Hi movie lovers, I’m daeze-winnie and I’m your host for the movie review for tonight
😂 How did that sound? Amazing right?
Yeah, I’m testing my “presenter” skills.
Oh well, I’ll be doing a movie review of the K-drama; Love Next Door.
Honestly I got to learn about this movie when I checked out this lady called Jung So-min. Yeah, I first saw her in Alchemy of souls as Mudeok and I loved her character because she killed the role. Damn!
So I checked her out and then I discovered she was also the female lead I fell in love with in the K-drama-Playful kiss.
I then decided to hop on this drama of hers. I plan to watch some other movies she’s featured in though.
Without further ado, let’s get into the review please…
Love Next Door tells the story of Bae Seok-ryu (Jung So-min), a woman who finds herself reconnecting with her childhood friend Choi Seung-hyo (Jung Hae-in) after moving back into her family home. What started as an awkward reunion slowly unfolds into a journey of rediscovery of love, friendship and the quiet bonds that shaped their lives.
What I loved most about the drama was how the story built up so gently yet powerfully. The chemistry between Seok-ryu and Seung-hyo was so undeniable. Like, it felt so warm, natural and beautifully paced.
Their friend Jeong Mo-eum brought a playful and charismatic spark to the drama, while the shy journalist Kang Dan-ho had me smiling every time he appeared. (PS. I have a thing for adorable eye candies)
Another unforgettable part of this drama was the friendship between their mothers, Na Mi-sook and Seo Hye-sook. Together with their friends, they were fondly called the Suk Suk Sisters, and later in the movie they rebranded themselves as the Lavender Sisters. Their meetups were always a delight to watch because it was filled with laughter, heartfelt conversations and that comforting sense of sisterhood that only true friends can bring. Those moments added so much warmth to the drama and often reminded me of the quiet beauty of my lifelong friendships.
At one point, I got worried about the progression of the story, especially when Seok-ryu kept rejecting Seung-hyo’s proposals. But then, when the deeper revelation of her struggles showed her diagnosis of cancer, her depression and her decision to keep it all hidden. That part touched me deeply because, as adults, we sometimes shield our loved ones from our pain, not wanting to burden them.
From Seung-hyo’s perspective, though, the drama reminded me of something equally important and that is that true love isn’t about shielding others, but about being present for them even in the darkest moments.
In the end, the movie, Love Next Door, left me with warmth and reflection. It wasn’t just a romance filled drama, but it was about friendship, family and the strength of connection through both joy and hardship. A drama that lingers in the heart long after the final episode because honestly, I didn’t want it to end.
I’ll gladly rate this movie a 10/10. You definitely need to watch it.
I’ll leave you guys with the trailer.
All images are screenshots from my phone