“Why Was She Left Out?” Kim Ji Won’s Exclusion From tvN’s 20th Anniversary Commemorative Video Triggers Immense Backlash
The drama “Queen of Tears” was left out of tvN’s 20th anniversary commemorative video causing backlash from fans.
On January 1, a video titled “[2026 tvN ID] Joy Belongs to tvN” was released on the official tvN DRAMA YouTube channel. The video is content celebrating the 20th anniversary of tvN’s launch, and the description reads, “Our twenty years, the countless joys we shared together during that time. Please look forward to tvN’s 20th anniversary in 2026, which will be even more enjoyable.”
The video featured works that represent tvN, including dramas such as “Goblin,” “Lovely Runner,” “My Mister,” “Reply 1997,” “Hospital Playlist,” and “The Tyrant’s Chef,” as well as variety programs like “Grandpas Over Flowers,” “You Quiz on the Block,” and “Three Meals a Day.”
Some viewers expressed disappointment by mentioning works that were not included despite having received great love. In particular, there were puzzled reactions over the absence of “Queen of Tears,” starring Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won, which recorded tvN’s highest-ever ratings at 24.9%.
In response, some speculated that the omission may be related to controversies surrounding Kim Soo Hyun, the lead actor of “Queen of Tears.” In March last year, Kim Soo Hyun became embroiled in allegations that he had dated the late Kim Sae Ron for six years starting when she was a minor. Kim Soo Hyun’s side denied the allegations and announced strong legal action against the YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute, which had represented the position of Kim Sae Ron’s family.
Regarding the official tvN video, netizens reacted with comments such as, “It’s hard to understand why the highest-rated drama of all time was left out,” “They could have at least included Kim Ji Won’s scenes,” and “Completely excluding ‘Queen of Tears’ is too much.” On the other hand, some responded calmly, saying, “I think I know why it was left out,” and “It’s not just one or two works that were excluded.”
Source: (A)
