Jaehwa Bernardo

In ‘Dear X,’ Kim You-jung portrays Baek Ah-jin, a top actress who often manipulates others to get what she wants. Photo courtesy of TVING, Studio Dragon and HBO Max

Article (news)

Kim You-jung reflects on challenges, lessons learned from ‘Dear X’ role

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763621563180HBO Max_Dear X_001_Credit TVING l Studio Dragon l HBO Max.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>In ‘Dear X,’ Kim You-jung portrays Baek Ah-jin, a popular actress who often manipulates others to get what she wants. Photo courtesy of TVING, Studio Dragon and HBO Max</div>Being an actor often demands a profound grasp of one’s character. But for South Korean actress Kim You-jung, that connection didn’t come easily at first as she stepped into the role of the cold and manipulative Baek Ah-jin in the melodramatic thriller “Dear X.”But rather than let that disconnect discourage her, You-jung chose a different approach — one that allowed her to inhabit the character more convincingly.“Baek Ah-jin was a character I couldn’t fully comprehend as well. When we first started filming, I worked closely with the director to understand the character better but at some point, I realized I needed to use that uncertainty to my advantage,” You-jung said in a Q&amp;A shared by HBO Max, where “Dear X” <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/10/16/kim-you-jung-kim-young-dae-s-dear-x-coming-to-hbo-max-in-november-1638">is also available for streaming</a>.“I began approaching the character more instinctively, acting on my emotions in the moment. It wasn’t easy to balance her range of emotions while subtly portraying her anxiety. Staying focused in character required physical and mental endurance. The biggest challenge was distancing myself from being consumed by the character I was playing,” the 26-year-old actress said when asked about the difficulties of the role.Premiering on November 6, the 12-part “Dear X” centers on Ah-jin, who grows up in an abusive household and later becomes a celebrated actress, who often manipulates those around her in order to get what she wants.<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4_s3l_jrEmM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></div>Among those fiercely devoted to Ah-jin are her childhood friend Yoon Jun-seo (played by Kim Young-dae) and Kim Jae-oh (Kim Do-hoon), whom she grows close to during her school years. She also develops a tense rivalry with fellow actress Le-na (Lee Yul-eum).You-jung — who began her career as a child actress in dramas like “Dong Yi” and “Moon Embracing the Sun” before moving on to lead roles in “Backstreet Rookie,” “My Demon” and “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/2/15/watch-kim-yoo-jung-s-odd-transformation-in-chicken-nugget-teaser-1237">Chicken Nugget</a>” — said she took on the project because the story intrigued her, especially as she was already familiar with the original webtoon.“[But] what ultimately convinced me to take on the role was a conversation I had with the director, reaffirming that we shared the same vision for the live-action series and that we could create something that would resonate deeply with viewers today,” she said.For the actress, “Dear X” offers a story about “the fundamental aspects of being human — our morals, relationships, desires and the extremes the characters are willing to go to.”“I don’t think anyone can learn the lesson of morality from Baek Ah-jin, but her behavior provokes questions about how we interact with others. Ah-jin often crosses the line beyond what’s considered acceptable yet she never takes a step back to reflect on her actions. In a way, her story might be a reminder that all actions will have consequences,” she said.You-jung believes that beneath Ah-jin’s cold and detached exterior lies “someone who has been deeply wounded.”“I hope viewers understand that while she is ruthless, she is still human and has flaws, and that she would go to the extreme ends to get her way,” she said.It’s that same empathy and understanding that You-jung hopes viewers will take away from the series. “Deprived of human connection and emotion, Baek Ah-jin&#x27;s reality is brutal and playing her has made me realize how important empathy is, as a human being,” she said.“My hope is that viewers appreciate the series and form their own interpretation of the characters and that the storyline encourages them to be kind and compassionate.”

Being an actor often demands a profound grasp of one's character. But for South Korean actress Kim You-jung, that connection didn't come easily at first as she stepped into the role of the manipulative Baek Ah-jin in the melodramatic thriller 'Dear X.'

Being an actor often demands a profound grasp of one's character. But for South Korean actress Kim You-jung, that connection didn't come easily at first as she stepped into the role of the manipulative Baek Ah-jin in the melodramatic thriller 'Dear X.'