When Love Next Door first introduced us to Choi Seung-hyo (Jung Hae-in) and Bae Seok-ryu (Jung So-min), their tale merely appeared to be a classic childhood friends-turn-lovers story. But as the K-drama continues to drop two episodes weekly on Netflix, the plot has become something more than romance. It speaks volumes about finding a true support system in this fast-paced world that mostly works on meaningless connections.
Seok-ryu's storyline isn’t just about facing a professional slump, her family equation highlights the unrealistic expectations of parents, which sometimes makes it harder for children to even breathe. Especially, when you fall short of meeting their expectations, it leads to frustration and distress, where even having a dream or taking a step toward finding one’s true passion feels like a mistake. Love Next Door continues to be a warm reminder that it’s okay to be not okay when you are in the dumps, encouraging viewers to have faith and recognize your worth.
A post shared by tvN 드라마 공식 계정 (@tvn_drama) K-drama fans grew fond of the storyline of this Jung Hae-in starrer ever since it premiered via Netflix on August 17. However, in the latest episode 8, released Sunday, September 9, Love Next Door added a terminal illness twist to Seok-ryu’s character. Apparently, during her time in the US, the female lead was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer.
She got 70% of her stomach removed in surgery and underwent chemother.