Moon So-ri’s Mother Unveiled as Kim Soo-hyun’s Grandmother-in-law in ‘Queen of Tears’

On the episode of You Quiz on the Block(Ep.285) aired on March 19th, notable guest appearances were made by Moon So-ri and her mother, Lee Hyang-ran. The duo opened up about poignant moments and personal anecdotes from their lives, captivating the audience.

Moon So-ri has recently garnered attention for her portrayal of Oh Ae-sun, a character inspired by her own mother, in Netflix’s When Life Gives You Tangerines. During the show, she expressed her emotional connection to the character: “Reading Ae-sun’s story reminded me so much of my mother. She married young, devoted herself to raising us, and never abandoned her dreams. The moment I read the script, I was moved to tears, ” Moon So-ri reflected.

Lee Hyang-ran’s Journey of Resilience

Reflecting on her life, Lee Hyang-ran shared the numerous roles she undertook to provide for her family, including operating a toast stall and managing a food cart.“I literally had to fight to survive; I had no other option, ” she recalled visibly touched. Her mother’s words have remained a source of encouragement: “You dedicated your entire life to raising your children. You did well, ” she remembered her mother saying, which brought her solace.

Moon So-ri with her mother Kim Soo-hyun in Queen of Tears

Moon So-ri fondly recalled her mother’s dedication to her school lunches: “I was quite frail and picky. My mom really went above and beyond with my lunchboxes, preparing extras even compared to my younger brother. Often, there were two or three lunchboxes along with additional fruits, ” she shared.

Nevertheless, the family faced significant financial struggles.“My husband’s business went under, and he was even deceived. When I started my food stall, people would question, ‘Don’t you have a husband?’” Lee Hyang-ran recounted. She emphasized her husband’s tireless effort despite his deteriorating health, working as a taxi driver during the day and assisting with the food stall at night.“We barely got 3 to 4 hours of sleep, but at that time, even being tired felt like a luxury, ”she stated.

A Late-Blooming Career in Acting and Her Role in ‘Queen of Tears’

In an interesting turn of events, Lee Hyang-ran is noted for appearing in approximately 20 to 30 projects throughout her career. One of her most recognized roles was in the drama Queen of Tears, where she portrayed the grandmother-in-law of Kim Soo-hyun. Moon So-ri humorously mentioned: “In one scene, the grandmother’s funeral was shown, and guess what? The portrait on the altar was my mother’s face!”

Not only did she appear in a memorial scene, but she also filmed a flashback sequence in Paju, portraying a wealthy lady.“It was my first experience with glamorous makeup and attire for a role. Seeing my name on the waiting room door was both surreal and thrilling, ” she expressed.

Unfortunately, that particular scene was edited out from the final cut. Moon So-ri quipped, “We were all excited for my mom’s national TV debut, saying, ‘This is your big break!’ But it ultimately didn’t air. Nonetheless, my mom remains hopeful about her dream of a grand appearance on television!”

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