She respectfully declined the role.
Koreaboo
tvN K-Drama Queen of Tears quickly became a massive fan favorite both within Korea and internationally. The show peaked at nearly 25% viewer ratings and has racked up over 2 billion views on online platforms.
One of the leading reasons behind the uber popularity enjoyed by Queen of Tears is its stellar cast. Kim Ji Won, in particular, has received explosive reactions from viewers for her flawless portrayal of the cold and arrogant second-generation chaebol, Hong Hae In.
As perfect as Kim Ji Won is in the role of Hong Hae In, it might surprise many fans that she was not the first choice for this role. According to Insight’s report, K-Pop queen IU was offered the role first!
In April 2022, when screenwriter Park Ji Eun was in the early stages of developing Queen of Tears, she had initially considered IU as the chaebol female lead. This would have been the singer’s second K-Drama with Park Ji Eun, as well as her second time sharing the screen with Kim Soo Hyun after working with them both on The Producers. IU, however, turned down the offer at that time.
Although IU received an offer for a role in Park Ji Eun’s upcoming show, she has respectfully turned it down as she has other commitments.
— EDAM Entertainment
Eventually, Park Ji Eun moved on to Kim Ji Won to portray the character, which turned out to be an accurate choice. Thanks to Kim Ji Won’s ability to embody Hong Hae In perfectly, Queen of Tears has brought her another new peak of success since her debut in 2010.