Park Min-jae to leave for Canada after collapsing and vomiting blood

Park Min-jae decided to quit school and his robot research to return to Canada following a hospitalization for a suspected peptic ulcer. The 11th episode of 'Between Steps' aired on the 9th, reaching a new series high viewership rating of 2.9%.

Choo Young-woo and Kim So-hyun finally faced each other's wounds and true feelings, sharing a tearful embrace. The emotional surge, driven by fears that grew alongside their deepening love and regrets over causing pain while trying not to lose one another, moved viewers as 'Between Steps' entered its final episode with a potential for reunion, hitting a new series high in viewership.

In the 11th episode of the ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Between Steps' aired on the 9th, the process of Im Yu-jin (Kim So-hyun) and Park Min-jae (Choo Young-woo) gradually confirming the sincerity they had failed to convey for a long time was depicted. The moment Park Min-jae could no longer suppress his emotions and burst into tears, only to be warmly embraced by Im Yu-jin, served as a decisive turning point in their relationship.

The viewership ratings also achieved significant results. According to Nielsen Korea, the 11th episode reached a 2.9% rating (2.883%) for nationwide households on paid platforms. This slightly exceeded the 2.8% rating of the previous 10th episode, setting a new record for the series. Notably, this marked the third consecutive episode to break its own record, following the 9th and 10th episodes, showing strong momentum heading into the finale.

During the episode, Park Min-jae fell into extreme emotional turmoil after belatedly realizing the depth of the wounds he had inflicted on Im Yu-jin. While looking at photos of the two on his mobile phone, he eventually attempted to erase every trace of their time together. Though it was an attempt to settle his heart, the pain only intensified as he suppressed his emotions. After complaining of sudden chest pain, Park Min-jae eventually collapsed after vomiting blood, and lab colleagues who were attending a welcome party rushed him to the emergency room.

Another sincere gesture toward Im Yu-jin was revealed. Lee Ji-hun (Jang In-sub) confessed his long-held feelings to Im Yu-jin and presented her with a bracelet he had personally chosen because he thought it would suit her. However, Im Yu-jin politely declined, stating the gift was burdensome and that she already had someone she liked. Lee Ji-hun accepted this calmly, noting it was the answer he expected. Even though his love was not returned, he instead prioritized understanding Im Yu-jin's pain.

Lee Ji-hun comforted her, saying love is an emotion painful enough to break a person, advising her not to force herself to stop her feelings but to love as much as she can. His advice—that she could love until her feelings were completely worn away—left a deep resonance with Im Yu-jin. Lee Ji-hun's attitude of looking after the other person's wounds even while giving up his own feelings showed a different way of loving compared to Park Min-jae, enriching the drama's emotional lines.

Upon returning home, Im Yu-jin also found it difficult to sleep. Looking at photos of the moments she shared with Park Min-jae, she still could not erase him from her heart. Her worry grew even more upon learning that Park Min-jae had been hospitalized with a suspected peptic ulcer caused by stress. Hong Eun-ju (Shim Hye-jin), who visited the hospital, questioned the lab colleagues about the circumstances of Park Min-jae's collapse and expressed anger upon hearing that his stress had been severe due to Kim Se-jin (Im Jin-hyo).

Hong Eun-ju urged Kim Se-jin to stop meeting Park Min-jae, but Kim Se-jin eventually revealed the truth surrounding the relationship between the two. It was revealed that Park Min-jae and Im Yu-jin had dated and broken up, and that Park Min-jae was under serious stress due to the issues between them. Hong Eun-ju and the lab colleagues could not hide their bewilderment at the belatedly revealed reality of their relationship.

Im Yu-jin visited the hospital after hearing news of Park Min-jae's hospitalization, but she was unable to see him as visitation was restricted at the request of his family. She visited the hospital again the next day with porridge she had made herself, but Park Min-jae had already been discharged. Ultimately, when Im Yu-jin went to his house, she heard even more shocking news: Park Min-jae, finding it difficult even to face her, had decided to quit both school and his robot research to return to Canada.

When Im Yu-jin asked if he viewed her actions as a threat, Park Min-jae confessed his long-hidden feelings. He admitted that while the time spent with Im Yu-jin was happy, it was simultaneously terrifying. He explained that he had always tried to protect himself for fear of being abandoned or hurt, and had created excuses to run away from the relationship. Acknowledging that his actions to protect himself in order to guard his love had ultimately caused greater pain to the other person, Park Min-jae sobbed, "I left you to die because I didn't want to get hurt. You loved me, but I didn't."

The emotions of the two, which had been misaligned, finally met in one place. Hearing Park Min-jae's deep regret and sincerity, Im Yu-jin warmly embraced him, as if understanding that he had not failed to love her, but had been hurting just as much as she had. The tearful embrace of the two, who had drifted apart due to fear and misunderstanding despite loving each other, decorated the ending of episode 11 and left a powerful lingering impression.

'Between Steps' now has only the final 12th episode remaining. Attention is focused on whether Park Min-jae, who caused pain to the person he loves while trying to avoid his own wounds, and Im Yu-jin, who accepted his sincerity despite everything, can overcome the pain of the past and start a new relationship. With the upward trend of three consecutive episodes hitting record viewership, expectations are growing for whether the two will meet a happy ending where they can finally smile during the final story.

Read the original (Korean)