Director Ahn Pan Seok’s Final Masterpiece: Between Steps Garners Praise as Kim So Hyun Confronts Choo Young Woo’s Pain in a Delicate Romance

Have you started watching Disney+’s new series Between Steps? Though it is a subtle, niche campus romance that some viewers may not have noticed yet, the pairing of mother-solo graduate student Choo Young Woo and the straightforward, genuine Kim So Hyun is sparking fresh chemistry. Tragically, Director Ahn Pan Seok passed away before the show’s premiere, but his signature directorial style is evident in every scene, making this acclaimed work his final legacy.

Premiering on the 5th of this month, the youth campus romance Between Steps depicts the journey of Park Min Jae (played by Choo Young Woo), a Mechanical Engineering PhD student, and Lim Yoo Jin (played by Kim So Hyun), a Fashion Design graduate student, as they meet and fall in love. This marks the final work of Director Ahn Pan Seok, who previously directed hits such as Behind the White Tower, Secret Love Affair, Heard It Through the Grapevine, Something in the Rain, One Spring Night, The Midnight Romance in Hagwon, and The Art of Negotiation. Known for his skill in portraying realistic interpersonal relationships and delicate emotions, Director Ahn passed away in August this year from a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 64.

In Between Steps, the lead characters gradually open their hearts to each other by Episode 4. Park Min Jae, who was forced to abandon his dream of becoming a swimmer after losing a leg, found a new purpose in life through robotics. Meanwhile, Lim Yoo Jin, after carefully considering her career direction, decides to join the Mechanical Engineering graduate program to take on a fresh challenge. Starting from a chance encounter, the two reunite in the same laboratory. Despite initial conflicts arising from misunderstandings and grievances, their relationship grows closer. Although Lim Yoo Jin leaves the scene in confusion upon discovering Park Min Jae’s disability, she soon recognizes her feelings and decides to directly confront his pain.

Under Director Ahn Pan Seok’s unique direction, their romance feels deeply authentic. Rather than relying on dramatic tropes, Director Ahn focuses on the daily lives and emotional nuances of his characters, capturing how relationships naturally form. Through long-take dialogues and subtle shifts in expressions and glances, the show delivers a realistic feel akin to watching a real-life romance unfold. Set against the backdrop of a graduate research lab, Between Steps not only portrays romantic love but also highlights the subtle conflicts and tight-knit bonds among “nerdy” male researchers, earning strong resonance from viewers.

Music has always been an indispensable element in Director Ahn’s works. Music Director Lee Nam Yeon, who previously collaborated with him on Something in the Rain and One Spring Night, joined the production once again. Additionally, American singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata, who sang the OSTs for both previous dramas, contributed the insert track “Mint to Be” for Between Steps. The lyrical soundtrack flowing throughout Director Ahn’s work enhances the gentle romance, turning fleeting moments into unforgettable memories and heightening the emotional depth of the characters.