiled the K-drama 'Queen of Tears,' especially since it featured popular K-drama stars Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won.
The plot revolves around chaebol heiressess Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won), who is in the third year of marriage to her lawyer spouse Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun).
The husband and wife come from vastly different socioeconomic backgrounds. While Hyun-woo hails from a typical farmer's family, Hae-in was raised in affluence as part of an affluent family.
Moreover, the initial episode hinted at a potentially bleak ending for the show, a revelation that has left viewers on edge and eagerly anticipating what's to come.
As the show premieres new episodes weekly, therefore while waiting for the new episodes, Let's explore five comparable K-dramas that, like the Netflix series, have the ideal balance of romance, family drama, and marital issues.
Secret Garden (2010-2011)
Among the most iconic K-dramas is 'Secret Garden', which recounts the story of a selfish CEO named Kim Joo-won (Hyun Bin) who falls in love with a stuntwoman named Gil Ra-im (Ha Ji-won).
The show does feature a mystical twist, though, as both characters switch bodies thanks to a magical plant.
The narrative intensifies as the duo makes a greater effort to reclaim their bodies and grows closer to one another in the process.
Similar to 'Queen of Tears,' the series explores the romantic interactions between individuals from vastly different backgrounds.
Moreover, both dramas share a common theme of personal growth and development, resulting in a heartwarming and uplifting viewing experience.
The Heirs (2013)
There are several parallels between 'The Heirs' and 'Queen of Tears,' notably the presence of Kim Ji-won in both dramas.
Released in 2013, 'The Heirs' boasted a star-studded cast, including a plethora of A-list actors, contributing to its massive success during its airing.
The series centers on Cha Eun-sang (Park Shin-hye), a girl from a modest background who enrolls in Jeguk School, a high-society institution.
As the narrative goes on, Eun-sang gets involved in a romantic triangle with Kim Tan (Lee Min-ho) and Choi Young-do (Kim Woo-bin), two attractive and wealthy boys.
The show and 'Queen of Tears' share similarities in that they both revolve around wealthy characters and explore the challenges and complexities associated with wealth.
Crash Landing on You (2019-2020_
The popular Korean drama series also focuses on characters from different walks of life.
The story follows Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin), a South Korean heiress, as she unintentionally paraglides into North Korea and meets Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin).
Their budding romance ensues as they battle to reconcile their differing backgrounds and feelings of love.
The series has amazing chemistry, which can be attributed to the fact that Hyun-Bin and Ye-jin married in real life after the drama ended and are now proud parents to a kid.
There are many parallels between the series and 'Queen of Tears,' since both are highly emotional roller coasters filled with happy, sad, and hopeful moments.
Reply 1988 (2015)
The concept of familial ties in 'Queen of Tears' holds significant importance, drawing parallels to the 2015 television series 'Reply 1988.'
In essence, 'Reply 1988' serves as a warm embrace, encapsulating the essence of family bonds.
The storyline revolves around five childhood friends in Seoul in 1988, whose friendships deepen as they face various challenges together.
The show has a coming-of-age drama feel and does a fantastic job of capturing nostalgia.
What's Wrong With Secretary Kim? (2018)
Similar to 'Queen of Tears,' 'What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?' extols the virtues of a couple of disparate socioeconomic origins.
The series follows the story of the egotistical president Lee Young-joon (Park Seo-joon), who is taken aback when his secretary Kim Mi-so (Park Min-young) announces her resignation.
Unaccustomed to rejection, the man goes to great lengths to persuade her to stay. As the story progresses, a beautiful and passionate romance blossoms between them, leading to a journey of self-discovery.
'Queen of Tears' episodes 1 & 2 are now streaming on Netflix.