The hit drama Love Next Door continues to shine, securing a spot in Netflix's global non-English TOP 10 for three straight weeks.

According to Netflix's global TOP 10 series rankings (non-English) released on September 4, covering the period from August 26 to September 1, the tvN drama Love Next Door (written by Shin Ha Eun and directed by Yoo Je Won) ranked 5th worldwide.

As of September 3, the show has also entered the TOP 10 in 65 countries according to FlixPatrol, a global OTT platform ranking service. It even claimed the number 1 spot in 9 countries, including Brazil, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Nigeria.

The drama has been receiving praise from international media. The American entertainment outlet Screen Rant highlighted Love Next Door as "a work that showcases Jung So Min's comedic strengths," adding that "Jung So Min makes the conflict between Seung Hyo and Seok Ryoo one of the best moments in K-dramas."

Singapore's largest daily, The Straits Times, called it "binge-worthy," pointing out "a strong lead cast, not just romance but themes of family and friendship, along with its fast-paced and realistic narrative" as key reasons for its appeal. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post described it as "a vibrant healing rom-com."

Currently airing on tvN, Love Next Door is breaking its own viewership records each week, consistently topping its time slot. The sixth episode, which aired on September 1, achieved an average nationwide household rating of 6.8%, peaking at 7.6%. In the Seoul metropolitan area, it recorded an average of 7.6%, with a peak of 8.4%.

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Lee Jun Young recently opened up about the emotional toll of playing a villain—and how one powerful scene made him break down in tears behind the scenes.

On the May 1st episode of KBS 2TV’s variety show Problem Child in House, Lee Jun Young appeared alongside co-star Jung Eun Ji to promote their new KBS drama Pump Up the Healthy Love.

During the show, Lee Jun Young was asked about the most unforgettable villain he’s played. He chose his role as Han Su Gang in the film Brave Citizen.

He explained, “It was really tough to film. I had to act like I was leading school violence, and there was even a scene where I bullied a grandmother.”

The hosts were surprised, pointing out how kind and gentle he seems in real life. Lee Jun Young shared how he transforms for such roles.

“I try to act as bad as I can, but sometimes the director says, ‘You still look too nice.’ Then I focus even harder and adjust right away.”

He also revealed that filming one particular scene hit him hard emotionally. “My real grandmother was sick at the time,” he said.

“In one scene, there’s a grandma selling gimbap, and I ad-libbed by stubbing a cigarette out on the gimbap. I was really into character, but after filming, I just broke down. So many thoughts came to me and I started crying.”

Fans praised his dedication to acting but also felt moved by how deeply the role affected him. Lee Jun Young’s honesty gave a raw look at how even fictional roles can hit close to home.

Source: [1]