K-drama fans, brace yourselves! According to data from the Netflix TOP 10 website on May 1 KST, tvN’s weekend drama ‘Queen of Tears’ has hit a new high by securing the second spot in Netflix’s global TOP 10 TV series rankings in the (non-English) category.

The drama raked in a whopping 4.1 million views from April 22-28, marking its eighth straight week in the top 10.

Outdoing its previous second-place ranking from the week before, ‘Queen of Tears’ continued its reign, especially in nine countries, including Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Plus, it made it to the top 10 in 41 countries worldwide, highlighting its global appeal and massive fan following.

‘Queen of Tears’ spins the captivating tale of Hong Hae In (played by Kim Ji Won), a third-generation heiress of the Queen’s Group conglomerate, and Baek Hyun-woo (played by Kim Soo Hyun), the son of a supermarket tycoon.

The series wrapped up its 16-episode run on April 28 KST, ending on a heartwarming note with the lead characters overcoming various hurdles to build a family together.

Despite facing criticism for unlikely plot twists such as memory loss and accidents, the heartfelt performances of lead actors Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won struck a chord with viewers, contributing to the drama’s immense popularity.

The final episode scored an impressive rating of 24.9%, cementing its status as tvN’s highest-rated drama ever.

Source[1]

Director Kim Hyung Joo of The Match has finally shared his thoughts on Yoo Ah In’s involvement in a drug scandal, calling it a major disappointment, especially considering the actor’s role as the lead in the film.

On March 19th, the director attended a press screening and briefing for The Match at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. Alongside Kim, actors Lee Byung Hun, Ko Chang Seok, Hyun Bong Sik, Moon Jung Hee, and Jo Woo Jin were present to discuss the film.

The Match revolves around the legendary Go player Cho Hun Hyun (played by Lee Byung Hun), who, after a loss to his disciple, decides to challenge the top players again, driven by his competitive spirit. The movie is directed by Kim Hyung Joo.

Lee Byung Hun plays the iconic Go champion Cho Hun Hyun, while Yoo Ah In portrays his disciple, Lee Chang Ho.

During the event, Kim recalled the casting process, saying, "When we were casting, Lee Byung Hun was cast first. Just having him felt like we had the world, and then, getting Yoo Ah In as a bonus made me even happier."

Although filming wrapped up in 2021, Yoo Ah In's drug scandal led to the indefinite postponement of the film’s release. Now, nearly four years later, The Match is finally set to hit theaters on March 26th.

Reflecting on Yoo Ah In's scandal, Director Kim openly shared his frustration, calling it "irresponsible and disappointing" for the actor to make such a mistake as the lead.

He added, “Before being an actor, he made a mistake as a member of society and was punished, so I don’t think there’s much more to say.” Kim smiled bitterly as he spoke.

Describing the challenges he faced due to the scandal, Kim compared the experience to being trapped in "a hellish tunnel."

He said, "There was nothing I could do inside, so it was overwhelming. But now that we have the light of release, it feels like I can breathe. I’m deeply moved."

The director also shared that because Yoo Ah In was the lead actor, the film had to be released as it was, without editing. This has led some people to feel uneasy about watching the film, given the actor’s scandal.

When asked about this, Director Kim said, "Choosing and judging is up to the audience, so I can't force anything. But I hope they watch the movie as it is. I unintentionally got hurt before the release, so I hope people watch the movie warmly, as if applying ointment to a wound."

The Match will officially be released on March 26th.

Source: [1]