Ha Yoon Kyung shares her experience playing a complex character in Gangnam B-Side
Jung So Min comes to flaunt her charm in Love Next Door.
Love Next Door tells the story of Bae Seok Ryu (Jung So Min), who, while trying to reboot her life, encounters her mom's friend's son Choi Seung Hyo (Jung Hae In). The duo, being childhood friends, know each other's dark pasts and reunite years later.
In the K-drama, Jung So Min takes on the role of Bae Seok Ryu, a character who is a little broken on the inside and dreams of starting anew in life. She was on a roll as a product manager of a global corporation but decided to leave everything behind.
Bae Seok Ryu went to study abroad in the US alone, graduated from a prestigious university with excellent grades, and got a job at a global corporation — a perfect life anyone could only dream of. Her eyes, as she takes on an important presentation for the company betray confidence and pride.
However, another still showing Bae Seok Ryu at the airport sparks curiosity. The return of the once-brilliant Bae Seok Ryu with eyes that have lost their sparkle raises questions about what might have happened.
Jung So Min shared, "I felt a great deal of empathy with Seok Ryu after reading the script," citing the character as a reason for choosing the role. She described Seok Ryu as "someone who, while following the implicitly defined path to success set by society, feels disillusioned with such a life due to a certain turning point and seeks to find their own way."
Jung So Min related, "I, too, sometimes get overwhelmed by life and am gradually learning how to live it at my own pace and in my own way. That's why I couldn't help but empathize with Seok Ryu, and approached the character with a heart of support and companionship." She added, "I believe viewers will find different points of empathy depending on their own situations and environments. I hope they view Seok Ryu from various perspectives."
Love Next Door will premiere on August 17, and stream globally on Netflix.
