Choi Min Sik is set to make his Netflix debut in Notes from the Last Row, a psychological thriller that explores the dangerous obsession between a disillusioned professor and his exceptionally talented student. The six-episode series, adapted from Spanish playwright Juan Mayorga’s work, is scheduled to arrive on Netflix during the second quarter of 2026, between April and June.
A Story of Obsession and Literary Ambition
Notes from the Last Row centers on Hae Mun O, a Korean literature professor whose own dreams of becoming a successful novelist have long since faded. After publishing just one book and enduring harsh criticism early in his career, he abandoned writing altogether and settled into academic life at a prestigious university. His frustration with students who struggle to construct coherent sentences has made him bitter and disconnected from teaching.
Everything shifts when he reads a writing assignment submitted by Lee Kang, an engineering student whose hidden literary gift immediately captivates him. The professor becomes fixated on cultivating this rare talent, offering private lessons and becoming increasingly consumed by his student’s work. What begins as mentorship slowly transforms into something far more unsettling as boundaries dissolve and the relationship takes unpredictable turns.
Netflix Korea described the series as following “a professor’s obsessive fixation on a genius prodigy,” positioning it within their 2026 lineup of emotionally intense, character-driven dramas.
Choi Min Sik Returns to Television After Decades
For Choi Min Sik, Notes from the Last Row represents a significant milestone. The acclaimed actor only returned to Korean television in 2022 after a 25-year absence, having focused primarily on film throughout his career. He remains best known internationally for his powerhouse performance as Oh Dae Soo in Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy, a role that established him as one of Korea’s most formidable dramatic actors.
His filmography also includes Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, New World, and I Saw the Devil, all projects that showcased his ability to inhabit morally complex, psychologically damaged characters. That skill set appears well-suited to portraying Hae Mun O, a man wrestling with professional failure, creative jealousy, and an increasingly troubling fixation on his student’s potential.
Rising Star Choi Hyun Wook Takes the Lead Opposite
Playing Lee Kang is Choi Hyun Wook, a young actor whose career has steadily gained momentum through Netflix projects. He previously appeared in Racket Boys and D.P., and starred in Hi Cookie, which helped establish his range beyond supporting roles. His character in Notes from the Last Row is described as an engineering student whose literary abilities emerge unexpectedly, drawing the attention and eventual obsession of his professor.
First-look images released during Netflix’s “Next on Netflix 2026 Korea” event on January 21 showed Choi Hyun Wook sitting in the back row of a classroom, visually reinforcing the series title and the character’s peripheral position before his talent is discovered.
Supporting Cast and Creative Team
The ensemble includes several veterans of Korean television and Netflix productions:
- Huh Joon Ho plays Kim Su Hun, a successful writer and old friend of Mun O whose achievements have fueled the professor’s long-simmering jealousy. Huh previously appeared in Netflix’s Bloodhounds, Kingdom, and the upcoming Mercy for None.
- Kim Yoon Jin, known for her role in Money Heist: Korea, portrays Ahn Eun Joo, the wife of the successful writer.
- Jin Kyung plays Jo Hyeon Suk, Mun O’s psychologist wife. She has appeared in Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Queenmaker, and Black Knight.
The series is directed by Kim Kyu Tae and adapted from Juan Mayorga’s Spanish play, originally titled El Chico de la Última Fila. Mayorga’s work has been staged internationally and deals with themes of voyeurism, manipulation, and the ethical boundaries of artistic creation. The play examines the power dynamics between a teacher who encourages a student’s invasive, voyeuristic storytelling and the consequences when that encouragement spirals out of control.
Production Timeline and Release Window
Filming for Notes from the Last Row began in mid-April 2025 and wrapped by early September 2025, with post-production completed in time for the Q2 2026 release window. The series consists of six episodes, a format that has become increasingly common for Netflix’s prestige Korean dramas focused on tight, character-driven narratives.
A specific release date within the April-June window has not yet been announced, though Netflix typically confirms exact premiere dates several weeks in advance.
Part of Netflix’s Bold 2026 Korean Slate
Notes from the Last Row is one of several high-profile Korean projects Netflix is rolling out in 2026 as part of a strategy emphasizing genre-bending storytelling and emotionally complex narratives. The streaming platform described this year’s slate as capturing “every emotion that shapes our lives,” with Notes from the Last Row positioned as a suspenseful exploration of creative ambition gone dangerously wrong.
For viewers drawn to psychological thrillers that probe the darker aspects of mentorship, artistic obsession, and moral compromise, this series offers a fresh entry point into Netflix’s expanding catalog of Korean content. The combination of Choi Min Sik’s intensity and a narrative rooted in literary obsession positions Notes from the Last Row as one of the more anticipated Korean releases in the first half of 2026.
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