Love Next Door

Koreans must love romance films and they do a good job on them. "Love Next Door" is typical, but not so typical.  The focus is really on two lovers who go through misunderstandings.  The parents are a very important part of the story and the side stories are engaging.

From an age of five the two characters lived next door to one another.  The girl was protective of the boy who was late learning Korean.  The two mothers were very close friends.  The parents thought of the youngsters as part of their family.  The two youngsters became very close friends and a theme was the fear of losing their best friend if they were to pursue a love interest.  Yet, the young woman left for America and got engaged to a very likable guy who many viewers would think more deserving.  The two main families have their own problems.  Another character was a friend to the two youngsters who had her own romance and whose mother was part of the same group as the two others.

 At the beginning Seok-Ryu shows up unannounced, having broken off her engagement.  Of course there is a big secret which is not revealed for awhile.

From there the viewer sees the fear of losing a best friend, mother rivalries, marital misunderstandings and a secondary romance with lots of surprises.  The humans display a wide range of emotions.

Kissing is a very big deal and when one finally happens the cinematography is spectacular. 

It takes a really good cast and crew.  Here are a few.

Je Won Yu was the director.  He has 9 directing credits plus 8 credits as assistant directing including "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" (2021).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/10/hometown-cha-cha-cha-another-delightful.html

Ha Eun Shin was the writer.  She had aspired to be a poet.  She has 5 writing credits, also including "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" (2021).

Lim Ha-young was responsible for the music.  Ha-young has music credits including "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" (2021) and "Twenty-five Twenty-one" (2022).

Jung Hae-in played Choi Seung-hyo, the leading male.  He has 25 acting credits including "Something in the Rain" (2018), "Tune in For Love" (2019) and "D.P." (2021).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/04/dp-stands-for-deserter-pursuit.html  

Jung So-min played Bae Seok-ryoo  the leading lady.  She has 25 acting credits including "Because This is My First Life" (2027)

Kim Ji-eun played Jung Mo-eum, a paramedic and a female secondary romantic interest.  She has 15 acting credits.

Yoon Ji-on plays Kang Dan-ho, a reporter and a male secondary romantic interest.  He has 15 acting credits including "You Are My Spring" (2021).

Han Joon-Woo played Song Hyeon-jun, the very likeable former fiance.  He has 9 acting credits including "Hyena" (2020) and "Agency" (2023).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/06/agency.html

Jun Suk-ho plays Yoon Myeong-won, Seung-hyo's boss .  He has 30 acting credits including ""Hyena" (2020).

Seo Ji Hye plays Jang Tae-hui, an earlier romantic inteerst for Seung-hyo.  She has 32 acting credits including "Crash Landing on You" (2019).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/02/crash-landing-on-you-very-addicting.html

Lee Seung-joon played Choi Kyeong-jong father to Seung-hyo  He has 44 acting cresits including "Behind Your Touch" (2023), "Castaway Diva" (2023) and "Doctor Slump" (2024).   See  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/03/doctor-slump.html

Park Ji-young, plays Na Mi-sook, She has 55 acting credits including "The Housemaid" (2010), "Little Women" (2022) and "The Roundup" (2022). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/06/little-women-korean-version.html

Jo Han-chul played Bae Geun-sik, father to Seok Ryoo.  He has 66 acting credits including "Vincenzo" (2021) and "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" (2021)

Jang Young-nam played Seo Hye-sook, mother for Seok Ryoo.  She has extensive theatre experience.  She has 77 film acting credits including "A Werwolf Boy" (2012). 

"Love Next Door" follows in the tradition of Korean romance series, but will provide a few surprises and viewers will be drawn to some of the inter-twining side stories.  Available subtitled on Netflix.

As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen.  They are not necessarily a recommendation, but generally I found them worthy of my time.  If you follow the links you should be able to determine if a particular film is worth following up.

Agency

"Agency" (2023) is in some ways a typical Korean drama series, but a uniqueness comes from being set in an advertising agency.  Lots of drama pitting a young woman with a desperate poor background against an often arrogant dynasty.  Lots of characters in between.

I've sold ads and been inside an ad agency.  Creativity counts, but there are other factors such as teamwork, taking the time to understand what the consumer really wants (they often do not know) and management of the team.  Creativity is not so much looking outside the box as re arranging what is already known with the only boxes you could know about (stretch your awareness, you know more than you think).

The main battle is between a brother and sister to take over the conglomerate.  Other executives and family members participate in for their own greedy reasons.   

At one point a receptionist is only a contract worker, but has agreed to be a spy for a corporate manipulator.  Our heroine uncovers her and switches her loyalty, but eventually she is let go.  She is brought back and made part of a team.

One scene shows there can be morality.  Nobody likes to lie and advertisers are often accused, if not a lie, then misleading.  The protagonist refused to take business from loan company remembering how they took advantage of her family. 

One strategy I noticed was that the protagonist was often very anxious and appeared to be smoking, but in fact she was putting unlit cigarettes to her mouth.  I hoped it might be an alternative to smoking, but a few of the characters were seen smoking.  Thoughts on the matter:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2015/06/smoking-and-movies.html

Here are some of the people who make this series so enjoyable.

Shim Na-yeon is a director

Bae Se-Young is the writer.  This film has some really good dialogue from a variety of roles.

Kim Hyun-jong and Ahn So-yeong are credited with music.

Lee Bo-young plays Go Ah In who appears very self confident, but has psychological issues.  She was Miss Korea in 2000,  She has 23 film credits that I hope to explore more.

Na-Eun Son played Kang Han-na, the spoiled feisty grand daughter who is a power figure.  She was a key member of girl band, Apink and was noted as a lyric writer.  She had the nickname of "Sold-Out girl" as she sold out concert venues.  She has 50 film credits.

Han Joon-Woo plays Park Young-woo, secretary to Kang Han-na.  A clear thinker from a middle class background who sees himself as a servant.  He has appeared in "Hyena" (2019).

Jo Sung-ha played Choi Chang Soo, brother and rival to Kang Han-na.   His film credits include "The Suspect" (2013) and "Navillera" (2021).  Check http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/11/navillera.html  

Park Ji-Il played Cho Moon-ho, an executive with little apparent power.  From a supporting role he gets some interesting dialogue often while playing the game Go against himself.   His film credits include "The Suspect" (2013), "Live Up to Your Name" (2017) and "Thirty-Nine" (2022).   Check:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/07/live-up-to-your-name.html

Jang Hyung-sung plays Yoo Jung-seok, as an former executive, now a mentor to Go Ah in under much reduced circumstances, but with good lines.  His film credits include "Signal" (2012) and "Under the Queen's Umbrella" (2023).  Check http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/04/under-queens-umbrella.html

Jeon Gook-hwan plays the elderly patriarch who is still manipulating events and is very clever.  He played the father of the male protagonist in "Crash Landing on You" (2019).  Another quality film he was in was "Silenced" (2011) about abuse in an institute for the deaf.  Other films include: "A Company Man" (2012), "The Chaser" (2012), "Misty" (2018) and "My Mister" (2018) http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/02/crash-landing-on-you-very-addicting.html

Kim Mi-Kyung plays her mother.  She has 71 film credits including  "It is Okay Not to Be Okay" (2020), another of my favorites and she was a big factor although only a supporting role, "Trolley" (2022-2023) and "Doctor Cha" (2023).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/03/its-okay-not-to-be-okay.html 

The good guys against the bad guys with lots of twists.

As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen.