Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 3 hrs ago
‘Between Steps’ brings everyday romance to a university research lab
ENA’s drama ‘Between Steps’ follows young people finding their way through romance and adulthood.
Robotics doctoral student Min-jae, played by Choo Young-woo, has never been in a relationship and lives with a disability after losing a leg to bone cancer.
His junior colleague Yu-jin, played by Kim So-hyun, pursues him, and the two gradually grow closer.
The story unfolds in a university research lab, where the characters face career worries as well as personal relationships.
The series is the final work of director Ahn Pan-seok, who died in August, and reflects his approach of building emotion through everyday exchanges rather than sensational events.
It ranked first in Korea and fifth globally in Disney+’s TV show category, according to FlixPatrol.
Love does not solve every problem in the story: Yu-jin encourages Min-jae to pursue his future, even when he considers giving up a US postdoctoral opportunity because of their relationship.
“Between Steps” follows the awkward romance and personal growth of young people in a university research lab.
The ENA drama stars Choo Young-woo as doctoral student Min-jae and Kim So-hyun as junior researcher Yu-jin.
It portrays romance through everyday interactions and avoids fantasy elements and wealthy corporate heirs, reflecting director Ahn Pan-seok’s style.
The series ranked No. 1 in Korea and No. 5 globally in the Disney+ TV show category, according to FlixPatrol.
Ahn, who died in August 2026, directed the series as his final work.
- Who
- The drama’s central characters are robotics doctoral student Min-jae and junior researcher Yu-jin, played by Choo Young-woo and Kim So-hyun.
- What
- Between Steps” depicts young researchers’ romance, relationships and struggles over their futures.
- When
- Published October 30, 2026. The series is described as an ENA Monday-Tuesday drama.
- Where
- In a university graduate research lab; the drama is on ENA and ranked in the Disney+ TV show category.
- Why
- Director Ahn Pan-seok used everyday interactions to portray romance and young people’s growth realistically.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Min-jae lost a leg to bone cancer and gave up his dream of becoming a swimmer.
Director Ahn Pan-seok died; “Between Steps” was his final work.
Min-jae receives an email offering him a postdoctoral position at a U.S. university.
The Korea Times published its article about the drama.
- Series
- Between Steps
- Network
- ENA
- Min-jae
- Robotics doctoral student, played by Choo Young-woo
- Yu-jin
- Junior researcher, played by Kim So-hyun
- Ranking
- No. 1 in Korea and No. 5 globally in the Disney+ TV show category, according to FlixPatrol
- Director
- Ahn Pan-seok, who died in August 2026
What people are saying
An engineering research lab is a place where people find studying the easiest thing to do and romance the hardest
I think he wanted to capture the amusing irony of these characters growing through relationships
Ordinary words — one, two, three — accumulate, and then, in the silence that follows, in what lies between the lines, a deep emotional connection and resonance emerge