TVING set to unveil Dear Xa dark, breathless new drama starring Kim Yoo-jung. Inspired by the webtoon of the same name, the story follows Baek Ah-jin, a leading actress who has risen through the ranks of the entertainment industry by using others. Behind her bright smile and glamorous image, she hides a troubled past and a true nature marked by manipulation and ambition. At her side, Yoon Joon-seo, played by Kim Young-dae, is a man willing to sacrifice his own happiness to protect her, even if it means choosing hell.
A heroine with many faces
The new photos published herald a striking transformation. They show Baek Ah-jin in her high-school days, a slight smile on her lips, contrasting with another image where her vacant gaze and drenched hair betray an ominous shadow. These moments foreshadow a trajectory marked by suffering and secrets, until her rebirth as a shining star in the spotlight, acclaimed on red carpets.
Explaining her choice to take on this role, which is a far cry from anything she's played before, Kim Yoo-jung confided: "Because the drama features a colorful cast and many stories, I thought I could get some new experiences out of it. I had apprehensions and many concerns about the subject matter and genre, but mostly I was looking forward to working with the director, cast and crew."
Regarding her approach to the character of Baek Ah-jin, who is able to read others to better manipulate them, the actress added: "Baek Ah-jin uses every possible means to get what she wants, and she lives her life behind a mask. Because of her nature and the circumstances of her environment, she can seem uniquely strong and defiant."
She continues: "Rather than adding elements to flesh out the character, I concentrated on emptying her inner self and conveying her inner emptiness. To delicately embody her impenetrable emotions and inexplicable behaviors, I played by feeling this inner emptiness deep inside me. I trusted that these sensations would translate naturally onto the screen.
With Dear X, Kim You-jung delivers a radically different performance, bringing to life a complex heroine caught between public brilliance and personal abyss.
Dear X will begin airing on November 6 on TVING (awaiting an international broadcaster).
