Perfect Neighbor: 16 Years of Love and reality (1)

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