Love Your Enemy – K-drama Episode 10 Recap & Review

Episode 10

Episode 10 of Love Next Door begins with Yoon Ji-won running away from the man. In a flashback, we learn that Ji-won had been his junior at a company where she accidentally witnessed him sexually harassing another employee. She intervened to protect the victim and even filed a lawsuit against him, only for the employee to back out. Ji-won ended up leaving the company and faced a defamation lawsuit herself. Soon after, her parents passed away, leaving her under immense pressure.

Back in the present, Ji-won decides to return home instead of meeting Seok Ji-won. The next day, Mun-soo, who had seen Ji-won with the man, promises to keep it a secret from her grandfather and Seok Ji-won.

Seok Ji-won grows suspicious of Ji-won’s behavior until he also encounters the man. In a flashback, we discover that Seok Ji-won had been following Yoon Ji-won even after their breakup and had witnessed the argument between her and the man years ago. He had even punched the man at the time. In the present, the man, who turns out to be Jeong-yul’s father, approaches Seok Ji-won to talk about his daughter and her altercation with Hae-su. However, Seok Ji-won defends Yoon Ji-won and refuses to let the man meet her, frustrating him further.

Meanwhile, Cha Ji-hye finds an old essay written by Yoon Ji-won, in which she expressed her desire to be an upholder of justice. Ji-hye gives it to her, and this glimpse of her younger self motivates Ji-won to face her fears.

Later in the day, Seok Ji-won’s latest proposal attempt is thwarted when Jae-ho interrupts the couple before they can leave for their date. The two then try to convince Jae-ho to approve their relationship. He eventually agrees after sharing how he and Yoon Ji-won had struggled following her parents’ death. Seok Ji-won ends up spending the night at the Yoons’ house, sharing a room with Jae-ho.

Elsewhere, it is revealed that Gyung-hoon embezzled money while serving as the school’s director and used it to purchase land near the future golf course. This explains his support for Seok Ji-won’s father while deceiving Jae-ho.

We also learn that Jeong-yul changed schools to escape his father, a known adulterer. Yoon Ji-won overhears a conversation between them and later confronts the man. When he tries to attack her, Seok Ji-won intervenes and puts him in his place.

Meanwhile, Soo-ah finally talks to Dr. Hong, and Hae-su witnesses their conversation. The misunderstanding about the viral photo of Hae-su and Dr. Hong is cleared up without exposing their relationship. Hae-su’s friends and even Jeong-yul confess to being present when the photo was taken.

Later, while on a date, Seok Ji-won realizes he left the engagement ring at the Yoon house, prompting the couple to return to retrieve it while Jae-ho is away. However, Seok Ji-won hides in the attic when Jae-ho unexpectedly returns. After Jae-ho leaves, Yoon Ji-won joins Seok Ji-won in the attic and reveals she had found the ring while cleaning Jae-ho’s room. Seok Ji-won decides the moment has come and takes out the ring, but Yoon Ji-won ends up finishing his proposal as the episode concludes.

The Episode Review

This episode provides minor developments in a recycled rom-com plot, but we finally gain a better understanding of Ji-won’s past. However, the backstory of the two Ji-wons’ love story remains a patchy mix of flashbacks that fail to add significant depth to their characters.

Many supporting characters’ arcs have taken a backseat in this week’s episodes—Soo-ah and Ji-hye, in particular, feel like shadows in the two Ji-wons’ love story, offering little to the plot and barely appearing on screen.

As we approach the finale week, the focus has shifted to the simmering issue of the golf course and Gyung-hoon’s betrayal of Jae-ho. This seems to be building up as the central antagonistic moment and the final obstacle to the couple’s happy ending in the episodes to come.