Love Next Door Episode 9 Review: Dark Secrets, Deep Confessions, Broken Hearts

In Episode 8 of Love Next Door, Seung-hyo finally confesses his feelings to Seok-ryu, leading to a mix of humorous and emotional moments as both struggle to deal with their newfound romantic tension. Seok-ryu reflects on her long-held affection for Seung-hyo, while they humorously set a deadline for her response using expiration dates from convenience store products. Meanwhile, Dan-ho gains insight into the life of paramedics as he shadows them for an article, while Hyeon-jun continues to pursue Seok-ryu under the guise of discussing work.

Tensions rise when Seok-ryu collapses from stomach pain, leading to the revelation that her career break three years ago was due to a secret battle with stomach cancer. This bombshell leaves Seung-hyo heartbroken and viewers on edge, wondering how this will affect Seok-ryu’s relationships moving forward.

Starring Jung Hae-in and Jung So-min, the series is helmed by director Yoo Je-won and penned by Shin Ha-eun.

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Love Next Door Episode 9 Recap

The episode opens with a heartwarming yet bittersweet flashback of Seok-ryu and Hyeon-jun’s past relationship. It takes us back to the moment when Hyeon-jun romantically proposed to Seok-ryu, marking a time when they were filled with hope for their future together. However, this happiness was short-lived as Seok-ryu soon discovered that she had stomach cancer, casting a shadow over their relationship. Hyeon-jun, showing his deep love and commitment, decided to take a leave of absence from work to stay by her side and help her through her cancer treatment.

Back in the present, we see Seok-ryu refusing to leave with Hyeon-jun after a hospital visit. Instead, Seung-hyo arrives to pick her up, unaware of her illness and the reason for her stomach pain. She chooses to keep her cancer a secret from Seung-hyo and struggles with the weight of her decision, just as she once did with her mother in an earlier flashback. Seung-hyo, meanwhile, feels hurt and confused, wondering why Seok-ryu leans on Hyeon-jun instead of him during this challenging time. He confides in Mo-eun, who herself is beginning to develop feelings for Dan-ho, complicating their dynamic even further.

The next day, Seok-ryu finds herself in the middle of a family disagreement over her decision to pursue a career in cooking, causing further strain. At the same time, a minor domestic problem—her parents’ broken washing machine—unexpectedly brings Seung-hyo’s parents together, offering a brief moment of lightheartedness. Later, Seok-ryu meets with Hyeon-jun again, who makes a second proposal, hoping to rekindle their relationship and start fresh. That night, Seok-ryu turns down Seung-hyo’s romantic feelings but leaves him clinging to the hope that she may reconsider.

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Elsewhere, Ma-eum’s admiration for Dan-ho grows as she rereads his moving article about paramedics. Unbeknownst to her, Dan-ho is beginning to feel the same way. However, Seung-hyo continues to struggle with sleepless nights, still reeling from Seok-ryu’s rejection. Things at his company also take a troubling turn when construction is halted due to a disgruntled neighbor demanding compensation in exchange for halting his complaints. The situation worsens when the necessary documents for the construction project mysteriously go missing, adding to Seung-hyo’s stress.

As Seung-hyo’s personal and professional life spirals, he reluctantly accepts an invitation from Mi-suk to have dinner. However, the tension between him and Seok-ryu remains palpable, and when she turns him down yet again, it only deepens his confusion. Alone in her room, Seok-ryu reflects on the emotional toll her cancer treatment took on her, not just physically but also in her relationship with Hyeon-jun. Despite her earlier suspicions, it’s revealed that Hyeon-jun didn’t cheat on her but instead buckled under the pressure of dealing with her illness.

When Hyeon-jun proposes again, Seok-ryu responds with a heartbreaking rejection signaling her intention to move on and focus on her ambitions. She decides it’s best to keep Seung-hyo in the dark about her condition, not wanting to burden him with her struggles. The following day, Dan-ho enlists Ma-eum’s help to look after Yeon-du when her babysitter has an emergency. Meanwhile, Dong-jin, eager to boost his fitness influencer career, promotes an unauthorized product and faces backlash from his trainer. At Seung-hyo’s company, tensions ease when the company assists the troublesome neighbor with repairs, but the stress takes a toll on Seung-hyo, leaving him bedridden.

In a feverish dream, Seung-hyo recalls how Seok-ryu had always taken care of him when he was sick. He wakes to find Seok-ryu by his side, once again tending to him. Hurt and overwhelmed, he asks her to leave, telling her he can’t continue their friendship, but as she goes, he finds a hospital report in her bag and learns the devastating truth about her cancer. This revelation sparks a deeply emotional confrontation between the two, which only intensifies when their mothers also find out about Seok-ryu’s illness, leaving everyone shaken by the news.

Love Next Door Episode 9 Review

The episode delves deep into the emotional complexities of Seok-ryu’s relationships, blending heartache with moments of warmth and introspection. The flashback to Seok-ryu and Hyeon-jun’s past romance sets a bittersweet tone, contrasting their once-hopeful relationship with the harsh reality of Seok-ryu’s battle with stomach cancer. Hyeon-jun’s unwavering support during her treatment highlights his love, but the present-day tension with Seung-hyo adds layers of emotional conflict. Seok-ryu’s struggle to keep her illness a secret, while balancing her feelings for both men, creates an emotional storm that pulls viewers into her world of pain, hope, and resilience.

The episode also injects moments of levity, such as Dan-ho’s growing bond with Ma-eum and Seung-hyo’s humorous post-confession anxiety, while contrasting these with heavier, more poignant moments of rejection and discovery. The climactic scene, where Seung-hyo uncovers Seok-ryu’s illness through her hospital report, heightens the emotional intensity, leading to a gut-wrenching confrontation. The addition of family tensions, professional setbacks, and new romantic developments adds complexity to an already compelling narrative, making this episode a significant turning point in the series.

Love Next Door is streaming on Netflix.

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