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Is Hong Hae-in from ‘Queen of Tears’ Based on a Real Heiress?

Hong Hae-in from Queen of Tears Netflix series in Queen's Group mall
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Queen of Tears is making everyone swoon over the seemingly fairytale romance between Hong Hae-in and Baek Hyun-woo. Romances between nepo babies and the rest of us hardly ever happen in real life, but why does this Netflix series feel a little too familiar?

It’s not because you’ve watched way too many romance K-dramas about charming heirs and rags-to-riches protagonists. Hae-in’s romance with Hyun-woo draws parallels to a famous Cinderella story between one of Samsung Group’s heirs and her former bodyguard.

Who is Lee Boo-jin?

Lee Boo-jin, the second child and eldest daughter of former Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, is currently the CEO of a luxury hotel chain named Hotel Shilla. She is nicknamed “Little Kun-hee” by the South Korean press in reference to her inherited business acumen from her father. Boo-jin is known to have studied at Yonsei University, one of Korea’s most prestigious institutions for higher education.

In 1995, Lim Woo-jae would become Boo-jin’s bodyguard. Woo-jae would try to deny Boo-jin’s advances because of their difference in status. But in 1999, the pair would get married, and Woo-jae would be dubbed by the local press as “Mr. Cinderella.” Then they lived happily ever after, right? Not really.

Lim Woo-jae was pressured to go into further study abroad in the US by the former chairman. It would later be alleged in court by Boo-jin that she had been suffering from domestic violence during their marriage. The couple finalized their divorce by 2020.

Is Queen of Tears Based on a True Story?

Despite the similarities, the K-drama isn’t confirmed to be based on either a book or a true story.

But there are striking moments in the drama that will still bring comparisons to mind for viewers. Hae-in is stylish, and she is also considered to be a skilled businesswoman, just like Boo-jin. Her family acknowledges her prowess and leaves her to manage the affairs of the Queen’s Group.

Hyun-woo, just like Woo-jae, is a university graduate from a humble background. He falls in love with Hae-in without initially knowing her real status as the daughter of the Queen’s Group. When Hyun-woo finds out about Hae-in’s identity, he tries to push her away, but she insists on marrying him nonetheless.

Their marriage is also dubbed a “fairytale wedding” externally, but the drama shows the turbulent reality of their relationship. Hyun-woo is told to study in the US against his will, and Hae-in will be presented as distant towards her husband. Queen of Tears sounds like a tragic title for a K-drama, but we’re rooting for fiction to win over reality and give this K-drama couple the happy ending they deserve.

(featured image: Netflix)

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Author
Vanessa Esguerra
Vanessa Esguerra (She/They) has been a Contributing Writer for The Mary Sue since 2023. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy, she (happily) rejected law school in 2021 and has been a full-time content writer since. Vanessa is currently taking her Master's degree in Japanese Studies in hopes of deepening her understanding of the country's media culture in relation to pop culture, women, and queer people like herself. She speaks three languages but still manages to get lost in the subways of Tokyo with her clunky Japanese. Fueled by iced coffee brewed from local cafés in Metro Manila, she also regularly covers anime and video games while queuing for her next match in League of Legends.

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