Love Next Door: On August 23, 2024, tvN unveiled a series of stills from their ongoing drama Love Next Door, sparking discussions among fans who quickly drew comparisons with scenes from Lovely Runner, another tvN Kdrama that aired earlier this year in April. The new drama has captivated audiences, and some fans on X couldn't help but point out the visual and thematic similarities between the two shows.

Lovely Runner made waves earlier this year, garnering immense popularity despite its modest viewership ratings. The drama, starring Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon, received praise from both fans and critics, contributing significantly to Byeon Woo-seok's rise to stardom and further solidifying Kim Hye-yoon's reputation in the industry. The storyline, which revolves around Ryu Sun-jae, a former swimmer turned singer and actor and Im Sol, his devoted fan, struck a chord with viewers, making it one of the standout dramas of the year.

Fans of Love Next Door have pointed out similarities between the male protagonists in both dramas—Byeon Woo-seok in Lovely Runner and Jung Hae-in in Love Next Door—noting that both characters are swimmers. This detail has fueled further comparisons, with fans flocking to social media to discuss the connections between the two shows. An Umbrella and the Kdrama leads are now inseparable, so we can safely ignore this similarity between Love Next Door and Lovely Runner. Plus, the two leads of Love Next Door and Lovely Runner after the time capsule have to be noted too!

HAVE A LOOK:

LOVE NEXT DOOR and DOCTOR SLUMP:

Fans have also compared Bae Seok Ryu's wish to be "happily unemployed" to the themes of the Kdrama Doctor Slump starring Park Shin Hye and Park Hyung Sik.

LOVE NEXT DOOR AND QUEEN OF TEARS:

Fans have noticed similarities between Love Next Door and Queen of Tears, even though their themes and plots are entirely different. The one common element is the use of "ceiling star radium stickers." These stickers were used in Hong Hae In and Baek Hyun Woo's to-be child's room, as well as in Bae Seok Ryu's room when she was younger.

Lovely Runner, based on the web novel Tomorrow's Best, is a time-travel romance that follows Ryu Sun-jae, who finds himself entangled in a life-altering twist of fate when Im Sol is transported 15 years back in time. The drama explores themes of love, destiny, and the complexities of altering the past, making it a memorable watch for fans of the genre.

Meanwhile, Love Next Door centres on Bae Seok Ryu, a woman who returns to Korea after facing significant challenges in her career and love life. She reconnects with Choi Seung Hyo, a childhood acquaintance who has grown into a successful architect and CEO. The romantic-comedy drama, written and directed by the team behind Hometown Cha Cha, stars Jung Hae-in as Choi Seung Hyo and Jung So-min as Bae Seok Ryu.

As fans continue to draw parallels between Love Next Door and other 2024 hit dramas like Lovely Runner, Doctor Slump and Queen of Tears, the comparisons highlight the recurring themes and character arcs that resonate with viewers across different series.

Both Love Next Door and Lovely Runner are available for streaming on popular platforms, with Lovely Runner streaming on TVING in South Korea, U-Next in Japan, Vidio in Indonesia and globally on Viki, Viu and Netflix. Love Next Door premiered on August 17, 2024, and airs new episodes every Saturday and Sunday at 09:20 PM (KST) on tvN, with streaming available on Netflix in select regions. Doctor Slump and Queen of Tears are also available for streaming on Netflix.

Also Read: Love Next Door Episode 3-4: What To Expect Next In Jung Hae In-Jung So Min's Netflix Kdrama

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