TvN's ongoing K-drama Love Next Door starring Jung Hae-in and Jung So-min became fans' favourite with the release of just the first four episodes. After the episodes aired, the K-drama lovers pointed out many similarities with other K-Drama which premiered this year including Lovely Runner, Doctor Slump and Queen Of Tears . Lovely Runner , starring Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon, was well-received despite its modest viewership ratings.
The drama's storyline follows Ryu Sun-Jae, a former swimmer turned singer and actor, and his devoted fan Im Sol, with a narrative twist involving time travel that explores themes of love and destiny. In Love Next Door , the focus shifts to Bae Seok Ryu, a woman who returns to Korea after facing personal and professional challenges, reconnecting with her childhood friend Choi Seung Hyo, now a successful architect and CEO. Starring Jung Hae-in and Jung So-min, this romantic comedy shares some similarities with Lovely Runner , especially in the portrayal of the male protagonists-both of whom are swimmers.
However, the two dramas diverge significantly in their narratives, with Love Next Door featuring a romantic comedy angle rather than the time-travel elements of Lovely Runner . Fans have also drawn parallels between Love Next Door and other popular 2024 K-dramas like Doctor Slump and Queen of Tears , highlighting recurring themes and character arcs that resonate across different series. A X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, "Doctor slump/love next .