tvN is drawing major attention from fans after releasing a special video on YouTube to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Viewers quickly noticed that Queen of Tears, the network’s highest-rated drama of all time, was missing from the lineup. Many believe the omission was intentional and a way for tvN to distance itself from the drama’s lead actor, Kim Soo Hyun. The 37-year-old actor is currently facing serious off-screen controversies.
What Happened with the Anniversary Video?
On December 31, TVN posted a montage celebrating two decades of hit shows.
The video highlighted many of the channel’s well-loved works, including Goblin, Reply 1997, Lovely Runner, Hospital Playlist, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, and the variety show You Quiz on the Block.
However, viewers quickly noticed that Queen of Tears was not included, despite being one of tvN’s most iconic and recent hits. The 2024 romantic-comedy series starring Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won holds the network’s all-time viewership record.
It achieved a historic final episode rating of 24.9% nationwide (28.4% in the Seoul metropolitan area) and surpassed iconic shows like Goblin and Crash Landing On You.
Why Was ‘Queen of Tears’ Excluded?
The decision appears directly tied to the ongoing scandal surrounding lead actor Kim Soo Hyun. In March 2025, a YouTube channel made explosive allegations that Kim had a relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron, which began when she was reportedly a minor. Sae Ron committed suicide on the day on his birthday, February 16, 2025, and previously shared an intimate photo with the Kdrama actor.
Although Kim Soo Hyun has vehemently denied dating her while she was underage and is pursuing legal action, the scandal has severely impacted his career.
His agency also filed lawsuits against Garosero Research Institute and the late Kim Sae-ron’s bereaved family for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act. In addition, Kim Soo Hyun’s side filed a damages lawsuit worth 12 billion won against Garosero Research Institute CEO Kim Se Ui and the bereaved family.
Despite these denials and legal actions, the controversy has had a major impact. His Disney+ drama Knock Off, which was scheduled for the first half of 2025, was put on hold indefinitely. Several brand endorsements were terminated, and multiple companies reportedly filed lawsuits seeking damages totaling over 10 billion won.
Fan Reaction to the Exclusion of ‘Queen of Tears’
Many feel that excluding Queen of Tears unfairly erases the efforts of co-star Kim Ji Won and the production team, who contributed to the drama’s massive success. Some argue that tvN could have acknowledged the drama by featuring scenes that did not center on Kim Soo Hyun.
Others express disbelief that the network would omit its single biggest ratings achievement from its own history video.
Meanwhile, Queen of Tears remains available for streaming on Netflix and TVING.
