'Between Steps' Premieres, Illuminating 4 Real-World Issues

4 Social Issues Highlighted by the Drama 'Between Steps'

According to an IDN Times report, 'Between Steps' brought four major social issues to the forefront from its very first broadcast, adding depth beyond a simple romance. These issues are deeply intertwined with the characters' lives and form the core axis of the narrative.

1. Social Stigma Against People with Disabilities: The protagonist, Park Min-jae (played by Choo Young-woo), is a former swimmer who lost his right leg to osteosarcoma. He suffers from trauma, pessimism, and social distrust stemming from this. The drama vividly portrays society's prejudice and stigma against people with disabilities through Min-jae's perspective.
2. Sexual Harassment Victimization and Difficulty in Response: An incident occurs where Im Yu-jin's (played by Kim So-hyun) friend, Jung Soo-bin (played by Park Ha-rang, 박하랑), is sexually harassed by a senior, Kim Young-soo (played by Lee Sang-jin, 이상진), in a restaurant restroom. Although Yu-jin rescues Soo-bin and subdues the perpetrator, this incident highlights the suffering experienced by victims of sexual harassment and the difficulties in responding effectively in real-life situations.
3. Abuse of Power to Maintain Reputation: In connection with the campus sexual harassment incident, Professor Kang Mi-ran (played by Ryu Kyung-in, 류경인) abuses her power to protect the school's reputation and her own. She forces Soo-bin to pretend to be in a romantic relationship with Kim Young-soo, attempting to conceal the truth.
4. Exploitation of Others' Work: Professor Kang Mi-ran also demonstrates the exploitation of students' creative works by using her authority. She promotes and photographs students' knitting projects as if they were her own, raising issues of intellectual property infringement and ethical concerns through her appropriation of others' efforts.