Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won’s efforts to save their loved ones and memories are resonating with viewers.

On the 13th episode of tvN’s Saturday drama “Queen of Tears” (script Park Ji Eun/ director Jang Young Woo, Kim Hee Won/ production Studio Dragon, Culture Warehouse, Showrunners), broadcast on Saturday, May 20, Baek Hyun Woo (played by Kim Soo Hyun) and Hong Hae In (played by Kim Ji Won) faced a cruel choice of losing their memories in order to gain life.

The 13th episode of “Queen of Tears” averaged 22.3% and peaked at 24.2% among households in the Seoul metropolitan area, and 20.2% and peaked at 21.9% among households nationwide. In both the metropolitan area and nationwide, the show swept the top spot in its time slot across all channels, including terrestrial.

In tvN’s target audience of 2049 men and women, the program soared to an average of 10.1% and a peak of 11.1% in the metropolitan area and an average of 9.8% and a peak of 10.7% in the nation, setting another new record. In both the metropolitan area and nationwide, the program ranked first in the same time period across all channels, including terrestrial (based on paid platforms including cable, IPTV, and satellite, courtesy of Nielsen Korea).

During the funeral of Hong Man-dae (played by Kim Gap-soo), the eldest member of the family, Hong Hae-in watched the whole process in silence and was overwhelmed by strange emotions. As she confided in her husband about her complicated feelings, Hong Hae In blushed and expressed her desire to live. Baek Hyun Woo couldn’t say anything to his wife, and he swallowed his tears alone, creating a bitter feeling.

As if in response to Red Hae’s desire to live, the good news came that Germany had found a way to cure Red Hae’s disease. It’s the only way to save him, but the surgery has the side effect of causing him to lose all his memories. However, since there is no other way to cure Hong Hae-in, Baek Hyun-woo and Hong Hae-in’s father, Hong Bum-joon (Jung Jin-young), decide to keep it a secret for now.

When Hong Hae-in hears from Baek Hyun-woo that he has found a cure, she is stunned by the sudden news, but then overwhelmed with joy that she can live. She dreamed of a future with him, accepted her husband’s request for an annulment, and filled her life with happy memories of her husband before undergoing surgery. When Baek Hyun-woo saw his wife’s happiness, his eyes were filled with sadness.

In response, Baek Hyun Woo organized a special event with Hong Hae In to look forward to their life together. To fulfill Hong Hae-in’s wish to see her first snow, which she thought she would never see again, Baek Hyun-woo made artificial snow at a Queens department store in the midst of Christmas decorations and presented his wife with a romantic surprise.

Finally, the date of the surgery approached and Baek Hyun Woo and Hong Hae In traveled to Germany. Before entering the laboratory, Baek Hyun Woo shared with Hong Hae In the side effects of the surgery that he hadn’t been able to tell her. Shocked by the news of the unexpected side effects, Hong Hae-in threw Baek Hyun-woo’s hand away and announced that she would not undergo the surgery, making Baek Hyun-woo’s heart even heavier.

However, the surgery was the only way to save her life, so Baek Hyun Woo urged her, “Don’t choose, don’t think. Just listen to me,” he pleaded with her. The 13th episode of “Queen of Tears” ended with Baek Hyun Woo’s mournful gaze as he tried to endure the situation with all his strength and Hong Hae In’s eyes filled with despair. We wonder what kind of decision Hong Hae In will make when she has to choose between life and memories, and whether Baek Hyun Woo will be able to convince his beloved wife.