Both children excelled in their schooling and careers, which sparked a healthy rivalry between their mothers, who like nothing more than to boast about their prodigious progenies. Seung-hyo became an architect and Seok-ryu a corporate go-getter.
Seung-hyo keeps getting awards for his architectural projects and charitable works, while Seok-ryu works for a world-famous company in America and is on the cusp of getting married.
But one day, Seok-ryu makes an unscheduled visit back to Korea, unbeknown to her family. She tries her best to avoid them but cannot help bumping into Seung-hyo.
He quickly senses that something is up and is eventually able to pry the truth out of her. Seok-ryu has suddenly broken off her engagement. What is more, she has quit her high-paying job.
She dreads telling her parents, anticipating their bitter disappointment, which in her mother’s case is likely to manifest itself physically. But eventually she has to come clean.
After the fireworks calm down, Seok-ryu settles back into her old bedroom, which is now a glorified wardrobe, and proceeds to do what she came back to do – sleep and eat Korean food.
Beyond rest and comfort food, Seok-ryu wiles her time away with soothingly purposeless pursuits, such as riding a bus to its final stop, getting off and getting back on again before it restarts its circuit.
While Seok-ryu’s character is well-defined in these opening episodes, we get less of a sense of Seung-hyo.
On top of his good looks and awards, Seung-hyo also opens a new architecture firm at the beginning of the series and is abundantly kind and gracious towards Seok-ryu.
He redecorates her room while she is going around in circles on the bus, and even moves back in next door, presumably to watch over her. He is also generally a shoulder for her to lean on, offering her such wisdom as: “Don’t force yourself to laugh if you feel like crying.”
At least the show does not spend too much time on Seok-ryu wallowing in despair upon her complicated return home. Reinforcing the glow-in-the-dark stars that Seung-hyo returns to her ceiling during the redecoration, Seok-ryu has the chance to make a wish upon a shooting star.
Though the future is still unclear, we may not have to wait long for something to turn up on the horizon for her.
Jung So-min also manages to exhibit her charms, which are often reminiscent of the tomboyish physicality of a slightly younger Jun Ji-hyun.
Love Next Door is streaming on Netflix.