Summary
I have always enjoyedJung Hae-in’s approach to acting, and his upcomingK-dramamight be one of his most exciting career moves yet. From his debut in the 2014 TV showBride of the Centuryto his recent appearance in one ofNetflix’s best K-dramas,D.P., Jung Hae-in has proven there is no role he cannot handle. He has been praised for his intense acting skills and detailed restraint, which havemade him a highly sought-after actor in the industry. However, there is something about his upcoming role that makes me excited about his future career.
Jung Hae-in began to spark attention in 2016 with his appearance in one of thebest K-dramas of all time,Goblin. His role as Ji Eun-tak’s (Kim Go-eun) first love made a big impression, despite only being on-screen for two episodes. Four years later,Jung Hae-in’s role as Seo Joon-hee inSomething in the Rainwould begin his formidable career as a leading man in K-dramasand show his true talents as an actor. While he has many great roles to his name, I cannot wait to see how Jung Hae-in fairs in his return to a well-beloved K-drama genre.
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Love Next Door Is Jung Hae-in First Rom-com In 7 Years
He Starred as Han Woo-tak In While You Were Sleeping in 2017
Jung Hae-in’s return to romantic comedies has been long awaited. Jung’s most recent role in the genre came in 2017’sWhile You Were Sleeping, where he starred as the second male lead alongside Bae Suzy and Lee Jong-suk. His role as Han Woo-tak remains one of my favorites to date, as he provided the bright and supportive energy that the K-drama needed with such a potentially dark concept. Plus, the air of mystery surrounding Woo-tak made his character even more interesting, though I was certainly relieved that he didn’t play into the evil second-lead trope.
Though it’s a shame that Jung Hae-in didn’t get to explore a more romantic side inWhile You Were Sleeping, I’m sure his newest K-drama will amend that.Love Next Doorwill see Jung Hae-in play architect Choi Seung-hyowhose life is thrown upside down thanks to the return of his childhood friend, Bae Seok-ryu (Jung So-min), after she quits her career. The K-drama also marks the reunion of director, Yoo Je-won and screenwriter, Shin Ha-eun, whose previous rom-com,Hometown Cha Cha Cha,has seen great success in an over-saturated genre.
Yun Ji-on
Kang Dan-oh
Jung So-min is already a force of nature with a proven track record in portraying romance and comedy, withAlchemy of SoulsandBecause This Is My First Lifebeing two highlights of her career. So, as a big rom-com fan, her casting could not have been more perfect for such a seemingly chaotic role. However,Jung Hae-in’s addition to the cast gives it an exciting new edge. Especially as his appearance in the K-drama will reverse a lot of the roles that have made him famous.
Jung Hae-in’s Most Recent K-Dramas Have Either Been Dramatic Or Romantic
He Continues To Show A Great Range Within These Genres
Since his breakout role inWhile You Were Sleeping, Jung Hae-in’s career has grown from strength to strength. Fromaction-packed K-dramasto subdued romances,Jung Hae-in has not seemed to shy away from any kind of performanceand has made his ten-year career a great one to follow. However, despite this, his roles can easily be grouped into darker and more dramatic roles or ones that follow a more romantic storyline in a melodrama setting.
Something in the Rain(2018)
While You Were Sleeping(2017)
Han Woo-tak
The best example of one of Jung Hae-in’s darker roles comes from the critically acclaimedD.P., which coincidentally acted as a turning point in his career.Jung’s performance as the soldier An Jun-ho has been praised for his intensity in such a high-tension concept, that depicts Jun-ho’s call to action as he captures deserters from the South Korean army. Other similarly dark roles includePrison Playbook, where he played a commanding officer framed for murder, andConnect, where he took on the role of the immortal Ha Dong-soo.
Love Next Doorwill air globally on Netflix on August 17th, 2024 after airing on TVN in South Korea.
Jung Hae-in’s portrayal of North Korean soldier Lim Soo-ho inSnowdropis also dark, but it also shows one of his biggest strengths - his portrayal of romance. FromSomething in the RaintoA Piece of Your Mind, Jung Hae-in proves how delicate he can be as an actor. As such, this makes his strides into the romantic world some of my favorites, as the actor can deliver bright yet detailed performances that enhance slower-paced narratives. Jung Hae-in’s chemistry with his co-stars is always off the charts and I cannot wait to see how he tackles romance in a comedy setting.
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Why Love Next Door Is An Exciting Change For Jung Hae-in’s Career
It’s His First Rom-Com In A Leading Role
Throughout Jung Hae-in’s career, he has shown pockets of comedy talent, such as in the 2019 comedy movieStart-up. Yet, seeing him take on a leading role in a rom-com for the very first time is something that I certainly don’t want to miss.Romantic comedies are one of the most popular K-drama genresand have a timeless appeal thanks to their lighthearted approach to life and romance. Some of2024’s best K-dramashave been romantic comedies, withLovely RunnerandDoctor Slumpbeing some of the best examples, and Jung Hae-in’s new K-drama looks to join their ranks.
Jung Hae-in and Jung So-min’s chaotic energy seems to be a well-suited match.
Though it isn’t obvious howLove Next Doorwill pan out, it has grabbed my attention as a big rom-comK-dramafan. Jung Hae-in and Jung So-min’s chaotic energy seems to be a well-suited match and already gives me flashes of some of thebest friends-to-lovers K-dramas, includingFight For My WayandOur Beloved Summer. Whatever the case, this role is a welcome change of pace inJung Hae-in’s career and I genuinely could not be more excited to see a side of him that I have not seen in such a long time.
