Queen of Tearshas taken 2024 by storm with its intense love story, and fans who enjoyed it may also appreciate a slice-of-life series from seven years ago that starred one of the K-drama’s biggest stars.Queen of Tearsfollowed in the footsteps ofCrash Landing on You, breaking records to make it one of2024’s best K-dramas. The series' unconventional story of a couple on the brink of divorce finding love again has gripped fans worldwide, with Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun’s performances at the forefront of that whirlwind success.
AlthoughKim Ji-won’s lack of recognition forQueen of Tearsis disappointing, she delivers a fierce performance alongside her co-star. The two stars ofQueen of Tears' casthave incredible chemistry as Hong Hae-in and Baek Hyun-woo, and deliver career-best performances that show their prowess in both comedy and drama. While few K-dramas can matchQueen of Tears' intense nature, fans of the series would love another of Kim Ji-won’s K-dramas, especially as it feels so different from her most recent work.
Kim Ji-won’s Fight For My Way Is The Perfect K-Drama For Queen Of Tears Fans
Fight For My Way Is Much More Lighthearted Than Queen Of Tears
Kim Ji-won has taken the lead in many notable K-drama series, butFight For My Wayremains one of her most memorable. She and co-star Park Seo-joon bring to life childhood best friends Ko Dong-man and Choi Ae-ra as they try to break free from their mundane realities and pursue their lifelong dreams of becoming an athlete and a news anchor, respectively. Thisfriends-to-lovers K-dramais completely different fromQueen of Tears, but that tonal separation is partly what makes it such a great next watch forQueen of Tearsfans.
Fight For My Way’s “Crazy Fantastic Four” Are Dominating The K-Drama Genre 7 Years Later
Fight for My Way’s “Crazy Fantastic Four” are dominating the K-drama genre, seven years after the award-winning Korean miniseries aired in 2017.
While there are manyfunny moments inQueen of Tears, the K-drama is best known for its heartbreaking scenes. This is the exact opposite ofFight For My Way.Kim Ji-won and Park Seo-joon are at the center of many ofFighting For My Way’s laugh-out-loud moments, depicting the close nature of their friendship which soon blossoms into something more. The chaotic nature of Ae-ra and Dong-man’s relationship, mixed with the sincerity of their struggles as modern people chasing their dreams, givesFight For My Waya unique charm and makes it a perfect respite fromQueen of Tears' emotional intensity.
Fight For My Wayalso features a cameo appearance from Kwak Dong-yeon, who plays Choi Ae-ra’s ex-fiancee in the K-drama’s first episode. InQueen of Tears, Kwak plays Hong Hae-in’s younger brother, Soo-cheol.
Nevertheless, there are a number of similarities betweenQueen of TearsandFight For My Waythat mean they can be enjoyed one after the other. The most notable connection comes, of course, from actress Kim Ji-won. Hong Hae-in and Choi Ae-ra may be opposite characters, butKim Ji-won’s unique approach makes each role completely fascinatingin its own right. Additionally, Kim Ji-won’s chemistry with her two co-stars is electric.Queen of TearsandFight For My Way’sK-drama romancesare pivotal in demonstrating, for entirely different reasons, why Kim Ji-won is such an incredible leading actress.
Choi Ae-ra Is Still A Well-Beloved K-drama Character
Prior toFight For My Way, Kim Ji-won had only ever taken on supporting roles in K-dramas. These included the critically acclaimed Rachel Yoo inThe Heirsand Yoon Myeong-ju inDescendants of the Sun.Fight For My Waymarked Kim Ji-won’s first leading role in a K-dramafollowing the award-winning success ofDescendants of the Sun. Although the role remains very different from previous performances throughout Kim Ji-won’s career, the actress proved with her bold and unrestrained performance that she was not only ready to be a K-drama lead, but to remain one.
Ahn Jae-hong
Kim Joo-man
As a character-driven narrative,Fight For My Wayrelies heavily on its actors. Its underdog story means the likability of its protagonists is necessary for the story to work. Fortunately, the strength of Park Seo-joon and Kim Ji-won’s fierce performances elevateFight For My Way’s lighthearted narrative, creating one of thebest K-dramas of all time. Kim Ji-won is particularly memorable, as she easily matches the boundless energy of her more established co-star. As a result, Choi Ae-ra is still a highly beloved K-drama character almost a decade later, and represents the start of Kim Ji-won’s fierce domination on screen.
Kim Ji-won’s Ae-ra Is One Of Many Great Things About Fight For My Way
Kim Ji-won Is Pivotal To The Show’s Success
While many ofKim Ji-won’s best K-dramassee her take on introspective roles similar toQueen of Tears' Hong Hae-in, Choi Ae-ra is the opposite. She is loud, boisterous, and unafraid to do things her way, even if it means sacrificing things she loves the most.Ae-ra’s actions may be animated, but she is ultimately a grounded characterwhose drive can often be halted by reality. The dynamic notes of Choi Ae-ra’s character, complete with a varied and hilarious performance from Kim Ji-won, make her one of the biggest draws to the K-drama.
Kim Ji-won’s Best K-Drama Couples Are The Complete Opposite Of Each Other
Kim Ji-won has shown her acting talents through many different roles, but her two best K-drama couples show her range as an actress at its best.
Choi Ae-ra is far from the only good thing aboutFight For My Way. Park Seo-joon’s equally dynamic performance adds a lot of color to the K-drama, and his chemistry with Kim Ji-won is incredible.Dong-man and Ae-ra’s steady progression from friends to lovers is beautiful, feeling natural rather than forced. There are no limits to the support they give each other, with both characters often dropping everything to be by the other’s side. Alongside this,Fight For My Wayfeatures some incredible laugh-out-loud moments and a great underdog story that is perfect for fans ofQueen of Tears.
Queen Of Tears
Cast
Hong Hae-in, the heiress of the prestigious Queens Group, and her husband Baek Hyun-woo, known as the “supermarket prince,” navigate the complexities of their high-profile marriage. While Hae-in exudes a cold and calculating demeanor, Hyun-woo brings warmth and emotional depth to their relationship. Their union, celebrated as the “wedding of the century,” faces a monumental crisis that forces them to reassess their differences and rediscover the strength in their bond.
Fight For My Way
Fight For My Way is a South Korean television drama series that aired in 2017. Starring Park Seo-joon and Kim Ji-won, the show follows the lives of four young adults struggling to achieve their dreams in the face of societal expectations and everyday challenges. The series explores themes of friendship, ambition, and romance, offering a nuanced portrayal of the hardships and triumphs faced by its characters.
