With the highly anticipated finale of TVING’s original series Dear X arriving on December 4, actress Kim Yoo Jung is offering a bold promise: “Whatever viewers are imagining, the ending will go far beyond that.” Her statement has fueled widespread speculation as the drama approaches its final chapter.
Adapted from the popular webtoon, Dear X follows Baek Ah Jin a woman who wears a perfect mask to escape her personal hell and ascend to the highest tiers of stardom. Behind her beauty lies a chilling, meticulously hidden cruelty, and Kim Yoo Jung’s performance marks her first full-fledged villain role since Elegant Lies (2014).
A Dark, Seductive Villain and a Career-Defining Performance
Kim Yoo Jung explained that Baek Ah Jin is a character she could not root for, nor excuse.
“Playing her forced me to constantly question: Can I understand her? Can I judge her? She’s someone who never developed an idea of ‘happiness,’ only an obsession with avoiding pain,” she shared.
To capture Ah Jin’s intensity, she and the production team worked hard from the earliest scenes to establish a powerful, unforgettable visual identity one that viewers would immediately recognize as both alluring and dangerous.
Despite Ah Jin’s coldness, Yoo Jung said she worried about whether she could properly connect with her co-stars on set. But fellow leads Kim Do Hoon and Kim Young Dae cultivated a warm, collaborative atmosphere. “They were bright, thoughtful, and incredibly supportive,” she said. “We became close early on, and because of that, every scene felt natural.”
Rumors, Chemistry, and Unbreakable Teamwork
Their chemistry became so convincing that dating rumors briefly surfaced.
“I just joked, ‘If it helps the series succeed, great!’” Yoo Jung laughed. “We took a lot of photos together even with the directors. We created so many memories that finishing the project feels bittersweet.”
A Finale That Will Leave Viewers Thinking Long After
While Yoo-jung kept specific plot points tightly guarded, she admitted one thing: the most shocking turning point for Baek Ah Jin has not yet been revealed. “I was stunned when I read the final script,” she said. “There were definitely moments where she could have stopped… but she didn’t.”
As for how she hopes the drama will be received, Yoo-jung said, “I want people to feel the ending lands well. I hope it becomes a story that lingers one that makes viewers wonder about these characters long after it’s over.”