Between Steps Korean Drama 2026 Wiki: Cast, Story, Episodes, Characters & More
Between Steps is a 2026 South Korean romance drama starring Choo Young-woo and Kim So-hyun. The series follows two young people whose original plans for life have been disrupted and who unexpectedly find new direction through robotics, university life, and their growing relationship.
The Korean title is 연애박사 (Yeonaebaksa), while the drama is also known by titles such as Love Doctor. It is directed by Ahn Pan-seok and written by Min Hyo-jung. The story combines romance, youth, university life, personal recovery, and the pressure of finding a meaningful future.
At the center of the story are Park Min-jae, a former swimmer who lost his right leg after illness and later became a robotics PhD student, and Im Yoo-jin, a clothing and textiles student whose original academic plans fall apart before she discovers a completely different path.
Between Steps Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Drama | Between Steps |
| Korean Title | 연애박사 |
| Also Known As | Love Doctor |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
| Year | 2026 |
| Genre | Romance, Drama, Youth, Life |
| Main Cast | Choo Young-woo, Kim So-hyun |
| Main Characters | Park Min-jae, Im Yoo-jin |
| Director | Ahn Pan-seok |
| Writer | Min Hyo-jung |
| Network | ENA |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Premiere | October 5, 2026 |
| Airing Days | Monday and Tuesday |
| Streaming | Disney+ and Genie TV |
| Setting | University robotics research lab |
Current listings give the drama 12 episodes, airing Mondays and Tuesdays at 10 p.m. KST on ENA. Disney+ also lists Between Steps as an upcoming drama and identifies Choo Young-woo and Kim So-hyun among the main cast.
Between Steps Release Date
Between Steps premieres on October 5, 2026.
The drama takes the Monday-Tuesday 10 p.m. KST slot on ENA. With 12 episodes airing twice a week, the currently listed schedule runs through November 10, 2026. Disney+ is also carrying the series in its international distribution.
Between Steps Story
The story follows Park Min-jae, a young man whose promising future as a swimmer ended when illness caused him to lose his right leg.
Swimming had once been a major part of Min-jae’s life. Losing that future leaves him with a difficult question: what comes next?
Instead of allowing his past to define him permanently, Min-jae discovers robotics and begins building another career.
He eventually becomes a PhD student in robotics, where he spends his time working in a university research laboratory.
Min-jae is serious, disciplined, and somewhat guarded when it comes to his emotions. Although he has rebuilt his academic life, romance is an area in which he has little experience.
His carefully controlled routine changes when Im Yoo-jin enters his world.
Im Yoo-jin’s Story
Im Yoo-jin, played by Kim So-hyun, is dealing with a different kind of uncertainty.
She studies clothing and textiles and originally expects to continue her education in the same field. However, an incident causes problems within her department and puts her plans for graduate school in that subject at risk.
Instead of continuing down the path she originally imagined, Yoo-jin discovers robotics.
Her introduction to the field comes through Min-jae and the university research environment.
The new subject is unfamiliar, but Yoo-jin’s personality allows her to approach the change with determination.
Her decision to pursue a new direction becomes one of the most important changes in the story.
Park Min-jae and Im Yoo-jin Romance
The relationship between Min-jae and Yoo-jin is the heart of Between Steps.
The two are very different.
Min-jae is careful, reserved, and tends to think before expressing himself. Yoo-jin is more direct and willing to act on what she wants.
Their relationship begins within the academic environment of the robotics laboratory.
As they spend more time together, their professional connection gradually becomes personal.
The drama focuses on the awkwardness and excitement of falling in love while both characters are still trying to understand what they want from life.
The production has described their romance as spicy, bitter, and sweet, emphasizing that their relationship will include both playful moments and emotional difficulties.
Choo Young-woo as Park Min-jae
Choo Young-woo plays Park Min-jae, the male lead.
Min-jae was a talented swimmer during high school, but illness changed the direction of his life.
After losing his right leg, he leaves his swimming ambitions behind and eventually finds a new purpose through robotics.
He becomes a doctoral student and throws himself into research.
Although he appears calm and somewhat detached, Min-jae has a much more sensitive personality underneath that exterior.
Meeting Yoo-jin forces him to confront an area of life he has not approached with the same confidence he has shown in his academic work.
Kim So-hyun as Im Yoo-jin
Kim So-hyun stars as Im Yoo-jin, the female lead.
Yoo-jin is nearing graduation from the clothing and textiles department when her future suddenly becomes uncertain.
Her original plans are disrupted, leaving her unsure about what she should do next.
Her meeting with Min-jae introduces her to robotics and gives her another possible direction.
Unlike Min-jae, Yoo-jin is relatively straightforward about her emotions. She is willing to express her interest and pursue what she wants.
This creates much of the playful romantic tension between the two leads.
Between Steps Cast
Choo Young-woo as Park Min-jae
Choo Young-woo plays the main character Park Min-jae, a former swimmer who becomes a robotics PhD student after losing his athletic career because of illness.
Kim So-hyun as Im Yoo-jin
Kim So-hyun plays Im Yoo-jin, a clothing and textiles student who changes direction and enters the world of robotics after her original academic plans are disrupted.
Park Hyuk-kwon as Im Yong-seok
Park Hyuk-kwon plays Im Yong-seok, Yoo-jin’s father.
He runs Jeil Car Center and is portrayed as a hardworking and kind father who takes pride in his family.
Seo Jeong-yeon as Seo Mi-young
Seo Jeong-yeon plays Seo Mi-young, Yoo-jin’s mother.
She handles the bookkeeping at the family auto shop and is presented as a hardworking woman who cares deeply about her children.
Kim Min-seok as Im Yoo-sung
Kim Min-seok plays Im Yoo-sung, Yoo-jin’s older brother.
Yoo-sung works as a mechanic at his parents’ auto shop. Although he can behave immaturely and frequently argues with Yoo-jin, he remains protective of his sister and family.
Lee Chang-hoon as Ahn Jae-hong
Lee Chang-hoon plays Ahn Jae-hong, a professor of mechanical engineering and robotics.
He leads the robotics research environment where Min-jae and the other students work.
Lee Gyu-sung as Uhm Tae-ho
Lee Gyu-sung plays Uhm Tae-ho, one of the intelligent members of the robotics research lab.
Lee Suk-hyeong as Bae Chan-soo
Lee Suk-hyeong plays Bae Chan-soo, a relaxed and easygoing member of the research team.
Kim Min as Choi Han-gyeol
Kim Min plays Choi Han-gyeol, the youngest member of the robotics laboratory.
Im Jin-hyo as Kim Se-jin
Im Jin-hyo plays Kim Se-jin, a new graduate student and Yoo-jin’s research-lab colleague.
The character is presented as capable but competitive, adding another source of tension within the lab environment.
Jang In-sub as Lee Ji-hoon
Jang In-sub plays Lee Ji-hoon, a young mathematics professor who is described as exceptionally talented in his field.
Ryu Kyung-in as Kang Mi-ran
Ryu Kyung-in plays Kang Mi-ran, a professor in the clothing and fashion department.
The character is known for having a demanding personality toward people below her position while behaving differently around those above her.
Between Steps Characters
Park Min-jae
A former swimmer who loses his right leg after illness and later discovers a new purpose through robotics.
Im Yoo-jin
A clothing and textiles student whose academic future changes unexpectedly, leading her toward robotics and a new relationship.
Im Yoo-sung
Yoo-jin’s older brother, who works as a mechanic at the family business.
Im Yong-seok
Yoo-jin’s father and the owner of Jeil Car Center.
Seo Mi-young
Yoo-jin’s mother, who manages the bookkeeping at the family auto shop.
Ahn Jae-hong
A mechanical engineering and robotics professor connected to the research laboratory.
Uhm Tae-ho
A highly intelligent member of the university robotics team.
Bae Chan-soo
An easygoing member of the research laboratory.
Choi Han-gyeol
The youngest member of the robotics research group.
Kim Se-jin
A new graduate student who works alongside Yoo-jin and becomes part of the competitive atmosphere surrounding the research team.
Between Steps Episodes
Between Steps Season 1 has 12 episodes.
The drama is scheduled to air twice a week on Mondays and Tuesdays. The currently listed Korean broadcast schedule gives the following dates.
Episode 1
Release Date: October 5, 2026
The opening episode introduces Park Min-jae and Im Yoo-jin and establishes the university and robotics research environment where their paths begin to cross.
Episode 2
Release Date: October 6, 2026
The second episode continues developing the relationship between Min-jae and Yoo-jin while expanding the world around their research group.
Episode 3
Release Date: October 12, 2026
The third episode continues the developing romance and the characters’ university lives.
Episode 4
Release Date: October 13, 2026
The fourth episode continues the story of Min-jae, Yoo-jin, and the robotics research team.
Episode 5
Release Date: October 19, 2026
The fifth episode moves the central relationship and academic story forward.
Episode 6
Release Date: October 20, 2026
The sixth episode continues the romance and personal challenges faced by the main characters.
Episode 7
Release Date: October 26, 2026
The seventh episode continues exploring the changing relationship between Min-jae and Yoo-jin.
Episode 8
Release Date: October 27, 2026
The eighth episode continues the university romance and research-lab storyline.
Episode 9
Release Date: November 2, 2026
The ninth episode moves the story into its final stretch.
Episode 10
Release Date: November 3, 2026
The tenth episode continues the developing relationship and the characters’ personal journeys.
Episode 11
Release Date: November 9, 2026
The eleventh episode leads into the final chapter of the first season.
Episode 12
Release Date: November 10, 2026
The twelfth episode is scheduled to serve as the Season 1 finale.
Detailed official episode-by-episode plot descriptions are not yet available for all episodes, so specific events have not been presented as confirmed spoilers. The 12-episode schedule is supported by current drama listings.
Between Steps Robotics Lab
The robotics research laboratory is one of the most important settings in the drama.
It is where Min-jae is building his new professional identity and where Yoo-jin discovers a completely different academic world.
The laboratory also brings together a group of students with very different personalities.
Uhm Tae-ho, Bae Chan-soo, Choi Han-gyeol, Kim Se-jin, and the other researchers create a workplace atmosphere that can be both competitive and humorous.
The lab therefore works as more than a background location. It is where the characters study, compete, form friendships, experience pressure, and develop relationships.
Between Steps Family Story
Yoo-jin’s family provides another important part of the drama.
Her parents run a small auto center, creating a very different environment from the university research laboratory.
Her father, Im Yong-seok, is described as hardworking and warm, while her mother, Seo Mi-young, handles the financial side of the family business.
Yoo-sung, Yoo-jin’s older brother, works as a mechanic.
The family may argue frequently, especially Yoo-jin and her brother, but their disagreements exist alongside genuine affection and loyalty.
Between Steps Romance
The romance between Min-jae and Yoo-jin is built around two people who have both lost the future they once imagined.
Min-jae loses his sporting career.
Yoo-jin loses confidence in the academic path she originally planned.
Both characters therefore have to make a new beginning.
Their relationship develops while they are simultaneously trying to understand themselves.
Min-jae has difficulty expressing his emotions, while Yoo-jin is more direct and confident about her feelings.
This difference gives their relationship a mixture of awkward comedy, emotional moments, and romantic tension.
Themes of Between Steps
Starting Again
Both leads have to rebuild their futures after their original plans change.
Love and Youth
The drama focuses on young adults trying to understand relationships while also figuring out their careers.
Finding a New Direction
Yoo-jin’s transition from clothing and textiles into robotics is one of the show’s major personal journeys.
Recovery
Min-jae’s story explores how a person can build a new life after losing something that once defined them.
University Life
The robotics lab provides a setting for friendship, competition, academic pressure, and romance.
Family
Yoo-jin’s family adds a grounded domestic side to the story.
Between Steps Director and Writer
The drama is directed by Ahn Pan-seok, a filmmaker associated with well-known romance dramas including Something in the Rain, One Spring Night, and The Midnight Romance in Hagwon.
Min Hyo-jung is credited as the writer.
The combination of university life, mature emotional storytelling, and a slow-building relationship gives Between Steps a character-focused approach to romance.
Between Steps Network and Streaming
The Korean broadcaster for the drama is ENA.
It is scheduled to air on Monday and Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. KST.
Disney+ lists Between Steps as an upcoming drama, while Genie TV is also associated with the Korean release.
Between Steps Genre
The drama combines:
- Romance
- Youth
- Life
- University drama
- Coming-of-age elements
- Human drama
Rather than relying entirely on a large external conflict, the series focuses on relationships, personal goals, academic life, family, and the emotional process of starting over.
Why Is Between Steps Called Love Doctor?
The Korean title 연애박사 (Yeonaebaksa) can be understood through the combination of words relating to romance and a doctoral degree.
That makes the title especially suitable for a story about a romance involving a PhD student.
The drama is therefore also listed under the English title Love Doctor in some databases, while Between Steps is the English title used in current international promotion.
Between Steps Ending
Because the drama’s 12-episode run begins on October 5, 2026, the complete ending is not available before the finale airs.
The final episode is currently scheduled for November 10, 2026.
The central ending questions will involve Min-jae and Yoo-jin’s relationship, their individual career paths, and whether both can move forward without allowing their past disappointments to control their future.
Between Steps Season 2
There is currently no confirmed Season 2 announcement in the available production information.
The announced first season contains 12 episodes.
Any continuation would depend on a future decision by the production team and broadcaster.
Between Steps FAQs
What is Between Steps Korean drama about?
Between Steps is a romance drama about Park Min-jae, a former swimmer who becomes a robotics PhD student after losing his right leg to illness, and Im Yoo-jin, a student who changes her academic direction and enters the world of robotics.
Who plays the main couple in Between Steps?
Choo Young-woo plays Park Min-jae, while Kim So-hyun plays Im Yoo-jin.
When does Between Steps premiere?
The drama premieres on October 5, 2026, at 10 p.m. KST on ENA.
How many episodes does Between Steps have?
Season 1 is listed with 12 episodes.
Where can I watch Between Steps?
The drama airs on ENA in South Korea and is listed for streaming on Disney+, with Genie TV also associated with the Korean distribution.
Who is Park Min-jae?
Park Min-jae is a former swimmer who lost his right leg after illness and later became a doctoral student studying robotics.
Who is Im Yoo-jin?
Im Yoo-jin is a clothing and textiles student whose original academic plans are disrupted. She later discovers robotics and joins a new academic path.
Is Between Steps a romance drama?
Yes. Romance is the central storyline, but the drama also focuses on youth, university life, career uncertainty, family, recovery, and personal growth.
Is Between Steps also called Love Doctor?
Yes. The Korean title is 연애박사, and Love Doctor is another English title used for the series. Between Steps is the current English title used in international promotion.
Who directed Between Steps?
The drama is directed by Ahn Pan-seok.
Who wrote Between Steps?
The screenplay is credited to Min Hyo-jung.
Final Thoughts
Between Steps is built around two people who are both forced to reconsider the future they once imagined.
Park Min-jae loses his path as a swimmer but discovers robotics, while Im Yoo-jin loses confidence in her original academic direction and finds herself entering a completely new field.
Their meeting creates a romance that develops alongside university research, family life, friendships, and the pressure of building a career.
With Choo Young-woo and Kim So-hyun leading the cast, a robotics research lab as the main setting, and a 12-episode Monday-Tuesday format, the drama combines romance with a story about rebuilding your life one step at a time.