This K-pop idol almost took the lead in Queen of Tears - But turned it down

Queen of Tears is a globally acclaimed K-drama, featuring two of the most beloved actors, Kim Ji-won (Descendants of the Sun) and Kim Soo-hyun (My Love from the Star) as a married couple.

While Ji-won is seen playing Hong Hae-in, a wealthy heiress from a powerful business family her co-star Soo-hyun plays her husband and lawyer, Baek Hyun-woo. Unlike Hae-in, Hyun-woo belongs to a modest town-based family and has over 30 cows.

Yes, this is how honest he was while proposing to Hae-in and the scene melted all hearts. But what if we tell you Kim Ji-won wasn't the first actress to have been approached for the leading role?

Surprisingly, K-pop idol IU aka Lee Ji-eun, was offered to play Hong Hae-in in Queen of Tears during the early planning stages. However, despite the tempting offer, she ended up turning it down.

Keep reading to find out why IU rejected a critically acclaimed role in Queen of Tears.

K-pop idol IU was the first choice to play Hae-in in Queen of Tears

Queen of Tears didn't just strike a chord with viewers globally. The K-drama became a massive hit in South Korea and shattered records. By the time the final episode aired, it had reached a nationwide TV rating of 24.85% making it the most-watched drama in tvN’s history.

Not only this, but the drama also made waves outside its country. Queen of Tears earned a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, showing how well it resonated with global audiences.

One of the reasons why it was such a hit is that it managed to balance various emotions. A mix of romance, heartbreak, comedy and drama, all conveyed with sincerity.

The two lead actors Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won, were particularly lauded for their strong acting and also the good chemistry between them, which made their characters' journey believable and relatable.

But again, if IU had accepted the female lead, fans wouldn't have seen Ji-won slaying the role. As previously mentioned, the Hotel Del Luna star was the first choice to play Hae-in, but she respectfully declined the role.

The reason? Her schedule was already packed, mainly because of her ongoing music projects and other professional commitments. IU’s agency, EDAM Entertainment, later clarified the situation publicly.

The agency explained that the only reason why IU couldn't accept the offer was that she already had a lot of other work, especially in the music scene, where she remains one of the most in-demand idols.

Also Read: Lovely Runner’s Byeon Woo-seok to star with IU in upcoming K-drama: Everything to know

IU made the right call by declining the offer to lead Queen of Tears

Looking back, most fans and insiders think IU made the wise decision. They note that Hong Hae-in's role may have been a little too comfortable, bringing back some memories of the characters she had already played.

Playing such a similar role in Queen of Tears could have restricted her creative potential. Instead, IU continued to work on the drama When Life Gives You Tangerines, which allowed her to sink into an even more complex and emotionally mature character.

In the end, after IU passed on the role, actress Kim Ji-won stepped in as the lead in the TvN drama. Her performance was widely praised and earned her a lot of critical acclaim. Ji-won has starred in hit K-dramas like Fight for My Way, Boys Over Flowers and more.

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Also Read: Lee Min-ho, Ahn Hyo Seop, and BLACKPINK’s Jisoo unite for an epic fantasy film, Omniscient Reader: The Prophet

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