Love Next Doorsees Jung So-min return to the genre that made her famous and gives the perfect opportunity for fans to revisit another of her best rom-com K-dramas. InLove Next Door, Jung So-min flexes her comedy muscles as Bae Seok-ryu, who suddenly returns to South Korea after unexpectedly quitting her job abroad. WhileLove Next Door’s confirmation of a Bae Seok-ryu theorysees the series take a more dramatic route, it the same healing route that is beloved by another of her best K-dramas.
Jung So-min rose to fame in 2010 in the rom-comPlayful Kiss, an adaptation of the manga series “Itazura na Kiss”. Since then,Jung So-min has continued to thrive in rom-coms, withThe Sound of Your HeartandMy Father is Strangebeing some of thefunniest K-dramasof her career. Her rom-com return inLove Next Doorhas been well-received, as Jung So-min’s chaotic portrayal of Seok-ryu has shown her at her best. While Jung So-min is known for her bold comedic style, one of her best roles sees her take an entirely different approach.
Because This Is My First Life Is One Of Jung So-min’s Best Rom-coms
It’s An Introverted And Introspective Take On Rom-coms
Compared to her performance inLove Next Door, the actress’s appearance in the 2017 rom-com K-dramaBecause This Is My First Lifeis incredibly different. Here,Jung So-min takes on the role of the introverted screenwriter Yoon Ji-ho, who marries her landlord, Nam Se-hee (Lee Min-ki), in a mutually agreed marriage of convenience. This popular trope is given a new sense of life in theromantic K-drama, as the main couple’s quieter approach to the world gives it a new flair that makes it one of Jung So-min’s best shows.
Kim Min-seok
Sim Won-seok
Despite its slow pace,Because This Is My First Lifeexplores many pressing issues in Korean society. This is prominently shown through themes of sexism, as well as breaking down stereotypes on gender and marriage. At the heart of the series is Ji-ho and Se-hee’s slow-burn romance. As aK-drama couple with great on-screen chemistry, Jung So-min and Lee Min-ki make the show’s relatable plot captivating. Plus, the incredible supporting cast have equally interesting storylines that push the rom-com boundaries and makeBecause This Is My First Lifea great addition to any K-drama watch list.
Because This Is My First Life
Cast
Because This Is My First Life is a South Korean television series that follows Nam Se-hee, a single man focused on repaying his mortgage, and Yoon Ji-ho, a homeless woman, as they enter a marriage of convenience that slowly evolves into genuine affection and understanding.
Jung So-min’s Love Next Door & Because This Is My First Life Roles Are Surprisingly Similar
Bae Seok-ryu & Yoon Ji-ho Face Similar Problems In Life
At first glance,Because This Is My First Life’s Yoon Ji-ho andLove Next Door’s Bae Seok-ryu seem very different. Seok-ryu is strong-willed and often chaotic but keeps her cards close to her chest as she fears hurting those around her. Ji-ho also possesses a similarly strong nature, but her character is muted compared to Seok-ryu, who is much bolder than her introverted counterpart. Though it can initially be hard to see what these two characters have in common, the circumstances they both find themselves in within their respective stories parallel one another.
Love Next Door Just Delivered 1 Of The Best K-drama Confession Scenes (And It’s Not Seok-ryu & Seung-hyo’s)
Although Love Next Door focuses on the friends-to-lovers story of Seok-ryu and Seung-hyo, another K-drama couple stole the show with their confession.
Firstly,Ji-ho and Seok-ryu are both eldest daughters with a younger brother. This makes them second best in the eyes of their family, who, willingly or not, prioritize the needs of their younger siblings rather than them. For example, Ji-ho moves in with Se-hee after her brother and his pregnant wife move into the house that Ji-ho has been paying for. On the other hand, Seok-ryu has to bear the burden of her family’s high expectations while her younger brother is allowed to do as he pleases due to a childhood illness.
Though these circumstances are harrowing, they create a foundation for Jung So-min’s characters to build up and thrive despite them.
Coincidentally,quitting their jobs also affects Ji-ho and Seok-ryu, who do so for similar reasons. Ji-ho’s superiors undermine her and rewrite the original screenplay she had been working on. Another colleague also attempts to sexually assault her, which pushes her to her breaking point. Before the events ofLove Next Door, Seok-ryu was also belittled and made fun of by her colleagues. This, alongside her cancer diagnosis and the breakdown of her engagement, led to her return to South Korea. Though these circumstances are harrowing, they create a foundation for Jung So-min’s characters to build up and thrive despite them.
Why Because This Is My First Life Is The Perfect Love Next Door Replacement
They Are Two of Jung So-min’s Best K-drama Romances
Alongside the similarities between Jung So-min’s characters, there are many factors that makeBecause This Is My First Lifea great next choice forLove Next Doorfans. Both shows are considered healing K-dramas as their main characters mend scars of the past. InBecause This Is My First Life, Ji-ho returns to screenwriting and builds a life with Se-hee in a real relationship rather than a fake marriage. Similarly, inLove Next Door, the rekindling of her passions gives Seok-ryu a new lease on life while she also finally acknowledges feelings towards her best friend Seung-hyo (Jung Hae-in).
Love Next Doorairs every Saturday and Sunday on TVN in South Korea. It is then made available to stream on Netflix.
Though these K-dramas are similar in a lot of ways, many things set them apart.Love Next Doorviews things from a more classic K-drama perspective and maintains a high energy despite its dramatic twists. On the other hand,Because This Is My First Lifefinds its charm in introversion. The two series also utilize alternative tropes to depictK-drama romancesthat are just as entertaining as each other. This makesBecause This Is My First Lifeperfect for Jung So-min fans looking for something to revisit after her appearance inLove Next Door.
Love Next Door
A woman returns to Korea to restart her life and becomes involved with a childhood friend, sharing a complicated history.
