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.

  • Love Next Door Episode 9 Runtime

  • Love Next Door Kdrama Cast

    Jung Hae-in, Jung So-min, Kim Ji-eun, Yun Ji-on, Park Ji-young, Cho Han-cheul, Jang Young-nam, Lee Seung-jun, Jun Suk-ho, Kim Kum-soon, Han Ye-ju, Lee Seung-hyub, Sim So-young

  • Love Next Door Release Time

    8 PM IST (Saturday – Sunday)

  • Love Next Door Native Title

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

– Spoilers –

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.

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Love Next Door Episode 9 Review

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.

Also read: Romance in the House Episode 11 Review: Moo-jin’s Big Reveal!

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Love Next Door Episode 9 Review

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.

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Love Next Door Episode 9 Review

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.

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Love Next Door Episode 9 Review

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.

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Love Next Door Episode 9 Review

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.

Also read: My Name is Gabriel Episode 11 Review: Dex Wooes the Parents While Gabee Excites the Crowd!