Jung So-min’s Rom-Com K-Drama From 7 Years Ago Is Perfect For Love Next Door Fans

Love Next Door sees Jung So-min return to the genre that made her famous and gives the perfect opportunity for fans to revisit another of her best rom-com K-dramas. In Love Next Door, Jung So-min flexes her comedy muscles as Bae Seok-ryu, who suddenly returns to South Korea after unexpectedly quitting her job abroad. While Love Next Door‘s confirmation of a Bae Seok-ryu theory sees the series take a more dramatic route, it the same healing route that is beloved by another of her best K-dramas.

Jung So-min rose to fame in 2010 in the rom-com Playful Kiss, an adaptation of the manga series “Itazura na Kiss”. Since then, Jung So-min has continued to thrive in rom-coms, with The Sound of Your Heart and My Father is Strange being some of the funniest K-dramas of her career. Her rom-com return in Love Next Door has been well-received, as Jung So-min’s chaotic portrayal of Seok-ryu has shown her at her best. While Jung So-min is known for her bold comedic style, one of her best roles sees her take an entirely different approach.

Because This Is My First Life Is One Of Jung So-min’s Best Rom-coms

It’s An Introverted And Introspective Take On Rom-coms

Compared to her performance in Love Next Door, the actress’s appearance in the 2017 rom-com K-drama Because This Is My First Life is incredibly different. Here, Jung So-min takes on the role of the introverted screenwriter Yoon Ji-ho, who marries her landlord, Nam Se-hee (Lee Min-ki), in a mutually agreed marriage of convenience. This popular trope is given a new sense of life in the romantic K-drama, as the main couple’s quieter approach to the world gives it a new flair that makes it one of Jung So-min’s best shows.

Despite its slow pace, Because This Is My First Life explores many pressing issues in Korean society. This is prominently shown through themes of sexism, as well as breaking down stereotypes on gender and marriage. At the heart of the series is Ji-ho and Se-hee’s slow-burn romance. As a K-drama couple with great on-screen chemistry, Jung So-min and Lee Min-ki make the show’s relatable plot captivating. Plus, the incredible supporting cast have equally interesting storylines that push the rom-com boundaries and make Because This Is My First Life a great addition to any K-drama watch list.

Jung So-min’s Love Next Door & Because This Is My First Life Roles Are Surprisingly Similar

Bae Seok-ryu & Yoon Ji-ho Face Similar Problems In Life

At first glance, Because This Is My First Life‘s Yoon Ji-ho and Love Next Door‘s Bae Seok-ryu seem very different. Seok-ryu is strong-willed and often chaotic but keeps her cards close to her chest as she fears hurting those around her. Ji-ho also possesses a similarly strong nature, but her character is muted compared to Seok-ryu, who is much bolder than her introverted counterpart. Though it can initially be hard to see what these two characters have in common, the circumstances they both find themselves in within their respective stories parallel one another.

Firstly, Ji-ho and Seok-ryu are both eldest daughters with a younger brother. This makes them second best in the eyes of their family, who, willingly or not, prioritize the needs of their younger siblings rather than them. For example, Ji-ho moves in with Se-hee after her brother and his pregnant wife move into the house that Ji-ho has been paying for. On the other hand, Seok-ryu has to bear the burden of her family’s high expectations while her younger brother is allowed to do as he pleases due to a childhood illness.

Coincidentally, quitting their jobs also affects Ji-ho and Seok-ryu, who do so for similar reasons. Ji-ho’s superiors undermine her and rewrite the original screenplay she had been working on. Another colleague also attempts to sexually assault her, which pushes her to her breaking point. Before the events of Love Next Door, Seok-ryu was also belittled and made fun of by her colleagues. This, alongside her cancer diagnosis and the breakdown of her engagement, led to her return to South Korea. Though these circumstances are harrowing, they create a foundation for Jung So-min’s characters to build up and thrive despite them.

Why Because This Is My First Life Is The Perfect Love Next Door Replacement

They Are Two of Jung So-min’s Best K-drama Romances

Alongside the similarities between Jung So-min’s characters, there are many factors that make Because This Is My First Life a great next choice for Love Next Door fans. Both shows are considered healing K-dramas as their main characters mend scars of the past. In Because This Is My First Life, Ji-ho returns to screenwriting and builds a life with Se-hee in a real relationship rather than a fake marriage. Similarly, in Love Next Door, the rekindling of her passions gives Seok-ryu a new lease on life while she also finally acknowledges feelings towards her best friend Seung-hyo (Jung Hae-in).

Though these K-dramas are similar in a lot of ways, many things set them apart. Love Next Door views things from a more classic K-drama perspective and maintains a high energy despite its dramatic twists. On the other hand, Because This Is My First Life finds its charm in introversion. The two series also utilize alternative tropes to depict K-drama romances that are just as entertaining as each other. This makes Because This Is My First Life perfect for Jung So-min fans looking for something to revisit after her appearance in Love Next Door.