TvN’s 20th Anniversary Tribute Video Provokes Strong Criticism
tvN is facing backlash over its 20th anniversary YouTube montage – it completely skipped its highest-rated drama, Queen of Tears.
The controversy began when tvN posted a special video on December 31 featuring clips from hit dramas like Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, My Mister, Reply 1997, Hotel Del Luna, Lovely Runner, and Bon Appetit, Your Majesty.
Queen of Tears was missing. Fans quickly pointed out this glaring absence, especially since it’s tvN’s most-watched show ever. The likely reason? The scandal surrounding lead actor Kim Soo Hyun.
Fans are furious for Kim Ji Won, who starred as the cold, strong chaebol heiress Hong Hae In. They say ignoring the show disrespects her hard work and the entire cast and crew who put in a year of effort.
> a woman delivers excellence, a man fucks up, and suddenly her work is erased. jiwon deserved recognition for queen of tears, yet she got nothing because of that man’s scandal. fuck men.
>
> — j (@rhybeom) January 2, 2026
> Jiwon took English class, diet for a year, working hard a long with other staff who work their ass off to give tvn the most successful drama. Tvn should at least include that effort
>
> — MyDing (WONEDAY) (@SleepNotAlive) January 2, 2026
> Imagine working your ass off for a year to help a channel get their highest rated show of all time
> But still they disrespect you everytime in return
> Kim jiwon you are allowed to use a gun
>
> — Anastasia (@geewonii22) January 2, 2026
Other voices blame Kim Soo Hyun directly. They support tvN’s move to exclude his work from anniversary celebrations because of the scandal.
> why are people blaming tvn instead of #that pedo for the qot erasure
>
> — mai (@xhaomaii) January 2, 2026
> nothing says the industry has turned its back on a disgraced superstar than tvN leaving out their highest rated kdrama from their 20th anniversary commemorative video.
>
> — yrdr2snaps (@yrdr2snaps) January 2, 2026
Many fans say tvN could have included at least Kim Ji Won’s scenes to honor her work without highlighting the scandal.
> You know not adding the Highest Rating Drama of TVN is such a crime. Could’ve just add Kim Jiwon’s scenes . Just the fact that she and all who worked hard for this drama needs to be credited .
>
> — Sashara (@sasharajohnson) January 2, 2026
> How do you not include your highest rated show? There are plenty Jiwon and the other cast scenes you could have used. She worked just as hard for the show to be what it was and deserve better than being paid dust over someone else’s fuck up
>
> — k_adinkra⋆𐙚 (@K_adinkra) January 2, 2026
The whole situation has netizens debating whether tvN punished Kim Ji Won and the cast for Kim Soo Hyun’s mess. The outrage shows no signs of calming down.
Watch the full tvN anniversary montage here: