Love Next Door

Amina Ahmed

Netflix’s latest Korean drama, “Love Next Door,” has K-drama fanatics in a chokehold—and for good reason. The series stars the hearthrob, Jung Hae-In, and the ever-talented actress, Jung So-Min, in this childhood friends-to-lovers story. Our heroine, Bae Seok-Ryu, is first introduced to us as she lands back in Korea, after studying and working abroad in the United States. Her return is a surprise to both her family and friends, especially since she’s quit her job and called off her marriage without telling anyone why. Despite her loved ones pestering her on why she’s suddenly uprooted her life, Seok-Ryu’s resolve to keep her secret stays strong. Meanwhile, she falls right back into her routine with her childhood friends and begins searching for a new dream and passion now that she's back in her hometown. 

I’ve noticed recently that Korean series tackle this concept of radical resignation (“Summer Strike” being a prime example of this), which is apparent in Love Next Door as well. This concept isn’t new, we’ve seen it before: the burnout that comes with trying to keep up with the inhumane pace of capitalism. At some point something must give, and sometimes that “something” turns out to be everything. This is what we see of Seok-Ryu, tired of trying to live up to the expectations of her mother, society, and her company, at the expense of her own health—so, she lets it all go. This phenomenon is refreshing to see, since it translates into calming cinematography and scenes of protagonists enjoying aspects of reality they couldn’t before: food, nature, life. This series is worth the watch for this reason, to re-identify the beauties of life we so often miss, and allow ourselves to start again, more genuinely and earnestly this time.