‘Love Next Door’ faces backlash as shocking plot twist leaves fans frustrated and comparing it to ‘Queen of Tears’

Following the immense success of ‘Queen of Tears’, anticipation was high for the next romance series from the production house. On August 17, 2024, ‘Love Next Door’ premiered as the new frontrunner for weekend television, aiming to fill the Saturday and Sunday slots left by its predecessor.
The drama features Jung So Min in the role of Bae Seok Ryu, a young woman who has returned to Korea after working as a project manager for the prestigious American firm Greip.Her return sparks a reunion with her childhood friend Choi Seung Hyo, portrayed by Jung Hae In, who now runs a promising start-up architectural firm named Atelier. The show’s synopsis centers around Bae Seok Ryu’s efforts to restart her life and the complex history she shares with Choi Seung Hyo.


Classified as a dramatic romantic comedy, ‘Love Next Door’ has generally been appreciated for its lighter, entertaining nature. However, the series’ latest episode took an unexpected and dark turn that has left many viewers dismayed. In Episode 8, the plot takes a shocking twist when Bae Seok Ryu experiences severe stomach pains, leading to the revelation that she had been suffering from stomach cancer in the U.S., which resulted in the removal of 70% of her stomach.
The sudden and severe nature of this plot development has stirred up a significant backlash. Many fans are upset by the abrupt introduction of such a life-threatening illness, drawing uncomfortable comparisons to the cancer subplot in ‘Queen of Tears’. In that series, a similar cancer diagnosis was added during a critical reconciliation phase between the main couple. The parallels between the two shows have only fueled the viewers' frustration. The abruptness and gravity of the new twist in 'Love Next Door' have led some viewers to express their frustration openly, with a notable number considering abandoning the show altogether due to this unsettling development.