Between Steps (Korean:연애박사) is an ongoing South Korean romancecoming-of-age television series written by Min Hyo-jung, directed by Ahn Pan-seok, and starring Choo Young-woo and Kim So-hyun. The series depicts the romance of two youths blooming in a robotics laboratory. It premiered on ENA on October 5, 2026, and airs every Monday and Tuesday at 22:00 (KST). It is also available for streaming on Genie TV in South Korea, and on Disney+ and Hulu in selected regions.
Premise
Set in a robotics lab, it follows the lives of Park Min-jae, a doctoral student who lost his leg to illness after previously being a swimmer, and Lim Yu-jin, a master's student who pursued a new path after experiencing career uncertainty.
A Ph.D. student in Robotics at the Department of Mechanical Engineering in Seohan University. He is also an assistant and lab manager in Professor Ahn Jae-hong's research laboratory.
A Master's student in Robotics at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seohan University. She is also a research student in Professor Ahn Jae-hong's research laboratory.
The series marked Min's return to television drama writing after a hiatus of approximately 20 years following her work on Rules of Love[ko] (2005). The project also reunites Min and Ahn, who previously collaborated on the MBC drama Say It with Your Eyes (2000–2001). Production preparations began after Studio Goti reestablished contact with Min, and director Ahn subsequently praised the scripts for their logical consistency and depth. Choo and Kim was strongly recommended by the production company and directing department. Director Ahn commended Choo for his professionalism and intelligent approach on set, and praised Kim for her efforts to avoid conventional acting habits and deliver a distinct performance.
Principal photography was completed for about four months after beginning production in November 2025, and wrapped up on February 28, 2026.
The series reflects the artistic philosophy and working methods of the late director Ahn. Known for his realist aesthetic, Ahn maintained that television dramas should serve as a substitute for literature, approaching scripts with rigorous attention to detail and internal consistency. Rather than relying on sensationalism, his production style prioritized character-driven narratives and authentic human exploration. Collaborators have noted his clear directorial focus, minimal take counts, and strong trust in his cast and crew, elements that defined his final project.
Original soundtrack
Led by music director Lee Nam-yeon in collaboration with overseas musicians, the soundtrack is designed to accompany the emotional development of the drama's central relationship, featuring tracks by artists such as The Restless Age, Margaret Glaspy, and Rachael Yamagata. SLL's music YouTube channel, Gogosing, previewed the highlight tracks for the drama's original soundtrack through its Pre-Ticket content on September 30, 2026.
Release
In March 2026, Between Steps was scheduled to be broadcast on ENA's Monday and Tuesday timeslot in October 2026. Later, ENA confirmed the premiere date of the series would be on October 5, at 22:00 (KST). It is also available for streaming on Genie TV in South Korea, and on Disney+ and Hulu in selected regions.
Viewership
Between Steps: South Korea viewers per episode (thousands)
Season
Episode number
Average
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
1
417
530
490
498
493
562
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea.
In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
This drama airs on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC, and EBS).
References
12연애박시[Between Steps]. ENA (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2026.
123Kim, So-yeon (September 22, 2026). 안판석 감독 유작 '연애박사'...박혁권·서정연·김민석, 김소현 가족 된다[The late Director Ahn Pan-seok's Posthumous Work Between Steps...Park Hyuk-kwon, Seo Jeong-yeon, and Kim Min-seok to Become Kim So-hyun's Family]. Star Today (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2026.
Jang, Joo-yeon (November 21, 2025). [단독] '흥행 2연타' 김민석, 안판석 '연애박사' 합류...추영우·김소현과 호흡[[Exclusive] 'Two-Hit Box Office Success' Kim Min-seok Joins Ahn Pan-seok's Between Steps...Working with Choo Young-woo and Kim So-hyun]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2026.
Kim, Jin-seok (November 29, 2025). [단독]'안판석 사단' 서정연·박혁권·심혜진, '연애박사' 출연[[Exclusive] 'Ahn Pan-seok Division' Seo Jung-yeon, Park Hyuk-kwon, and Shim Hye-jin to star in Between Steps]. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2026.
Go, Seung-a (February 3, 2026). [단독] '왕사남' 김민, 추영우 후배 된다...안판석 '연애박사' 합류[[Exclusive] The King's Affection Kim Min becomes Choo Young-woo's junior...Joins Ahn Pan-seok's Between Steps]. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2026.
Hwang, Seo-hyun (September 3, 2026). 이석형, '연애박사'서 공대생 변신...추영우와 케미 예고[Lee Suk-hyeong transforms into an engineering student in Between Steps...chemistry with Choo Young-woo anticipated]. TV Daily (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2026.
Son, Bong-seok (September 30, 2026). 한도이, '연애박사' 차서현 역 낙점...추영우 '절친' 된다[Han Do-yi selected for the role of Cha Seo-hyun in Between Steps...Becomes Choo Young-woo's 'best friend']. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2026.
1234567Kim, Min-ji (September 24, 2026). 故안판석 감독 유작 '연애박사' 티저부터 터졌다...사람 냄새 나는 캐릭터 열전까지 기대 만발[The Late Director Ahn Pan-seok's Posthumous Work Between Steps Explodes Right From the Teaser...High Expectations for a Parade of Human-Centric Characters]. Herald Muse (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2026.
↑Lee, Seung-hun (November 1, 2025). [단독] 안판석 감독 새 뮤즈는 김소현..'연애박사' 여자 주인공[[Exclusive] Director Ahn Pan-seok's new muse is Kim So-hyun..Between Steps female lead]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2026.
↑Lee, Seung-hun (November 4, 2025). [단독] 안판석 감독이 선택한 남자는 추영우였다..'연애박사' 주인공[[Exclusive] The man chosen by Director Ahn Pan-seok was Choo Young-woo..Between Steps lead role]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 9, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
↑Kim, Mi-ji (December 1, 2025). 추영우·김소현, 안판석 표 로맨스로 만난다...'연애박사' 캐스팅 확정 [공식][Choo Young-woo and Kim So-hyun to Meet in Director Ahn Pan-seok's Romance...Between Steps Casting Confirmed [Official]]. Star Today (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2026.
↑Nam, Sun-woo (January 22, 2026). [인터뷰] 언제나 중요한 것은 개연성이다, <연애박사> 안판석 감독[[Interview] Consistency Is Always What Matters Most: Ahn Pan-seok, Director of <Between Steps>]. Cine21 (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2026.
↑Han, Soo-jin (March 3, 2026). [단독] 추영우♥김소현 '연애박사' 촬영 끝...2026년 안방극장 설렘 쓰나미 온다[[Exclusive] Choo Young-woo♥Kim So-hyun wrap up filming for Between Steps...A tsunami of heart-fluttering excitement coming to the small screen in 2026]. Ize (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 3, 2026. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
↑Kim, Kyung-hee (October 2, 2026). "드라마는 문학을 대신한다" 故 안판석이 렌즈로 써 내려간 유작 '연애박사'["Dramas Take the Place of Literature" The Late Ahn Pan-seok's Posthumous Work Between Steps Written Through the Lens]. iMBC (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2026.
↑'연애박사' OST 프리티켓 공개...해외 아티스트 라인업으로 로맨스 감성 예고['Between Steps' OST Pre-Ticket Released...Overseas Artist Lineup Previews Romantic Sensibility]. JTBC (in Korean). October 1, 2026. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
↑Kim, Na-yeon (March 4, 2026). [단독]추영우♥김소현 '연애박사', 추석 뒤에 본다..10월 첫방 확정(종합)[[Exclusive] Choo Young-woo ♥ Kim So-hyun's Between Steps to Air After Chuseok..October Premiere Confirmed (Comprehensive)]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2026.
↑Lee, Ju-in (September 1, 2026). 추영우X김소현 '연애박사' 대학원생 로맨스...故안판석 감독 유작[Choo Young-woo and Kim So-hyun's Between Steps Graduate Student Romance...The Late Director Ahn Pan-seok's Posthumous Work]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2026.
