The Korean drama ‘Queen of Tears in the 21st Century’ just reached an amazing 13.3% peak rating, almost breaking MBC’s annual weekend drama record, yet after the series wrapped up filming, things got so quiet that Korean netizens started feeling that ‘something’s off.’
According to Korean media reports, from IU, Byeon Woo-seok, Gong Seung-yeon down to the supporting cast, almost all members have refused to do end-of-broadcast interviews, and even the director and writer have no plans for follow-up interviews, leaving the public scratching their heads. The Korean press even directly pointed out: ‘For dramas that achieve explosive popularity at this level, actors usually rearrange their schedules if necessary to accept finale interviews.’ After all, the more popular a romance drama is, the more fans want to hear the leads talk about their on-screen chemistry, behind-the-scenes of kiss scenes, and filming secrets, but this time it's like the entire crew collectively disappeared.
Especially since ‘Queen of Tears in the 21st Century’ has been a hot topic since it premiered. While the dreamy pairing of IU and Byeon Woo-seok made the series a hit before it even aired, early episodes attracted controversy due to character design, acting, and its ‘alternate history’ world setting. Byeon Woo-seok was even once criticized online as being ‘only good-looking,’ while IU’s character was slammed as too one-dimensional, and the mix of class system and historical setting led to polarized viewers’ opinions. Interestingly, as the story progressed and the romance intensified, ratings made a dramatic turnaround, eventually surpassing 13% and making it one of MBC’s strongest weekend dramas this year. Still, despite the show’s popularity, the cast and crew remain unusually low-key. Korean media even couldn’t help but make a snarky comment: ‘The gravitas of leading actors isn’t just ratings—it also includes being accountable in the face of criticism.’
News Source: Liberty Times Entertainment