In Defense Of Baek HyunWoo's Red Flags In "Queen Of Tears"

If you're watching the hottest K-Drama on air right now, "Queen Of Tears", you must have thought at least once that Baek HyunWoo (played by Kim SooHyun) is exhibiting a few worrisome red flags. We're here to tell you why it is all a part of the process and not bad writing.

Spoiler Alert!

In "Queen Of tears", Baek HyunWoo is married to chaebol heiress Hong HaeIn (played by Kim JiWon). They have been married for three years, and in that time, their love has grown cold and distant. He is ill-treated by his in-laws, often feels disrespected by his wife, and they have no physical intimacy in their relationship. They sleep in two separate bedrooms, barely communicate, and to top it all off, he's being forced to have a baby with HaeIn!

Baek HyunWoo can't take it anymore and decides to divorce HaeIn, but before he can do so, she is diagnosed with a terminal illness that has left her with only 3 months to live.

Contrary to all of our expectations, Baek HyunWoo is ecstatic. He is over the moon! He doesn't have to deal with the troubles of divorce anymore and he gets a clean exit from the Hong family - or so he thought.

With the misconception that HyunWoo, out of all people, would want her to live, HaeIn is determined to survive, no matter what. So, when HaeIn reveals that she has over 50% chance of living, HyunWoo's rosy world goes dark again as he languishes in the gloom.

Rude, but it begs the question:

 

Why Is Baek HyunWoo So Indifferent In "Queen Of Tears"?

Usually in K-Dramas, tropes like terminal illnesses are what bring an estranged couple back together. Yet, in "Quee