Actor Kim Min Seok has shared a heartfelt message remembering the late director Ahn Pan Seok following the conclusion of ENA's romance drama Between Steps.
On November 11, Kim Min Seok took to social media to express how much he missed the director, who passed away in August after battling a brain hemorrhage.
The actor also shared a photo taken with Ahn Pan Seok during filming, showing himself smiling while leaning on the director's shoulder.
Alongside the photo, Kim Min Seok wrote, “There haven't been many times in my life when I felt glad that I took a photo, but I'm really thankful I have this one.”
He continued, “Throughout the weeks of watching the drama, I missed you so much and wanted to see you again.”
Kim Min Seok then reflected on how the late director treated him during their time working together.
Although Ahn Pan Seok occasionally scolded him on set, the actor said he always felt appreciated and supported.
“You sometimes scolded me on set, but thank you so much for always caring for me despite how much I still lacked,” he shared.
The actor also made a personal promise to become a better person and improve his acting.
“I'll try to live well and become a better person and actor so that you can look at me and laugh, saying, 'Haha, look at that guy.' I'll read more literature books, too,” he wrote.
He ended his message with the touching words, “Director, I hope you're always at peace wherever you are. — Yoo Sung.”
The message carried special meaning as Between Steps, which aired its final episode on November 10, was Ahn Pan Seok's final drama before his passing.
The ENA series stars Choo Young Woo as Park Min Jae, a graduate student who lost one of his legs after battling an illness, and Kim So Hyun as Im Yoo Jin, a young woman searching for a new direction in life.
Beyond remembering their time on set, Kim Min Seok previously revealed that Ahn Pan Seok had played an important role in shaping his understanding of acting.
During the drama's production press conference, the actor recalled a conversation with the director about whether acting should be considered an art or simply a technical profession.
According to Kim Min Seok, Ahn Pan Seok told him, “Actors are artists. You have everything it takes to become an artist. But you lack literature.”
Those words stayed with him and encouraged him to read more books, write, and keep a journal.
Kim Min Seok described Ahn Pan Seok as a mentor who helped him move in a more positive direction in both his career and personal life.
With Between Steps now concluded, Kim Min Seok's emotional tribute serves as a reminder of the lasting influence Ahn Pan Seok had on the actors who worked with him.
For Kim Min Seok, the drama's ending was not only a farewell to the project but also another opportunity to remember a director he deeply respected and missed.
