Renowned director Lee Eung Bok known for Goblin, Mr. Sunshine, and Sweet Home has returned with a dark new masterpiece. In an exclusive interview, he opened up about his new TVING original series Dear X and the chilling power of its lead character, Kim Yoo Jung.
A Dark Melodrama of Masks and Desire
Dear X is a melodramatic thriller based on the hit webtoon of the same name, beloved by fans worldwide. It follows Baek Ah Jin (played by Kim Yoo Jung), a woman who wears a mask to escape her personal hell and climb to the top of a corrupt world.
Lee Eung Bok described the story as “a web of love and ruin,” centering around three characters whose intertwined fates drive the suspense: Ah Jin, the mysterious woman who hides her true self behind perfection, Yoon Jun Seo (Kim Young Dae), a naive heir who falls for her, and Kim Jae Oh (Kim Do Hoon), a man who calls himself “trash” yet loves her with painful devotion.
“I was fascinated by their relationships,” Lee said. “Jun Seo’s pure heart that keeps asking, ‘Why do I love someone so cruel?’ and Jae Oh’s complete self-sacrifice for Ah Jin both moved me deeply.”
The Making of an Antihero
The director emphasized that Ah Jin is not a typical heroine. “She’s unreadable her smile, her tone, her actions never reveal what she’s thinking. The most important thing was ensuring viewers could empathize with her darkness,” he explained.
Lee added that he wanted the series to stay away from pity or melodrama. “I pushed Ah Jin further than in the original webtoon physically more painful, psychologically more unstable. I wanted her journey to be unpredictable and magnetic.”
“Kim Yoo-jung Was Simply Divine”
When asked about the cast, Lee Eung Bok couldn’t hold back his admiration. “Kim Yoo Jung was an actor I’ve always wanted to work with. She was flawless in every moment. Even in difficult scenes, she dove in without hesitation it was deeply moving.”
He described Kim Young Dae as “pure and childlike,” perfectly embodying Yoon Jun Seo, and revealed that Kim Do Hoon was cast through actor Kim Nam Hee’s recommendation: “From our first meeting, he brought incredible energy and humor.”
The director summed it up with high praise: “Every actor, from the child roles to the villains, gave their best performance. Kim Yoo Jung’s acting was possessed her snake-like words and merciless actions will make viewers both hate and root for her.”
A Rollercoaster of Emotion
Lee teased that Dear X will offer “the thrill of emotional chaos.”
“If you want something spicy,” he added with a grin, “watch without spoilers it’s the best way to feel the full impact.”
Dear X premieres November 6 at 6 p.m. KST on TVING, releasing episodes 1 to 4, followed by weekly updates.
Editor’s Insights: The ‘Dear X’ Phenomenon
The true success of Dear X lies in the total deconstruction of Kim Yoo Jung’s “Nation’s Little Sister” image. By the time the final episodes aired in late 2025, she had successfully pivoted into a “Prestige Noir” actress.
- 2026 Context: As of April 2026, her performance is the benchmark for female anti-heroes in Hallyu. Her ability to execute Director Lee Eung Bok’s “snake-like” dialogue has made her the top choice for psychological thrillers currently in pre-production for the 2026/2027 season.