{
  "id": 17083300,
  "title": "No rich heirs, no fantasy: Ahn Pan-seok keeps romance real in 'Between Steps'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/no-rich-heirs-no-fantasy-ahn-pan-seok-keeps-romance-real-in-between-17083300",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-29T15:57:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/20261030/no-rich-heirs-no-fantasy-ahn-pan-seok-keeps-romance-real-in-between-steps"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Korean drama \"Between Steps\" is captivating audiences with its portrayal of young people's awkward romance and personal growth. The show has become a top-ranked series on Disney+, securing the No. 1 spot in the country and No. 5 globally. The final film from director Ahn Pan-seok, who passed away in August, offers a unique take on romance through everyday gestures and subtle glances, instead of relying on extravagant corporate family backgrounds or fantastical elements.\n\nThe protagonist, Min-jae (played by Choo Young-woo), is a reserved doctoral student in robotics who has lost a leg to bone cancer over a decade ago and was forced to abandon his aspirations of becoming a swimmer. Despite his physical challenges, Min-jae struggles to open up and is deeply afraid of being hurt in relationships. The other main character, Yu-jin (played by Kim So-hyun), is a junior researcher in Min-jae's lab who fearlessly approaches him. Initially, Min-jae reacts to her presence with hesitation, famously exclaiming, \"You're too hot, like the sun.\" However, in the end, he decides to give her a chance and reveal his true feelings.",
  "summary": "ENA’s Monday-Tuesday drama “Between Steps,” which portrays the awkward romance and growth of young people, is quietly gaining critical acclaim. It has ranked No. 1 in Korea and No. 5 globally in the Disney+ TV show category, according to FlixPatrol. The series is the final work of director Ahn Pan-seok, who died in August this year. His signature approach to romance of moving viewers through…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}