Choi Min Sik and Choi Hyun Wook tease twisting suspense in Netflix's 'Notes from the Last Row' ahead of premiere

Choi Min Sik once received a phone call about a new Korean drama adaptation of Juan Mayorga’s play 'Notes from the Last Row.' The title was already familiar to him, as the work had long been well known in Korea through stage productions.

“When I got the offer, I thought, ‘I’ve heard this story a lot,’ and then I found out it was based on an original work,” he recalled. “I immediately said, ‘Perfect. Send me the script.’ Once I started reading it, I was drawn in instantly.”

“There are plenty of commercial and entertaining projects out there, but not many that leave room for thought,” he added. “'Notes from the Last Row' had a literary quality to it. I decided to join right away.”

Netflix’s 'Notes from the Last Row' held its press conference on June 24 at Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery in Mapo District, Seoul. Director Kim Kyu Tae attended alongside stars Choi Min Sik and Choi Hyun Wook.

The series is a suspense drama that follows Heo Moon Oh, a Korean literature professor played by Choi Min Sik, who discovers the genius of Lee Kang, a boy sitting in the back row of his classroom, played by Choi Hyun Wook. As the professor becomes obsessed with the student’s writing, the story spirals into increasingly dangerous territory.

The drama is based on Juan Mayorga’s play of the same name, which has been staged four times in Korea. It was also reimagined as the 2012 French film In the House.

Asked why he decided to direct the project, Director Kim said the script itself was impossible to put down.

“It was a six-episode script, and I kept turning the pages without stopping,” he said. “I wanted to know what would happen next. The unpredictable situations were compelling, and the characters’ emotions were presented in a very clear and accessible way. It had both mainstream appeal and literary depth, which made me want to take it on.”

The drama had already attracted attention before its release thanks to its high-profile cast. Veteran actor Choi Min Sik and rising star Choi Hyun Wook were cast as professor and student, while a strong supporting lineup, including Heo Joon Ho, Kim Yoon Jin, and Jin Kyung, also joined the project.

Director Kim said working with Choi Min Sik had long been a personal goal. “I had always wanted to work with Choi Min Sik at least once, so I was incredibly happy that it happened,” the director said. “Watching him enjoy the set taught me so much, and it made me want to be like him.”

“Watching him act felt like a fan seeing their favorite artist live,” he continued. “It was thrilling and electrifying. I kept thinking, ‘How can he express such layered emotions in such a brief moment?’”

Speaking about Choi Hyun Wook, Kim said the actor was a perfect fit for the role.

“There was something very mysterious about him,” he said. “He was ideal for a character who appears pure on the surface but clearly has something beneath that. He was calm and quiet, but his eyes made it feel like something was always about to happen.”

“Even though he’s young, he showed a mature side,” Director Kim added. “He would remain still and composed, but the moment we called action, he exploded with energy.”

Choi Min Sik plays Heo Moon Oh, a professor consumed by feelings of defeat. The character published a single novel 20 years ago and has been unable to write another since. Frustrated by his own reality, he stumbles upon Lee Kang’s writing.

Choi Min Sik explained, “Heo Moon Oh is someone who loves literature and has a strong desire to leave behind writing of his own, but for outside reasons, he ends up putting down his pen.” The actor said the character sees himself as a failed novelist and lives with a deep sense of defeat.

“He vents his frustrations on his students, but meeting Lee Kang becomes a turning point,” Choi said. “He becomes obsessed with the young man’s writing and gets pulled into a whirlwind.”

To emphasize the character’s flaws, Choi Min Sik said he leaned into Moon Oh’s insecurity and desperation.

“Everyone has inferiority complexes they can’t easily tell other people about,” he said. “Heo Moon Oh’s is especially severe, so I had many conversations with the director to figure out how to portray that side of him.”

Choi Hyun Wook takes on the role of Lee Kang, an engineering student with exceptional writing talent who begins private literature lessons with Heo Moon Oh after the professor notices his ability.

“He’s a student who always sits in the very back row of the classroom,” Choi Hyun Wook said. “I felt this role would allow me to show a restrained performance while also revealing many different sides of the character.”

Lee Kang is at the center of the drama’s suspense. As the story unfolds, more of his mysterious side comes to light. Moon Oh’s growing obsession with the student’s writing leads to a chain of unexpected events.

“I tried to keep my expressions restrained while focusing on subtle reactions,” Choi Hyun Wook said. “Lee Kang spends time observing other people’s homes, so I paid special attention to making it difficult to know what he’s really thinking.”

One of the key points of the series, according to the cast, is the chemistry between the two leads. “I’m not just saying this,” Choi Min Sik said. “At one point, I thought, ‘This drama will work as long as I react well to Choi Hyun Wook’s performance.’”

“Lee Kang stands at the center of the story and manipulates everyone around him,” he continued with a laugh. “Especially Heo Moon Oh — he lifts him, lets him go, throws him down, and even tosses him into the sky. All I had to do was be swept away well every time he made his move.”

Choi Min Sik added that he tried not to miss a single beat of Choi Hyun Wook’s performance. “The more we filmed, the harder it became to imagine anyone else in the role,” he said. “Every shoot left a strong impression on me.”

Choi Hyun Wook also praised his co-star, saying he was overwhelmed by Choi Min Sik’s “tiger-like energy.” He shared, “If it hadn’t been Choi Min Sik, I don’t think I could have gone this far with the performance.”

Choi Min Sik ended by describing the series as the kind of work that lingers in the mind. He explained, “'Notes from the Last Row' feels like reading a beloved book page by page late at night,” and added, “It’s the kind of project that will leave you with a lot to think about.”

Director Kim also highlighted the ending scene as one of the drama’s biggest strengths. “I especially recommend paying attention to the two actors’ eyes,” he said. “Even during the final editing process, that part surprised me again. I hope viewers enjoy it all the way to the end.”

'Notes from the Last Row' premieres on Netflix on June 26.