Queen of Tears: tvN's All-Time Ratings Record
Queen of Tears (2024, tvN) stands as one of the most commercially successful Korean dramas ever produced. Starring Kim Soo-hyun as Baek Hyun-woo, a good-natured man from a rural farming family, and Kim Ji-won as Hong Hae-in, the ice-cold heiress and president of the fictional Queens Department Store empire, the series follows a married couple on the brink of divorce who are pulled back together by a devastating medical diagnosis. Written by Park Ji-eun, the celebrated screenwriter behind Crash Landing on You and My Love from the Star, the drama delivered a finale that reached a staggering 24.85% viewership rating, shattering tvN's all-time record. On Netflix, it accumulated over 460 million viewing hours across its run and dominated the Global Top 10 for 13 consecutive weeks. The production was equally massive in scale: a reported budget of approximately $56 million, a grueling 331 filming days, and a cast and crew that numbered in the hundreds. The series resonated with audiences who saw in it a fresh take on the chaebol melodrama genre, blending sharp humor with genuinely moving emotional beats. Its success cemented Park Ji-eun's reputation as Korean television's most bankable writer and reaffirmed Kim Soo-hyun's status as one of the industry's top leading men.
Behind the Scenes
The production team made bold choices in selecting filming locations that would visually match the drama's grand scale. The Hyundai Seoul, the sleek department store in Yeouido, doubled as the exterior and interior of the fictional Queens Department Store. Night filming sessions at the location required careful coordination with mall management, as scenes had to be shot after regular business hours. The Korean Stone Art Museum in Seongbuk-dong, with its striking blend of traditional Korean and contemporary architecture set on a forested hillside, was chosen to represent the Queens family mansion — its imposing grandeur perfectly conveying the chaebol family's wealth and status. The most ambitious production decision was a two-week international shoot in Frankfurt, Germany. The crew filmed at the Eiserner Steg, the iconic iron footbridge over the Main River, which became the drama's official poster location and the setting for the love lock scene. Capturing that scene required the team to manage pedestrian traffic on a public bridge while waiting for the right evening light. In Chungju, the Geonji Village Observatory presented its own challenge: the breathtaking golden hour sunset over the S-curve of the Namhan River lasts only about 30 minutes, giving the crew an extremely narrow window to capture the second proposal scene. They reportedly spent three evenings at the location before conditions aligned perfectly. At Aqua Planet Ilsan, special lighting rigs were installed around the massive aquarium tank to enhance the ethereal blue glow visible in the proposal scene from Episode 8.
Filming Location Travel Guide
The drama's filming locations span Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Frankfurt. In Seoul, The Hyundai Seoul (Queens Department Store) is a 5-minute walk from Yeouinaru Station on Subway Line 5, Exit 3. The department store itself is worth visiting for its stunning interior design, rooftop garden, and curated retail experience. The Korean Stone Art Museum in Seongbuk-dong requires a short bus ride: from Hansung University Station (Line 4), Exit 5, take the Seongbuk-dong community bus 02 for about 15 minutes. In Gyeonggi Province, Aqua Planet Ilsan is a 15-minute walk from Jeongbalsan Station on Subway Line 3, Exit 1. The aquarium is family-friendly and the main tank where the proposal was filmed is immediately identifiable. For Chungju's Geonji Village Observatory, there is no direct public transit; the most practical option is a 30-minute taxi ride from Chungju Bus Terminal, followed by a 500-meter uphill walk from the parking area. Visiting at sunset is essential to see the golden light over the Namhan River that made the scene so iconic. In Frankfurt, the Eiserner Steg is easily reached from Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof: take the U4 or U5 to Romer station, then walk south for about 5 minutes. The bridge is always open and free to cross.
Fan Pilgrimages
The drama sparked an immediate wave of fan tourism across its filming locations. At The Hyundai Seoul, the department store leaned into its association with the show by setting up a Queens Department Store photo zone featuring props and signage from the drama, which drew enormous crowds during the weeks following the finale. Geonji Village Observatory in Chungju experienced a dramatic visitor surge: a location that had previously attracted a modest number of hikers became one of the most searched travel destinations in Korea overnight, with fans arriving daily to witness the same sunset that framed the proposal scene. In Frankfurt, Korean tourists have attached hundreds of love locks to the Eiserner Steg, many inscribed with quotes from the drama or the names of the lead characters. The bridge, already a popular spot for couples, has taken on new significance as a K-drama pilgrimage site. At Aqua Planet Ilsan, visitors regularly reenact the proposal scene in front of the main tank, with some couples going so far as to stage their own on-one-knee moments for social media. The drama's filming locations have become staples of SNS content, with dedicated accounts tracking every identifiable background from each episode.
Nearby Food & Attractions
The Hyundai Seoul sits in the heart of Yeouido, making it easy to combine a visit with a stroll along Yeouido Hangang Park or shopping at the adjacent IFC Mall. The park's riverside paths are particularly beautiful during cherry blossom season in April. Near the Stone Art Museum in Seongbuk-dong, a cluster of atmospheric cafes nestled along the hillside streets offers excellent coffee, traditional Korean teas, and views over the old neighborhood's tiled rooftops. In Ilsan (Goyang), the area around Aqua Planet is close to KINTEX, Korea's largest exhibition center, and the nearby Ilsan Lake Park provides a pleasant walk after the aquarium visit. In Chungju, after watching the sunset at Geonji, consider visiting Suanbo Hot Springs, one of Korea's oldest natural hot spring resorts, located about 30 minutes south. The mineral-rich waters and traditional bathhouse atmosphere make for a deeply relaxing end to a day of sightseeing. In Frankfurt, the Eiserner Steg leads directly to the Romerplatz, the city's historic central square lined with half-timbered buildings, where you can stop for apple wine and schnitzel at one of the traditional restaurants in the surrounding lanes.
