For this week’s review, we’re diving into a drama that kept us glued to the screen, breathless and shocked week after week. Let’s talk about ‘Dear X’, a gripping, emotionally charged production that follows the downfall of a top actress whose life is built on secrets, manipulation, and survival.
Based on the Naver Webtoon of the same name by Vanziun, ‘Dear X’ is co-written by Choi Ja-won and Vanziun, and directed by Lee Eung-bok and Park So-hyun. The drama follows the chilling rise and fall of Baek Ah-jin, played brilliantly by Kim Yoo-jung, an actress whose flawless public image hides a deeply troubled past.
Growing Up in the Dark
Baek Ah-jin’s childhood is marked by neglect and abuse. From a young age she realizes she cannot feel empathy or remorse, traits that only deepen as she grows. After her mother’s death, her abusive, alcoholic father (Bae Soo-bin) partners with Hwan Ji-seon (Kim Yoo-mi), a greedy woman who joins him with the intention of selling Ah-jin for profit.
At Ji-seon’s house, Ah-jin meets Yoon Jun-seo (Kim Young-dae), Ji-seon’s son, a gentle boy who witnesses Ah-jin’s suffering and vows to protect her. As children, Ah-jin manipulates Jun-seo into a powerful emotional dependency that follows him into adulthood.
Later, as she escapes her toxic home life, the two meet Kim Jae-ho (Kim Do-hoon), another victim of abuse who finds purpose in protecting Ah-jin.
The First X
Teenage Ah-jin dreams of becoming a lawyer, but when her father steals her savings and university fund and assaults her, she decides to sever ties with him permanently. Working at a café owned by Choi Jeong-ho (Kim Ji-hoon), a former baseball player with a strong moral compass, she meticulously sets up a scenario where her father appears to be stalking her, resulting in Jeong-ho becoming the prime suspect in her father’s death.
The Second X
As suspicion rises around her father’s murder, Ah-jin signs with an entertainment agency that offers protection in exchange for a contract. Determined to climb the industry ladder, she targets Heo In-gang (Hwang In-youp), an idol-turned-actor struggling with mental health issues. Through calculated planning, she gains his trust, sparks a relationship, and skyrockets to fame.
But everything collapses when In-gang’s grandmother discovers Ah-jin’s manipulative scheme. After a tragic fall that leads to her death, In-gang spirals into depression. When he later proposes, Ah-jin rejects him and coldly reveals the truth behind their relationship, leading him to take his own life.
The Third X
After In-gang’s death, Ah-jin faces career sabotage from her agency, until she learns someone powerful has been protecting her all along. She then meets Moon Do-hyuk (Hong Jong-hyun), a wealthy entrepreneur whose interest in her stems from dark obsession. Do-hyuk wants Ah-jin entirely dependent on him, even if it destroys her.
Their toxic marriage traps her once again. Desperate to escape, Ah-jin plans her freedom, even if it requires sacrificing her most loyal friend, Jae-ho.
The Final X
Ah-jin finally reaches the peak of her career, winning Korea’s most prestigious acting award. But Jun-seo, now unable to watch her hurt more people, exposes the truth about her crimes and manipulation.
As she flees the award venue, Ah-jin confronts Jun-seo the one person who has known her true self from the beginning. Determined to stop her, he is willing to risk everything, even their lives, to end her destructive path.
A Melo-Thriller That Stays With You
‘Dear X’ stands out for its daring genre-blending, part melodrama, part psychological thriller. Ah-jin is one of the most complex anti-heroines in recent drama history: viewers feel sympathy for her trauma yet recoil at her coldness and manipulation.
Kim Yoo-jung delivers one of the strongest performances of her career. Her ability to switch between vulnerability, calculation, and cruelty is extraordinary, and her chemistry with each of her “Xs” is electric.
‘Dear X’ is a compelling, multilayered drama that needs to be experienced to be understood. Every character plays a crucial role in Ah-jin’s rise and downfall, and the series will undoubtedly be remembered as one of Kim Yoo-jung’s defining performances.
‘Dear X’ is now available on Viki, and you can check out the trailer below.
