ENA’s new Monday-Tuesday drama Between Steps premiered on October 5th, introducing the awkward but increasingly intertwined relationship between engineering Ph.D. student Park Min Jae (played by Choo Young Woo) and fashion graduate student Im Yoo Jin (Kim So Hyun).
The first episode recorded an average nationwide rating of 1.7% according to Nielsen Korea, a softer start than predecessor New Recruit 4: Sabotage, which opened at 2.8% and ended at 5.2%.
Min Jae, who lost one leg to illness, is pursuing a doctorate in mechanical engineering while trying to rebuild his life.
Lol I’m already loving Minjae humor taking advantage of his sickness, they’re sick of his ass whining about it!!😭
#연애박사 #김소현 #BetweenStepsEp1 https://t.co/I8ZbSQCZo2
— ꫂ❁ (@loftyleaven) October 5, 2026
His first encounter with Yoo Jin begins on a bus, where she accidentally falls asleep on his shoulder. Their paths cross again after he helps her when she injures herself, leaving Yoo Jin intrigued by his blunt manner but unexpectedly considerate actions.
It’s their first time meeting, by the way☺️☺️☺️
#BetweenSteps #BetweenStepsEp1 https://t.co/iKo4Yu4Mmj
— en. (@haaanchooo) October 5, 2026
The two meet again at a department gathering, where Yoo Jin becomes involved in an incident while defending a friend.
— #betweensteps episode 1
“Whether they were dating or not, what he did was wrong. He never should’ve done it. He deserved to get hit, and I have no intention of apologizing. He didn’t act like my senior. And right now, I don’t think you’re acting like a professor. Isn’t it a teacher’s job to correct and guide students when they do wrong? Shouldn’t that come before the school’s reputation or your pride?” – Lim Youjin
— k a y l y n 💫 (@spring96k) October 6, 2026
Min Jae later gives a statement to police based only on what he personally witnessed, frustrating Yoo Jin when it does not support her as strongly as she expected.
After the fallout leaves Yoo Jin questioning her future in fashion, Min Jae reaches out and tries to help recover possible evidence from a serving robot used at the event. Although nothing useful turns up, the gesture softens Yoo Jin’s view of him.
Min Jae also decides to let go of his longtime crush after failing to confess his feelings to friend Cha Seo Hyun (Han Do Yi). Just as he begins to give up on romance, Yoo Jin reenters his life.
The episode closes with the pair talking about what first drew Min Jae to engineering. As Yoo Jin boards a bus, he calls after her with a line from one of his favorite comics: “Yes, I like you. Very, very much.”
연애박사 1화 엔딩 🚌💗
“네, 좋아합니다. 아주아주 많이”
“네?”
“네, 좋아합니다! 아주아주 많이!”슬램덩크 대사 말하다가 버스 출발해서 멀어지는데 고백처럼 한번 더 소리치는거 완전 로맨스의 서막이고 간질간질해 꺄아아 https://t.co/ej8OCjtZHE
— 취향 (@loverdramas) October 5, 2026
Directed by the late Ahn Pan Seok, Between Steps follows the romance and growth of young adults still figuring out both love and life.
>> Choo Young Woo Calls ‘Between Steps’ Co-Star Kim So Hyun Lovely While Acting
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