Jung Hae-in, left, and Jung So-min in a scene from 'Love Next Door.' Photos from Netflix K-content's X accountMANILA — K-drama heartthrob Jung Hae-in is no stranger to the romance genre, having played lead roles in dramas like “Something in the Rain,” “One Spring Night,” and “Snowdrop.”

But as the actor pointed out in a recent press conference, his romance projects often carried what he described as “somber sentiments.” This is why he views his latest project, the lighthearted rom-com “Love Next Door,” as a new challenge.

"It is my first time appearing in the romantic comedy genre, and I think I was very nervous at first. As always, I had to take on a new challenge, and I was a bit afraid and at a loss about this new challenge,” Hae-in said at the press con in Seoul held ahead of the show’s Aug. 17 premiere.

“Love Next Door,” which is available for streaming on Netflix, revolves around Bae Seok-ryu (played by Jung So-min), an ambitious and hardworking individual who secures a job at a renowned company in the United States. Despite her seemingly impressive career trajectory, Seok-ryu shocks those around her when she unexpectedly returns to Korea, seeking to restart her life.

As she attempts to reinvent herself, Seok-ryu reconnects with Choi Seung-hyo (Hae-in), her childhood friend turned renowned architect. Their reunion eventually leads to a blossoming romance.

Rounding out the main characters are Jeong Mo-eum (Kim Ji-eun), a passionate paramedic who is also a longtime friend to Seok-ryu and Seung-hyo, and Kang Dan-ho (Yoon Ji-on), a reporter who becomes entangled with the trio after moving into their neighborhood.

Hae-in said he was able to overcome the initial apprehensions of his first venture into rom-com thanks to his colleagues.

“I received a lot of help from the director (Yu Je-won), the writer (Shin Ha-eun), and my partner in the piece, So-min. With their help, I was able to blend in very quickly on the set and was able to get along with everyone well,” Hae-in said.

“As for [my past dramas] ‘Something in the Rain’ and ‘One Spring Night,’ which were of the romance genre, both pieces were quite lyrical and it was inevitable that there were some somber sentiments involved… Since there were many comical elements in this drama series, as I said a while ago, I filmed while laughing so much to the extent that I could not think of a time when I laughed as much on other sets.”

“Love Next Door” also saw director Yu Je-won and writer Shin Ha-eun team up once again following their collaboration on the hit “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha” in 2021.

Je-won, however, said “Love Next Door” is more than just a love story between childhood friends. “[It] is [also] a story involving youths, their family members, neighbors and brothers and sisters who live in Hyereung-dong. There is love, friendship, dreams and coming-of-age,” he said.

While the trope of childhood friends falling in love can sound ideal, Je-won said Seung-hyo and Seok-ryu’s familiarity with each other also posed a complication in their blossoming relationship.

“Since they know [each other’s] whole history, there are sides that they don’t want to show to others. However, these friends know even all those, and because of this, there are moments where it is rather difficult for them to be honest about their feelings. This is seen in the process of them transitioning from friendship to a romantic relationship,” Je-won said.

“There are circumstances where they cannot be 100-percent honest. I think I tried to ponder about that aspect while I was directing,” he said.

Jung Hae-in

Jung So-min

Charms

When asked about what he found most charming about his co-star, Hae-in highlighted So-min’s laughter. “It makes other people feel comfortable and makes others let their guards down. Your heart flutters when you hear it and you end up laughing together with her,” he said.

“I am actually shy around new people, but I think my heart fluttered from the laughter... It was very hearty, bright, vigorous and energetic,” he added.

So-min, meanwhile, praised her leading man for his attentive personality. “Hae-in always delicately checks my condition on the set. I was always thankful and I felt warm. He would say, ‘How do you feel? Did you sleep well? How is your condition?’ He was always so kind to ask,” she said.

The series also required Hae-in and So-min to don school uniforms for flashback scenes depicting their characters’ high school years. Both actors, now in their mid-thirties, admitted to feeling nervous and somewhat uncomfortable about wearing such outfits.

“I didn’t know that I would wear the uniform again so I actually worried a lot,” said the 35-year-old So-min, whose past dramas include “Playful Kiss,” “Because This Is My First Life” and “Alchemy of Souls.”

“But once the camera started rolling, we could act with a feeling that was rather different from reality, so it was fun. Personally, I was also a bit embarrassed about seeing myself in school uniform,” she said.

Hae-in, 36, added: “I also felt burdensome and I was nervous and a bit uncomfortable as well, but once I wore the uniform, I felt as if I had returned to the young and lively days. I thought about the past memories and I was happy during filming. When I think back to the shooting we had while wearing uniforms, I think I savored the moment to the fullest.”

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