Kim Yoo Jung steps into uncharted territory with Tving’s original series Dear X, premiering at 6 PM on the 6th. Based on Ban Ji Woon’s hit webtoon, she transforms into Baek Ah Jin — a femme fatale who hides behind perfection and ambition to claw her way to the top.
Dear X, written by Choi Ja Won and Ban Ji Woon and directed by Lee Eung Bok and Park So Hyun, unfolds as a melodramatic suspense tracing Ah Jin’s ruthless rise and inevitable fall. Beneath the glamour lies a darkness that consumes everything — including Yoon Jun Seo, played by Kim Young Dae, a man who sacrifices himself to protect her.
Director Lee, known for Descendants of the Sun, Sweet Home, Mr. Sunshine, and Goblin, takes on his first villain-centered series. He shared that the team worked to make Ah Jin both magnetic and monstrous, crafting a character that defies moral clarity. Writer Choi calls it a story that merges emotional weight with chilling tension, while Ban points to the intense rivalries driving the early episodes.
The spotlight burns brightest on Kim Yoo Jung’s transformation. Having evolved from child actor to one of Korea’s most versatile performers, she now channels ambition, vulnerability, and seduction in equal measure. Kim said she poured deep thought and emotion into the role, hoping viewers experience the character’s full spectrum of feelings. Director Lee remarked that her performance will have audiences torn between condemnation and sympathy.
Kim Young Dae plays Yoon Jun Seo, a man who believes love can redeem even destruction. Kim Do Hoon joins as Jae Oh, Ah Jin’s loyal shadow, and Lee Yeo Reum appears as Lena, a rival determined to take everything from her.
Dear X marks Tving’s largest global rollout yet, streaming on HBO Max and Disney+ Japan, with simultaneous premieres across 19 countries. The 12-episode drama debuts with four episodes at 6 PM, followed by two new episodes every Thursday.
