IU is Wise to Decline Reunion with Kim soo-hyun in “Queen of Tears”, Said Fans
It is known that IU turned down “Queen of Tears” in order to star in “When Life Gives You Tangerines”, where she stars alongside Park Bo-gum. At the time, a large number of people expressed regrets that IU missed out on a K-drama that attracted massive attention. However, now, many believe she dodged a bullet by not reuniting with Kim Soo-hyun in the hit romance drama.
Particularly, back in 2022, there were reports that the “Queen of Tears” team initially targeted idol-actress IU for the role of female lead Hong Hae-in. At the time, IU’s side quickly responded, stating, “We received an offer to appear in the work, but we politely declined.”
At the time, some fans were disappointed that IU declined “Queen of Tears”, missing the chance to recreate the chemistry she shared with Kim Soo-hyun in “The Producers”. However, as “When Life Gives You Tangerines” continues to impress audiences with its deep narrative and IU’s transformative performance, while Kim Soo-hyun is buried in controversies, public opinion has shifted.
One netizen commented, “I remember people questioning IU’s decision last year, comparing the two projects, but she clearly knows how to pick a script. Starring in ‘Queen of Tears’ would have been a step back after ‘Hotel Del Luna’, with a character too similar to her past roles. Now, with this film, she has leveled up her acting skills.”
Another viewer compared the two dramas, stating, “If you’ve watched both, you’d understand why any actor would choose ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’. ‘Queen of Tears’ became popular because of its A-list leads and aesthetics, but the script was lacking. Meanwhile, IU’s drama offers a deeply layered story with well-developed characters.”
The film has also changed some skeptics’ views on IU’s acting, with one viewer admitting, “I’ve never been impressed by idol-turned-actors like IU, Yoona, or Suzy, but IU was phenomenal in this role. She completely won me over”.
Another comment summed up the growing consensus,“IU has always had a great eye for scripts. When ‘Queen of Tears’ was first announced, I thought the star-studded cast meant the script would be solid. But in the end, it lacked depth. Meanwhile, ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ is a beautifully written story, with every character having a purpose. The fact that IU was the director’s first and only choice says it all.”
As IU’s latest project continues to earn praise, and achieves outstanding results, it seems clear that she made the right call. Fans are not only celebrating her performance but also recognizing her strong instincts in selecting meaningful and challenging roles.
