Park Sihoo Dramas

Coming a long way since 16 years ago

CELEBRATING THE 16th ANNIVERSARY OF PARK SIHOO-SSI’S “HOW TO MEET A PERFECT NEIGHBOR”! 

庆祝施厚君的“遇见完美邻居的方法”第16周年！

Yesterday, we celebrated the 16th anniversary of Park Sihoo-ssi’s “How to Meet a Perfect Neighbor”. This was the drama that saw the table turn on the lead actor and he lost his leading lady to this relatively unknown rookie!

We shared Part One of a news feature that ran on the drama.  Today, we continue with the second part.

Turning the table to take on some of the shine

Part Two: News feature on “How to Meet a Perfect Neighbor”, 25 September 2007, Courtesy Translation by ParkSihooSsi.com

…Continued from Part One

Why a melo needed a mystery

The reason why this drama did not get stuck in the boredom of a typical melodrama material was because while it was the same material it was used differently. The drama used these materials to explore the minute details of human relationships. The drama introduced a new element of mystery as a side story to the lively atmosphere among neighbors.

Choice between love and reality

The drama exposed the extreme situation of murder at one end of a relationship and looked into the reverse side of the neighbors’ relationships through the detectives investigating the case. It revealed the secrets of people you think you know, and raised the question “Do you really know these people?”

From the time the element of mystery was introduced, this drama which had been packaged as a romance started to increase its tension. When someone you know became a completely different person or reacted differently, viewers who watched the drama will be surprised by the betrayal and get a perspective of what the drama wanted to present. The problem would be when the melo plot is overemphasized. When Joonseok made a “mistress proposal” to Yoori with tears in his eyes, the audience’s opinions were mixed, because they were more attracted by the love between melo and reality.

A drama about human relationships and emotions

Have you met your perfect neighbor?

If Joonseok and Yoori’s love story were good, the audience should be satisfied. But if you only watch that part, you will only be watching half of this drama. As the writer revealed in the drama presentation at the launch, Baek Soochan is the most important character as he was the perfect neighbor. Compared to the love line of Joonseok and Yoori, what was more important was the “human touch” as presented by the character Baek Soochan.  Although he was a “swallow” in the beginning, Soochan, who had the advantage of a swallow (being able to guess what was on the other person’s mind), was the perfect neighbor in the second half who understood every move of his neighbors.

Rookie made good

That was because he met a woman called Jung Yoori but gave up his love for this woman. Instead, he made a more humane choice to be a friend and neighbor to her. This was also the message that the writer wanted to convey to the audience. Although it was a difficult choice made by Soochan, at least the audience resonated that this drama went beyond a romantic drama. The love that the characters showed in the last episode as non-possessive (not only Soochan but also Joonseok) was enough to gain sympathy.

Met your perfect neighbor yet?

Did you meet the perfect neighbor through this drama? The drama wasn’t  about “the perfect way to meet a man or woman,” but “the perfect way to meet a neighbor.” From the point of view of choosing neighbors instead of love, the drama transcended the love between men and women, and presented the greater human love.

That is, it depicted love and reality at the same time. This romantic drama seemed more like a social drama for this reason. Whether the experiment in this romantic drama will be successful was still in doubt. But regardless of whether it is successful or not, there was no doubt that the attempt itself was meaningful.

Instagram Reel Video – Park Sihoo: Perfect Neighbor: 16 Years of Love and reality (2), 26 July 2023

Sixteen years of being a perfect neighbor

CELEBRATING THE 16th ANNIVERSARY OF PARK SIHOO-SSI’S “HOW TO MEET A PERFECT NEIGHBOR”! 

庆祝施厚君的“遇见完美邻居的方法”第16周年！

Back on 25 July 2027, SBS released a new drama “How to Meet a Perfect Neighbor”.  Park Sihoo-ssi was then a rookie actor who had a secondary role in the drama. However, this drama saw the table turn on the lead actor and he lost his leading lady to this relatively unknown rookie!

And today, we celebrate the 16th anniversary of “How to Meet a Perfect Neighbor”. It saw the emergence of our Oppa Park Sihoo from being a rookie to take on some of the shine of the drama.

On the lighter side

Happy 16th anniversary, Park Sihoo-ssi, your character Yoo Joonseok and the cast and crew of “How to Meet a Perfect Neighbor”!

And on this anniversary, we share a news feature on the drama from a long time ago. As it was a long interview, we will do it in two parts. Sorry, no time for Chinese translation, so please use the translator located on the right column of the page.

Rookie made good

Part One: News feature on “How to Meet a Perfect Neighbor”, 25 September 2007, Courtesy Translation by ParkSihooSsi.com

On the surface, “How to Meet a Perfect Neighbor” is a typical melodrama. It centred around Baek Soochan (played by Kim Seungwoo; Nance: This is the husband of Kim Namjoo, the female lead in “Queen of Reversals”), Jung Yoori (played by Bae Doona), Yoo Joonseok (played by Park Sihoo) and Ko Emi (played by Min Jihye) in a typical four-corner love.

Choice between love and reality

The love story of a second generation chaebol Yoo Joonseok and his ordinary secretary Jung Yoori. Their love was hindered by Ko Emi, who was blinded by desire and jealousy. There were also secrets of extramarital affairs and births that were often familiar in romantic melodramas.

However, strangely enough, why was it that a melodrama with such a typical framework rated as “fresh”? It was like even with the same ingredients, depending on the mixing method, the taste could be completely different. Writer Jung Jiwoo’s seasoning added flavor for a different romantic melodrama. Unlike its synopsis, this drama was not just a love story, but expanded to a level closer to human love dramas.

Brilliant performance from a rookie

Transcended  boundaries through love

The melo line was not buried in the typical melodrama frame because of the character Baek Soochan. In the typical melo line, Baek Soochan built a unique name for friendship. When he puts love coolly into friendship, the competition disappears. Jun-seok said, “Hyung.”

The reason why this four-cornered love line was not buried in the framework of a typical romantic drama was because of the Baek Soochan character. In a typical love story, Baek Soochan created a unique name under the headline of “friendship”. When he put love aside coolly and turn this into friendship, competition disappeared. Baek Soochan really cherished Jung Yoori as a friend that even Joonseok was moved. Joonseok said, “There will be a place for elder brother (“hyung”). It would be great if there were such an elder brother (‘hyung”).”

Human relationship was a central theme

Although it was a typical love storyline between second generation chaebol Yoo Joonseok and his secretary Jung Yoori , it also brought out the unusual “mistress proposal” in the drama. This proposal was not sudden. The fact that the Chairman’s mistress Young Sooyeon was killed showed that the “mistress proposal” was set from the early stage of the drama. That the mistress’ son Joonseok also raised a “mistress proposal” was ironical.

Extramarital affairs were used only to show the situation rather than to make them seem exciting, so this is different from the typical development of other melodramas. The secret of Ko Emi’s birth was different from other dramas. Ko Emi was actually the child of the Chairman and his mistress Young Sooyoung. She got something through her secret birth, and the person involved with  her didn’t even know the secret.

…to be continued.

Instagram Reel Video – Park Sihoo: Perfect Neighbor: 16 Years of Love and reality (1), 25 July 2023

Credits – Many thanks! SBS “How to Meet a Perfect Neighbor”, Pinterest, ParkSihooSsi.com, ParkSihooHongKong.com