Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun holding each other in Queen of Tears.Image via tvN
By
Dyah Ayu Larasati
Published 22 minutes ago
Dyah (pronounced Dee-yah) is a Senior Author at Collider, responsible for both writing and transcription duties. She joined the website in 2022 as a Resource Writer before stepping into her current role in April 2023. As a Senior Author, she writes Features and Lists covering TV, music, and movies, making her a true Jill of all trades. In addition to her writing, Dyah also serves as an interview transcriber, primarily for events such as San Diego Comic-Con, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Sundance Film Festival.
Dyah graduated from Satya Wacana Christian University in October 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, concentrating on Creative Writing. She is currently completing her Master's degree in English Literature Studies, with a thesis on intersectionality in postcolonial-feminist studies in Asian literary works, and is expected to graduate in 2026.
Born and raised between Indonesia and Singapore, Dyah is no stranger to different cultures. She now resides in the small town of Kendal with her husband and four cats, where she spends her free time cooking or cycling.
Sign in to your Collider account
follow
Follow
followed
Followed
Like
Like
Thread
Log in
Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
K-dramas were never the same when Queen of Tears arrived. As one of Netflix's most-watched shows, it's the ultimate story of a marriage on the rocks. Third-generation "chaebol" heiress Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won) has been married for three years to Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun), the son of countryside farmers. Although the idea of divorce lingers in the household, their reality comes crashing down following a brain cancer diagnosis.
If there's one thing K-dramas are good at, it's showing the joys and pains of love. Queen of Tears vividly portrays what happens when the honeymoon period is over, and that the true test of a union only happens once the marital bliss is gone. Similarly, other K-dramas, old and new, have also shown how love blooms and fades through the ages. Without further ado, here are the K-dramas that are better than Queen of Tears.
1 'Descendants of the Sun' (2016)
Descendants of the Sun poster representing Song Hye-kyo and Song Joong-ki as they help each other.Image via KBS2
Descendants of the Sun follows Captain Yoo Shi-jin (Song Joong-ki) of the special forces and Dr. Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo), a dedicated surgeon working with an international medical NGO. When the two cross paths in the war-torn fictional country of Urk, Si-jin's peacekeeping mission aligns with Mo-yeon's humanitarian work. Amid rescues and life-or-death missions, the two strike a bond in one of the most unlikely situations.
Much of the drama in Descendants of the Sun comes from the political conflicts that arise in a foreign land. But nothing could've prepared the two lovebirds for being caught in natural disasters and collapsing buildings. With their lives put at stake in precarious situations, Si-jin and Mo-yeon gradually learn that love is just as important as fulfilling their duties.
2 'Business Proposal' (2022)
Seol In Ah and Kim Se-jeong smiling in Business Proposal.Image by Kakao Entertainment
Matchmaking goes hilariously wrong in Business Proposal. Corporate girlie Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jeong) fills in for her friend on a blind date, simply because she's a great pal. Much to her shock, her date turns out to be Kang Tae-moo (Ahn Hyo-seop), the CEO of her company. Despite the disastrous outcome, Tae-moo sees Ha-ri as a great opportunity to avoid any further marriage pressure. The problem is that Tae-moo has no idea Ha-ri is his own employee.
"Let's get married," says no one ever on a first date. Yet, that's what the desperate Tae-moo exactly does to Ha-ri. It's even more astounding coming from someone who owns a company, but apparently can't have a proper relationship. Although Ha-ri and Tae-moo had their awkward moments at first, the latter eventually let down his walls through the simplest acts of kindness (e.g., opening an umbrella for Ha-ri during a downpour).
3 'Crash Landing on You' (2019–2020)
Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin) and Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) look concerned in Crash Landing on You.Image via tvN
Politics gets personal in Crash Landing on You. South Korean heiress Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) accidentally crash-lands in North Korea after a paragliding mishap. Rescued by Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin), she hides in his village as they work to get her home. Instead of taking her to the authorities, Jeong-hyeok brings her to his house for safety. With little time to spare, Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok devise a scheme to return to South Korea.
The idea of romanticizing a North Korean officer is indeed a risky choice for television. But in retrospect, it's also important to remember that they're also fellow humans with the same feelings and emotions. Outside his uniform, the stern Jeong-hyeok can be vulnerable. But in one of the show's emotional goodbyes, Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok must tearfully part ways, knowing that they'll never be able to see each other.
4 'Goblin' (2016–2017)
Kim Go-eun in Goblin holding a book.Image via Hwa&Dam Pictures
True love transcends time and space. Goblin follows Kim Shin (Gong Yoo), an immortal warrior cursed to wander the earth until his destined bride can end his eternal life. Centuries later, he meets Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun), a spirited girl who claims she can see the supernatural and is fated to free him. With a moody Grim Reaper (Lee Dong-wook) as his unlikely roommate, Shin learns that the way to break his loneliness is to let people into his eternal heart.
Inspired by South Korean folklore, Goblin ensures that its fantasy elements are just as well-written as the romance. As Eun-tak summons the goblin for the first time, the once-formidable Shin is awestruck at this 19-year-old's power to materialize him. There's no bigger heartbreak than a love story between a human and a spirit. As the fleeting, beautiful moments die down, they face the impending reality of an inevitable farewell.
5 'Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo' (2016)
A woman rests her head on a man's shoulder in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.Image via SBS TV
Love endures in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, a fictional take on what is considered the "golden era" of South Korea. Go Ha-jin (IU), who is pulled underwater during an accident, wakes up in the Goryeo era as Hae-soo. As she is taken into the palace, the fellow princes are intrigued by her presence. One in particular, the feared 4th Prince Wang So (Lee Joon-gi), feels threatened, especially by how bold and off-putting Ha-jin/Hae-soo can be.
For years, Wang So has hidden his face behind a mask similar to the one in Phantom of the Opera. Though Hae-soo initially sees it as a mark of terror, it's actually one of the prince's biggest insecurities. The literal unmasking of Wang So by Hae-soo is also the overall metaphor for Moon Lovers. The two fall in love with each other because they see each other for all their strengths and vulnerabilities.
6 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' (2025)
A young man stands next to a young woman wearing a headscarf on a boat in When Life Gives You Tangerines.Image via Netflix
Sweet like the fruit, When Life Gives You Tangerines follows the blossoming romance between Ae-sun (IU), a spirited book lover, and Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum), a gentle farmhand. Set on 1950s Jeju Island, an area known for its peaceful life by the beaches, the two spend their days stealing shy glances from each other, whether in tangerine groves or library aisles. But the aftermath of war forces the two to grow up quickly, pulling them out of whatever fantasy they're to build for themselves.
No phrase better encapsulates When Life Gives You Tangerines than "until death do us part." It's so easy to be smitten by young romance, but the true value of a relationship is only tested when it experiences hurdles — often caused by things beyond our circumstances. Ae-sun and Gwan-sik stayed by each other through thick or thin, even when the odds are stacked against them. Sadly, their final farewell shows that all good things come to an end, and all we can do is look back on the memories. After all, grief is proof of love's existence.
7 'It's Okay Not to Be Okay' (2020)
Kim Soo-hyun and Seo Ye-ji hold hands and look at each other on a bridge at night in It's Okay to Not Be Okay.Image via tvN
It's Okay Not to Be Okay follows Moon Gang-tae (Ki Soo-hyun), a devoted caretaker at a psychiatric hospital, and Ko Moon-young (Seo Yea-ji), a famous children's book author with antisocial personality disorder. When the two unexpectedly meet for the first time at a ward, Gang Tae's sharp tongue instantly clashes with Moon-Young's gentle nature. But there's more to them than meets the eye. Despite the walls they've built to hide their true feelings, the two barely hang on with the traumas clinging to them.
The title is self-explanatory enough — it's fine if we're not perfect. When the world expects us to be our best selves, it can be difficult to reveal our true, flawed nature. Moon-young uses her children's books as a coping mechanism, but sadly, life is far from a fairytale. Although it's impossible to run away from our demons, we can always overcome them by having someone who not only acknowledges our imperfections but doesn't see them as a burden.
8 'Doctor Slump' (2024)
Park Hyung-Sik and Park Shin-Hye, standing on the park stairs, as Jeong-Woo and Ha-Neul in Doctor Slump.Image via JTBC
Doctor Slump follows plastic surgeon Yeo Jeong-woo (Park Hyung-sik), whose career and reputation crumble after a public scandal, and anesthesiologist Nam Ha-neul (Park Shin-hye), a former academic prodigy struggling with burnout. Reconnecting as former school rivals, they try to recoup whatever's left of their former glory days and try to find new purpose in uncertainty. Although the two have some hatchets that require burying, their unlikely friendship is about to grow into something unexpectedly sincere.
Life has a funny way of messing with the plot. One moment, Jeong-woo and Ha-neul were on top of the world. But as the reality of adulthood hits them, the two lose everything they've worked hard for in seconds flat. As depressing as Dr. Slump can be, the show doesn't want viewers to pity its main characters. The show teaches the importance of having a shoulder to cry on. There's nothing more encouraging than knowing that there's someone ready to have your back no matter what.
Like
Doctor Slump
Not Rated
Comedy
Medical
Romance
Release Date
2024 - 2024-00-00
Directors
Oh Hyun-jong
Writers
Baek Sun-woo
Cast
See All-
Park Shin-Hye
-
Park Hyung-sik
-
Yoon Park
-
Kong Seong-ha
Expand
Collapse
-
Crash Landing on You
We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.
Be the first to post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.Your comment has not been saved
Send confirmation emailThis thread is open for discussion.
Be the first to post your thoughts.
- Terms
- Privacy
- Feedback
Nov 12, 2025
The 10 Greatest K-Drama Male Leads, Ranked
16 hours ago
The Most Nostalgic Movie of Every Year of the '90s, Ranked
16 hours ago
10 Great Horror Movies That Are Just as Terrifying on a Rewatch
14 hours ago
'Fire Country' Season 4 Episode 6 Recap: I'm Not Ready for Sharon and Bode to Both Go Off the Rails!
More from our brands
22 Best Korean Dramas and Movies on Hulu to Watch Right Now
34 Best Korean Dramas and Movies on Netflix to Watch Right Now
35 Best Romance Manhwa For Fans Of Manga
22 Best Korean Movies on Prime Video to Watch Right Now
17 Most Romantic Korean Dramas to Watch Next
If You're Getting Into K-Dramas, Please Avoid These 10 Shows
9 Best Romantic K-Dramas To Watch On Valentine's Day
What To Watch
July 20, 2025
The 72 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
Trending Now
The 3 Best Movies To Watch on Prime Video This Weekend (There’s No Better Time To See #1)
Ahead of Season 2's Premiere, Prime Video's Acclaimed Sci-Fi Series Returns to Streaming Charts
James Cameron Reveals an 'Avengers: Doomsday' Star Almost Had Sam Worthington's 'Avatar' Role
