Love Next Door has kicked off to a promising start.
The first episode of the tvN weekend drama aired on August 17th. The show premiered to a national viewership rating of 4.9%, and the second episode recorded 6.0%.
In the first episode, Nam Mi Sook (played by Park Ji Young) and Seo Hye Sook (played by Jang Young Nam) were seen engaging in a heated competition to brag about their exceptional children. Seo Hye Sook’s son Choi Seung Hyo (played by Jung Hae In) is a renowned architect recognized in the field, while Nam Mi Sook’s daughter Bae Seok Ryu (Jung So Min) is a talented professional who graduated from a prestigious university working at a global company. However, Bae Seok Ryu secretly returns to Korea after breaking up with her boyfriend, and she unexpectedly encounters Choi Seung Hyo in her hometown before even meeting her parents.
Before they could even properly greet each other, her parents appeared, putting Seok Ryu in a tight spot. She hid behind a box in front of the building, but secrets never remain hidden for long. Seok Ryu confessed her breakup to Choi Seung Hyo, and her parents overheard the entire conversation. Seok Ryu used Choi Seung Hyo as a shield from her mother’s scolding and nagging, even receiving a whack with a bunch of green onions. Seo Hye Suk stepped in to protect her son, and her husband tried to calm his wife, seemingly easing the tense atmosphere. However, Bae Seok Ryu further escalated the situation by saying, “I even quit my job. I’m unemployed now,” leading to a second outburst and causing her and Choi Seung Hyo to flee together.
He took every hit for her, put every effort to renovate her room,put the stars she really likes on ceiling, console her to lessen her pain, shifted his entire house near her house ..
Seunghyo didnt raise the standard in men HE HIMSELF IS STANDARD.#LoveNextDoorEp2 #Lovenextdoor pic.twitter.com/2PCuFgamqb
— AiSh TLG 🦋 (@MeeeAisha) August 18, 2024
The second episode delved into Seok Ryu and Seung Hyo’s first meeting and the reason behind Seok Ryu’s resignation. She had quit her job due to workplace bullying and verbal abuse. Feeling broken, Seok Ryu sought comfort in her ex-boyfriend but caught him kissing another woman at a party. To make matters worse, she also had to endure her mother’s nagging and the burdens of being the “eldest daughter of a Korean family” as her mother pressured her right after returning to Korea. Mi Sook, frustrated by Seok Ryu’s silence about her return, lashed out, saying, “Do you know how hard I worked to raise you? No matter how miserable my life was, I never regretted it because I thought all my luck went to you. But how could you betray me like this?”
“Why do I have to be your pride and joy? Can't I just be your daughter for once, no matter how pathetic or flawed I might be? Why do I have to cover up for your life?”
seokryu 😭😭😭 this hits close to home, sending hugs to all first born daughter#LoveNextDoor#LoveNextDoorEp2 pic.twitter.com/DmvO4gS30o
— daisy han (@kdramadaisy) August 18, 2024
Hurt by her mother’s words, Seok Ryu stormed out, only to find Choi Seung Hyo standing outside.
Choi Seung Hyo consoled Seok Ryu and walked her home. When she returned, Seok Ryu was surprised to find her room had been redecorated. Seung Hyo had done it as a sweet gesture. This thoughtful gesture helped mend her relationship with her mom. Seeing the glowing stars on the ceiling brought back highschool memories.
"since the first time i met bae seokryu, there is never been a time when i didn't like her"#LoveNextDoor #JungSoMin#LoveNextDoorEp2#LoveNextDoorEp2 pic.twitter.com/lWOzSSrgRV
— K | Love Next Door🐥 (@iamparkbella) August 18, 2024
this parallel has my whole heart😭🩷after all these years he remembered how she liked to put stars on her room's ceiling so he made sure to include them while renovating her room THE DETAILS #LoveNextDoor #LoveNextDoorEp2 pic.twitter.com/tnmFb5TI7i
— ♪ (@damibeen) August 18, 2024
>> Jung Hae In and Jung So Min Reflect on Rom-Com Fun in ‘Love Next Door’
