In 2024, Kim Ji-won went viral around the world for her leading role in “Queen of Tears”. In the drama, she played Hong Hae-in, a wealthy heiress and successor to a Korean conglomerate who learned she was facing a terminal illness.
Despite marrying for love, Hong Hae-in has long been estranged from her husband Baek Hyun-woo, who came from a humble background, and the two tried to reconnect in what was supposed to be Hong Hae-in’s final. months.
Her appearance in “Queen of Tears” earned Kim Ji-won immense love from the audience and marked a new peak in her acting career. However, as various film and theater awards were held in South Korea, many netizens noticed that despite his growing popularity, Kim Ji-won did not attend any award ceremonies.
Additionally, although her role as Hong Hae-in received numerous nominations, she ultimately lost in all categories.
Meanwhile, Kim Ji-won’s “Queen of Tears” co-star Kim Soo-hyun was crowned the winner of the Daesang Grand Prize at the Asian Artist Awards (AAA).
During his acceptance speech, he gave special thanks to Kim Ji-won, saying: “I want to dedicate this honor to Kim Ji-won, who beautifully brought Hong Hae-in, the greatest character in the world, to life.”
The actor recognized that he could not fully embody his role without her support. However, Kim Soo-hyun’s kind words only deepened the regret fans felt for Kim Ji-won and fueled excitement for their real-life couple.
Kim Ji-won’s failure to be recognized at the year-end awards in 2024 could be due to several reasons. This year, the Korean drama awards ceremonies faced stiff competition from a number of outstanding productions on the small screen, with various actresses delivering outstanding performances. In fact, another actor, Ji Sung, also left empty-handed despite his stellar performance in “Connection,” so it’s likely a case of luck that he wasn’t on Kim Ji-won’s side.
Furthermore, each jury also has different criteria. While *The Queen of Tears* has received widespread acclaim, awards are often based on factors beyond popularity, such as innovation in the screenplay, the film’s overall achievement, and its artistic impact. Therefore, despite the series’ attention, it may not receive critical acclaim, as demonstrated by Cine21’s statement that “Queen of Tears” is the most overrated K-drama of 2024.
On the bright side, despite its lack of awards, “Queen of Tears” has opened up numerous film offers for Kim Ji-won and significantly increased its commercial value with a series of lucrative advertising deals. Fans of the actress shouldn’t feel too disheartened.
