Kim Ji-won Reflects on 'Queen of Tears': A Journey of Emotions and Memorable Moments
On April 28, actress Kim Ji-won, who played Hong Hae-in in tvN's "Queen of Tears," expressed her feelings about the show's conclusion.
Through her agency, HighZium Studio, on April 29, she said,
"Having filmed over the course of four seasons, I awaited the broadcast with both nervousness and excitement.
But now that it's over, it feels unexpectedly short, and I'm a bit sad."
When asked about memorable reactions, she playfully responded, "I received quite a few threatening (?) texts like, 'Tell me if it's a happy ending or a sad ending,' and 'What are you doing not taking back control of Queens?'
It was fun to receive these reactions. I'm truly grateful for the love, and these responses made me enjoy the drama even more.
It was like riding a roller coaster with the viewers, going up and down and having fun together."
On how her character Hong Hae-in will be remembered, Kim Ji-won said,
"I think she'll remain as a 'four-leaf clover.' Honestly, her moments of despair weren't that long. She quickly overcomes and tries to conquer her difficulties.
To me, these traits have made her an 'icon of resilience' and 'icon of positivity.' I hope she'll be remembered as a 'four-leaf clover-like Hae-in,' providing strength and hope even in tough situations."
Finally, Kim Ji-won expressed, "Hong Hae-in has a lot of love, but she was somewhat awkward in showing it.
As the story progressed, she tried to express herself better, and I hope the viewers found her to be 'warmer than expected.'"
Full Interview
Q. Please share your thoughts on the conclusion of "Queen of Tears."
Hello, I'm Kim Ji-won, and I played Hong Hae-in in "Queen of Tears." Having filmed for such a long period across all four seasons, I awaited the broadcast with excitement and a bit of nervousness. Now that it's ended, I feel a bit sad as it seems to have gone by quickly. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who found the drama enjoyable and showed their love and interest.
Above all, health is most important. I hope you all stay healthy and happy. And I hope you love those around you fully and without regrets. I look forward to greeting you with a new project soon. Thank you.
Q. You received a lot of love from viewers. How do you feel?
I am truly grateful. Seeing the viewers' reactions allowed me to enjoy the drama even more. It was great to ride the emotional roller coaster with the viewers, having fun together as we went through the ups and downs.
Q. Any memorable reactions or comments from people around you?
During intense scenes, people were so immersed they reacted with anger, and during joyful scenes, they enjoyed them with me. It's fascinating to recall the moments we filmed, wondering how the viewers would react.
People around me sent playful threats like, 'Tell me if it's a happy ending or a sad ending,' and 'Why aren't you taking back control of Queens?' Those are fun memories.
Q. You played a character with a wide emotional range, from comedy to melodrama to human drama. What did you focus on during filming?
I tried to clearly define the colors of each genre. With emotions changing so rapidly, I often wondered, 'How can I make this scene smoother?' I focused more on the emotions of Hae-in during filming and aimed to fully convey these to the audience.
Q. Any memorable scenes or behind-the-scenes stories from filming?
The early parts of Episode 11 are particularly memorable. When watching broadcasts, there are moments when I monitor myself, and during Episode 11, I found myself crying along. When filming the scene where Hae-in's family learns she is sick, even though the senior actors weren't in the shot, they empathized off-camera, which helped me immerse myself in the emotion. Thanks to them, tears came naturally, and that moment stands out in my memory.
Q. You filmed in Germany, capturing moments of happiness and profound sadness. What was your mindset during filming?
In Germany, we filmed scenes depicting the newlywed couple's sweet moments and the shocking instance when Hae-in sees the divorce papers for the first time, among others. Shooting these diverse emotional scenes, from Hae-in's happiest to most painful moments, allowed me to deeply understand the character's heart.
It wasn't easy given the range of emotions, but we all worked together, pushing through to craft each scene. The efforts of the Korean and German crew to communicate and collaborate are moments I will long remember.
Q. You worked with a large cast in "Queens" and "Yongduri." How was the chemistry?
Having not worked with so many senior actors before, I was quite nervous, but they eased my tension from the script reading. It was a joyful filming experience.
Watching the senior actors perform was awe-inspiring, and those moments were learning opportunities for me. With Queens and Yongduri families merging in the story, resulting in many ensemble scenes, it felt like a festive gathering. Every moment was warm.
Q. Over your career, you've portrayed various characters. How will Hong Hae-in remain in your memory?
Hong Hae-in will remain as a 'four-leaf clover' to me. Her periods of despair were not long. She quickly overcomes and tries to conquer difficulties. Her resilience and positivity have deeply impacted me. I'd like to remember her as a 'four-leaf clover-like Hae-in,' who provides hope and strength even in tough situations.
Q. What memory would you like viewers to keep of Hong Hae-in?
Hong Hae-in is full of love, but she was a bit clumsy in expressing it. As the story developed, her ability to express improved. I hope viewers found her warmer than expected and will remember her as a 'warmer friend than you might think.'
Q. Lastly, a message to 'Queen of Tears' Hong Hae-in
Hae-in, you've worked hard! I hope only happy moments fill your future. Thanks to you, I've learned to smile and rise again, even in tough situations. I hope you continue to convey the warmth in your heart. Goodbye!
