‘Love Next Door’ Episode 8: Bae Seok Ryu's Cancer Reveal Sparks Controversy
The K-drama "Love Next Door" has introduced the latest plot twist, which concerns the stomach cancer of Bae Seok Ryu, played by Jung So Min.
It was disclosed in Episode 8, which aired on the 8th of September.
EPISODE 8 ENDING!!!
— 크리스티안 아베니도 (@AvenidoStem) September 8, 2024
THE THEORY ABOUT SEOKRYU BEING SICK IS ACTUALLY TRUE!
SEOKRYU HAS STAGE 2 STOMACH CANCER 3 YEARS AGO!!!!
70% OF THE TUMOR HAS ACTUALLY BEEN REMOVED AND SHE'S STILL UNDERWENT CHEMOTHERAPY???#엄마친구아들#LoveNextDoor#LoveNextDoorEp8 pic.twitter.com/m9xxXT9wGm
According to the episode's narration, Bae Seok Ryu slightly faints while cooking because of severe abdominal pains.
Two days before that event, she visited the company owned by Choi Seung Hyo.
The situation becomes tense because Seung Hyo is seemingly jealous of Song Hyun Joon, who comes to discuss the construction of a villa owned by his parents.
Seok Ryu shares the food she had cooked with the two men but suddenly faints afterward.
Choi Seung Hyo tries to take her to the hospital, but she asks Hyun Joon for help.
In the emergency room, Seok Ryu tells the doctors,
"Three years ago, I had surgery in the US; I was diagnosed with stage 2 stomach cancer, 70% of the tumor in my stomach was removed, and I went through chemo."
SEE: Tragic Ending For 'Love Next Door'? Fans Point Out 4 Tell-Tale Signs Seok Ryu is Sick and Dying
Introducing such a thrilling event in the relatively trivial romantic comedy has attracted the earnest attention of the fans, and now, they highly discuss it in Reddit's r/KDRAMA.
Many people are worried that such a serious disease has been inculcated in a comedy that was supposed to be light-hearted.
An original post read:
(Photo : reddit)
One user commented, "I feel like Seok Ryu's storyline didn't need to involve cancer. They could've been more grounded about her mental health struggles instead".
Some commentators have expressed their thoughts about the twist of events in general, "I wanted a feel-good, lovely runner show. I do not need all this drama and anticipation."
However, many fans suppose that such a complication may make the series more intriguing and expand the palette of the events hypothetically depicted in it.
One of the users writes, "If they focused on more grounded, emotional struggles from the start, this drama could've been top-tier."
Judging by the previews for upcoming episodes, the relationship between Seung Hyo and Seok Ryu is becoming tense.
In one scene, Seung Hyo appears to say, "How could you not tell me about this? Am I that unimportant to you?"
"Love Next Door" continues to air new episodes on tvN and Netflix. As the series progresses, viewers' reactions to this narrative shift remain varied.
