South Korean actor Choi Min-sik, who was last seen in the critically acclaimed horror blockbuster Exhuma, is set to make his return to the web series space with Notes from the Last Row.
The psychological drama is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on June 26, marking the veteran actor’s comeback to long-form storytelling following his appearance in the Disney+ crime drama Big Bet in 2022.
Known globally for his performances in films such as I Saw the Devil and Oldboy, Choi Min-sik takes on a layered role in the upcoming series, which revolves around a dissatisfied literature professor whose life takes an unexpected turn after discovering a gifted student hiding in plain sight.
Notes from the Last Row follows Heo Mun-oh, a professor of Korean literature at a prestigious university who struggles with disappointment, insecurity, and the lingering pain of unrealised literary ambitions.
Once an aspiring novelist, Mun-oh abandoned writing after receiving harsh criticism from his successful writer friend, Kim Su Hun, whose words left a lasting scar on his confidence. As Mun-oh continues to grapple with feelings of inadequacy and jealousy, his routine life begins to change when he encounters Lee Kang, an engineering student with an extraordinary talent for writing.
According to the official logline on MyDramaList, Mun-oh becomes deeply invested in Lee Kang’s literary potential after recognising the student’s hidden brilliance during a special literature class.
Under the professor’s mentorship, Lee Kang embarks on an unpredictable journey that gradually reignites Mun-oh’s own passion for storytelling, setting the stage for an emotionally layered and psychologically intense narrative.
The series marks Choi Min-sik’s first collaboration with director Kum Gyu-tae, who is known for acclaimed Korean dramas such as Our Blues and The Trunk.
Rising actor Choi Hyun-wook, recognised for his performances in Twenty Five Twenty One and Weak Hero Class 1, stars opposite Min-sik as Lee Kang, the mysterious student whose talent disrupts the professor’s stagnant life.
Described as a psychological drama, Notes from the Last Row is reportedly based on the Spanish play The Boy in the Last Row by playwright Juan Mayorga. The adaptation is expected to blend psychological tension with themes of ambition, mentorship, resentment, and creative rediscovery.
With Choi Min-sik returning to episodic storytelling and Netflix backing the project, Notes from the Last Row is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated Korean web series releases of the year. Fans can stream the series when it premieres on June 26.
