Kim So Hyun is not facing her character’s biggest crisis alone. The upcoming ENA drama Between Steps has shared its first look at the family at the heart of the story, and they are as messy, loud, and loving as any real household. Park Hyuk Kwon, Seo Jeong Yeon, and Kim Min Seok round out the family unit that surrounds Kim So Hyun’s character, Im Yoo Jin, bringing a mix of everyday arguments, petty fights, and deep care that grounds the romance in something relatable.
Meet Im Yoo Jin’s Family
The newly released stills introduce the Im family, whose ordinary appearance makes them stand out. Park Hyuk Kwon plays Im Yong Seok, the kind and hardworking father who owns Jeil Car Center. Seo Jeong Yeon plays Seo Mi Young, the diligent and tenacious mother who handles the accounting at the auto shop. The couple does not have much in terms of wealth, but their children are their greatest pride in life.
Kim Min Seok plays Im Yoo Sung, Yoo Jin’s older brother who is just one year her senior. He works as a mechanic at his parents’ car center and regularly gets into hair-pulling fights with his younger sister. His carefree and immature personality is on full display in the stills, but he is also a dependable older brother who deeply cares for Yoo Jin and the rest of the family.
A Realistic Family Dynamic
The family setup is intentionally ordinary. Im Yong Seok and Seo Mi Young run a small auto repair shop. Their son works there as a mechanic. Their daughter is finishing her studies. Arguments break out. Tempers flare. But underneath the noise, there is a strong bond.
This familiar dynamic gives Between Steps a grounded emotional base. While the drama’s main story follows the romance between Park Min Jae and Im Yoo Jin, the family provides context for who Yoo Jin is and why she reacts to hardship the way she does. The Im family’s struggles are not dramatic in a flashy way. They are the kind of struggles many households face: tight finances, kids trying to figure out their paths, and parents doing their best with what they have.
Kim So Hyun On Working With Her On-Screen Family
Kim So Hyun spoke about the bond she built with Park Hyuk Kwon, Seo Jeong Yeon, and Kim Min Seok during production.
“Starting from the day of the script reading, we would sometimes meet separately, talk, and do a lot of research together. I think that allowed us to naturally bring out many moments that felt like a real family on set.”
That effort shows in the stills, where the four actors look comfortable with each other. The sibling dynamic between Kim So Hyun and Kim Min Seok is especially playful, with the two characters constantly at odds but clearly protective of one another.
What Between Steps Is About
Between Steps tells the love story of Park Min Jae (Choo Young Woo), a former swimmer who lost his right leg to illness, and Im Yoo Jin (Kim So Hyun), a graduate student who finds a new path after losing her way. Min Jae was a promising swimmer in high school before osteosarcoma changed everything. After a difficult period, he found purpose in robotics and worked his way to Seoul National University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. Yoo Jin was preparing to graduate from the Department of Clothing and Textiles when an unexpected incident branded her a troublemaker in her department, destroying her chances of going to graduate school in her field. Meeting Min Jae opens her eyes to robotics, and the two begin to build something new together.
The drama is the final project of director Ahn Pan Seok, known for Something in the Rain, One Spring Night, and The Midnight Romance in Hagwon. Ahn passed away on August 12 from a stroke. The series is written by Min Hyo Jeong, who previously wrote Full House.
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Release Date And Streaming Details
Between Steps premieres on October 5, 2026, at 10 p.m. KST on ENA. The 12-episode drama airs every Monday and Tuesday.
For viewers in South Korea, the series will be available on ENA and Genie TV. International audiences can stream it on Disney+, though availability varies by region. Viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and other select markets can watch on Disney+ where the platform carries the series. New episodes will be released weekly, following the Monday-Tuesday broadcast schedule.
Also Read: Choo Young Woo Lacks Courage to Hold Onto Kim So Hyun in New Between Steps Teaser
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