tvN’s Saturday-Sunday drama “Love Next Door” (written by Shin Ha-eun, directed by Yoo Je-won) is a sweet neighborhood romance between Bae Seok-ryu (Jung So-min), a woman attempting to restart her imperfect life, and Choi Seung-hyo (Jung Hae-in), her living “dark past” – the son of her mother’s friend.
Since its premiere on August 17th, “Love Next Door” has been steadily gaining popularity, starting with a viewership rating of 4.9% and reaching a peak of 7.3% (Episode 12). Viewers have been particularly captivated by the developing relationship between Jung Hae-in and Jung So-min’s characters, as they transition from childhood friends to potential lovers.
The on-screen chemistry between Jung Hae-in and Jung So-min has been so convincing that it led to real-life dating rumors when they were spotted traveling together for a photo shoot – an occurrence considered unusual even within the industry. When questioned about the rumors during an interview, Jung Hae-in’s “No comment” response only added fuel to the speculation. Although he later clarified, “It just means we had good chemistry”, the focus remained on his initial ambiguous answer, further intensifying viewers’ interest.
During his appearance on KBS1’s “AM Plaza” on September 24th, Jung Hae-in heightened anticipation for upcoming episodes, saying, “I did something sweet (in a drama) for the first time in a while, but it came out too late. The viewers must have been impatient, but please keep watching as there will be a lot more to come.”
While Jung Hae-in and Jung So-min have been garnering attention for their on-screen romance, their co-star Kim Ji-eun has been making waves for her charitable efforts. OSEN reported on the 25th that Kim Ji-eun recently donated 50 million won to support the bereaved families of firefighters. The fund will be used to assist with living expenses and self-reliance initiatives for these families.
Kim Ji-eun’s donation holds special significance given her role as Jung Mo-eum, a paramedic, in “Love Next Door”. Playing a passionate and righteous 119 paramedic, Kim Ji-eun has demonstrated a real-life commitment to the cause, showing empathy for the dedication of firefighters and paramedics through her generous contribution.
“Love Next Door”, starring Jung Hae-in and Jung So-min alongside Kim Ji-eun, airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:20 PM on tvN.