Jung Hae In and Jung So Min Reflect on Rom-Com Fun in ‘Love Next Door’

Jung Hae In and Jung So Min , the stars of the upcoming romantic comedy Love Next Door, recently teamed up for a photoshoot with ELLE Korea magazine, perfectly capturing the playful and nostalgic vibe of their on-screen characters. The photoshoot reflected on the playful tone of the drama which tells the story of childhood friends who share each other’s most embarrassing secrets.

After the photoshoot, the two actors sat down for an interview. When asked about the excitement surrounding the genre, Jung So Min noted, “I think people might be curious to see Hae In’s comedic side since they haven’t seen much of it before. I have more experience in rom-coms, but on set, I found myself leaning on him a lot. He really syncs well with his character, Seung Hyo.” Jung Hae In added, “It’s not so much about being funny myself, but more about how the situations themselves are amusing. I’m not worried about it feeling cliché—I want to create something relatable with everyday performances.”

Discussing what makes Love Next Door special, Jung So Min shared, “This project has been really comforting for me. It’s not just Seok Ryu and Seung Hyo; every character has their own story, and I hope viewers can find parts of themselves in those stories and feel empowered.” Jung Hae In echoed her sentiments, saying, “The stories between the characters, including their family dynamics, are really warm and healing. The atmosphere on set is so caring. You’ll see me smiling a lot in the behind-the-scenes footage.”

When asked what type of person makes them feel envious, given that the Korean title translates to “Mom’s Friend’s Perfect Son,” Jung So Min candidly responded, “I envy people who are naturally composed. I’ve always tried to appear calm and not show my anxiety, so I really admire people who aren’t easily rattled.” Jung Hae In added, “I naturally respect people who work hard and are recognized in their fields, but envy doesn’t really drive me. What matters to me is whether I feel fulfilled in my work and enjoy the little breaks along the way.”

Love Next Door, directed by Yoo Je Won and written by Shin Ha Eun, the creative duo behind Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, is set to premiere on tvN on August 17th.