The series aired on tvN from January 7 to February 26, 2013, on Mondays and Tuesdays at 23:00 (KST) time slot for 16 episodes. Directed by Jung Jung-hwa (who previously helmed Flower Boy Ramyun Shop) and written by movie screenwriter Kim Eun-jung (Gabi, Hwang Jin-yi), it is the third installment of cable channel tvN's "Oh! Boy" series of Flower Boy programming targeted at the teenage demographic.
Synopsis
Go Dok-mi (in Korean, literally "lonely beauty")(played by Park Shin-hye) is a shy, frugal freelance copy editor who refuses to leave her apartment or interact with people as much as possible. Every day, using a pair of binoculars, she steals peeks at her neighbor across the street, Han Tae-joon, as he goes through his daily morning routine. She had fallen in love with Tae-joon at first sight, after witnessing him pick up a puppy in a box and taking it home. When she looked out her window and saw him living in the apartment opposite hers, she thought of it as fate.
Webtoon artist Oh Jin-rak (Kim Ji-hoon) lives in the same apartment building as Dok-mi. He has been in love with Dok-mi for ages, and anonymously leaves a carton of milk with a post-it attached by her door every day. He created a webtoon with his drawing partner Oh Dong-hoon (Go Kyung-pyo), titled "Flower Boy Next Door", based on Dok-mi's life as well as his desire to draw her out into the world.
Enrique Geum (Yoon Shi-yoon), a genius video game developer, arrives in Seoul from Spain. His reason for coming is "cupid's arrow". Though he's in love with his best friend Yoon Seo-young (Kim Yoon-hye), she has feelings instead for his older cousin, Han Tae-joon, so he intends to play cupid for the two. That same day, a new neighbor Watanabe Ryu moves into the apartment across to Dok-mi and Jin-rak.
When Enrique comes to stay at Tae-joon's apartment, he catches Dok-mi in the act. Naturally curious and inquisitive, Enrique decides to find out the reason why Dok-mi is living in recluse. Meanwhile, Jin-rak is threatened by Enrique's sudden intrusion into Dok-mi's life.
With all these new men suddenly entering her life, Dok-mi's solitary and orderly world is turned upside down.
Cast
Main
Park Shin-hye as Go Dok-mi
A modern Rapunzel, she has locked herself up in her "tower" to hide from the world. Yoon Shi-yoon as Enrique Geum A genius who developed a wildly successful video game at 17, he is fun-loving, talkative, bohemian and can't get enough of soccer. Kim Ji-hoon as Oh Jin-rak/Oh Jae-won A rookie webtoon artist, he is attractive despite his difficult and stubborn personality. He is in love with Dok-mi.
Supporting
Go Kyung-pyo as Oh Dong-hoon
Jin-rak's roommate and drawing partner who freeloads off him, and is known around the neighborhood for his chic looks and wiles. Park Soo-jin as Cha Do-hwi A businesswoman who runs a shopping mall. She projects an elegant, easygoing image, but her friendliness doesn't extend to Dok-mi, whom she bullied in high school. She falls in love with Jin-rak and tries to win his heart. Her childhood best friend was Go Dok-mi while in elementary school. Kim Yoon-hye as Yoon Seo-young Enrique's best friend and first love. She is a free spirit who throws herself wholeheartedly after something she wants. Kim Jung-san as Han Tae-joon Enrique's older cousin. He has a complicated relationship with Seo-young, and is liked from afar by Dok-mi. Mizuta Kouki as Watanabe Ryu The new Japanese neighbor who came to Korea to learn the cuisine. Kim Seul-gi as Kim Seul-gi Jin-rak and Dong-hoon's webtoon editor and the deputy manager of the Contents Development team.
Special appearances
Lee Jong-hyuk as Hongdae guru (ep. 1) Park Se-young as new artist who's similar to Dok-mi (ep. 16)
Original soundtrack
Flower Boys Next Door (Title) - 이크거북
Ready-Merry-Go! - Romantic Punch
Talkin' Bout Love - J Rabbit
I Wish It Was You - Lee Jung
Pitch Black - Park Shin-hye
I Want to Date You - Yoon Shi-yoon
Memories of That Day - 이크거북
I Wake Up Because of You - Kim Seul-gi feat. Go Kyung-pyo
Look at Me - Son Ho-young
Pitch Black (Acoustic ver.) - Park Shin-hye
I Wish It Was You (Inst.) Talkin' Bout Love (Inst.) I Want to Date You (Inst.) I Wake Up Because of You (Inst.) Ready-Merry-Go! (Inst.) About Her (That Woman's Story Theme) - 이크거북
Ratings
In this table, represent the lowest ratings and represent the highest ratings.