Introduction
This drama was the one I had anticipated since it was announced for the first time, thanks to its thriller-romance genre and the leading actress, Kim Yoo Joung. Back in 2019, the actress introduced me to Asian dramaland through her 2012 drama Moon Embracing the Sun (해를 품은 달). It was the first Asian drama I watched, and her role was the teenage version of the Female Lead, which she played when she was only 12. Although she was just a supporting actress, her portrayal of a young heroine was a crucial part of the drama’s success and solidified her status as a beloved child star in Korea. She was famously nicknamed the “Nation’s Little Sister.”
Initially, I wanted to write a review about Dear X, but after binge-watching the drama in one go, I was emotionally drained. It was not that I didn’t prepare for the intensity. Although I didn’t read the Webtoon, I read the summary about the story, including the ending, thus I was aware of the dark theme.
Later, I read comments and reviews on the drama with divided opinions of the leading character, Baek A Jin, with one extreme declaring that she must die because of her crimes, while the other extreme declares she is a broken character because of her past. As I pondered, I think the polar opposite opinions, comments, and reviews might come from misconceptions about the drama. So, I changed my article from a general review about the drama to an editorial specifically exploring the misconceptions that may arise, what this drama is not. I hope that this may help clarify why there is such polarity, due to misinterpretations of specific show details, or unrealistic expectations of the drama based on the knowledge of the real world.
This article will contain some spoilers, ranging from minor to major. I don’t conceal the minor spoilers with spoiler tags because they don’t reveal the main plot. I will put the medium and major spoilers with spoiler tags. At the end of the article, there will be major spoilers of the story ending with spoiler tags, if you’re curious what the ending will be.
Drama Info
Drama title: Dear X (Native title: 친애하는 X)
Alternative titles: Chinaehaneun X
Genres: Thriller, Psychological, Melodrama
Aired: 6 Nov, 2025 - 4 Dec, 2025
Episodes: 12 | Duration: 60 min.
Directors: Lee Eun Bok (이응복) and Park So Hyun (박소현)
Screenwriters: Choi Ja Won (최자원) and Ban Ji Un (반지운)
Content Rating: 18+ Restricted (violence & profanity)
Adapted from the webtoon "Dear X" (친애하는 X) by Ban Ji Un (반지운).
Where to read the original work: Webtoon
Where to watch: HBO Max, Viki, and Starzplay
OST
Surprisingly, there are only six OST songs, unlike the usual Korean dramas with many OSTs. However, they are all powerful with unhinged lyrics (translated with each song’s link below). My favorite is “Insane” by Elaine. Not that I play it in a loop as usual for favorite OSTs, but the melody and lyrics give me creeps.
Run & Run by Lim Kim/Kim Ye Rim (림킴)
Insane by Elaine (일레인)
Devil’s Angel by Minnie (민니) from i-dle
Goodbye by Sam Ock (샘 옥)
Ego by Cocona (코코나)
Eyes on Me by Olivia Marsh/Gyuna (규나)
Trailer
Synopsis
Dear X tells the story of Baek Ah-jin, a successful actress who hides her history of trauma and rises to the top through manipulation and deception. (Source: HBO Max)
Characters
Relationship Chart
Main Characters
Kim You Jung (김유정) as Baek A Jin
She is a top actress in South Korea who hides a cruel nature beneath her beautiful face. A figure who climbed to the highest position by layering and stepping on the wounds of a precarious childhood, wearing a mask to survive. Her specialty was reading and manipulating the hearts of others, but when she finally reached the summit while neglecting her own heart, everything began to crumble.
Kim You Dae (김영대) as Yun Jun Seo
Yun Jun Seo, who has been by Baek A Jin’s side his entire life, is her only refuge and her fatal Achilles’ heel (weakness point). He, who would walk through any mud for Baek A Jin, now moves to tear down everything he has protected for the sake of love.
Kim Do Hoon (김도훈) as Kim Jae O
He stays by Baek A Jin’s side in a different way from Yun Jun Seo. Kim Jae O, who survived a harsh life, endured abuse from his father, and was caught up in a cult. Finding a reason to live in Baek A Jin, who shared his pain, he willingly becomes her shadow.
Lee Yeol Eum (이열음) as Im Re Na
A former idol turned actor, who rose to the ranks of a top star due to her outstanding visuals and luck. Even though acting ability controversies follow her like a shadow, she’s a person with an iron will who never gets discouraged and has optimistic personality. Until Baek A Jin and Yun Jun Seo, who shake her mental state, appear. The more Re Na loves Yun Jun Seo, the more she realizes she’s reaching for something unattainable.
Supporting Characters
Sim Seung Hui (Kim Yi Kyeong) – A Jin’s rival
Baek Seon Gyu (Bae Soo Bin) – A Jin’s father
Hwang Ji Seon (Kim Yoo Mi) – Jun Seo’s mother/A Jin’s stepmother
Seo Mi Ri (Kim Ji Young) – Longstar Entertainment CEO
Choi Jeong Ho (Kim Ji Hoon) – Xanadu Coffee cafe owner/A Jin former boss
Heo In Gang (Hwang In Youp) – Actor
Moon Do Hyeok (Hong Jong Hyun) – A Jin’s fiancé
My Rating
My rating for this drama was based on MyDramaList’s scoring system, which is from 0.0 to 10.0. For any drama/movie/show I completed, I gave a minimum rating of 6.0 to appreciate the hard work of the production team, and to adjust to MyDramaList’s overall score base. From 6.0, this drama has additional scores of:
+1.0 for the unconventional story, not the typical drama plot.
+1.0 for the characterization and acting, especially the Female Lead and the leading actress.
+1.0 for the cinematography, beautiful costumes of the celebrities after A Jin enter the entertainment industry.
+0.5 for the emotional involvement while watching it. (the thrill, the exhaustion, the sadness)
My final rating is 9.5/10.
What This Drama Is Not
This drama is not a typical K-drama
Reasons why I think Dear X is an atypical Kdrama:
It’s a dark psychological thriller: Dear X is not just a psychological thriller, but a dark one. The drama hooks the audience with its intricate and brutal storyline. A typical psychological thriller plot centers on a protagonist facing a deep inner conflict, often triggered by an external mystery or threat, leading them to question their own sanity, reality, or identity. However, Baek A Jin neither faces an inner conflict nor questions her sanity.
Irredeemable main character: Baek A Jin is a sociopath who uses her intelligence and stunning appearance to control those around her throughout the whole drama. She doesn’t look for a cure. This is not typical of K-drama heroes/heroines, who usually undergo character growth despite having ambiguous morality or complex motivations at the beginning.
I will explore more about sociopathy later.
Difficulty in rooting for the main character: The narrative intentionally makes it difficult for the audience to decide whether to root for Baek A Jin or not. We are forced to confront our own morals and sympathy as the show explores her abusive past while not excusing her present actions. The typical K-drama is, no matter how bad the protagonist seems, we are bound to root for the character.
Challenging characters’ heroic actions: The show questions the idea of good versus evil. Why does a character love Baek A Jin, knowing well that she is bad? Why does a character want to save her, knowing well that she doesn’t want to change? Does the character do it genuinely, or is the deed driven by selfish ambition and obsession?
Lack of clear resolution: Some viewers felt that the ending lacks the typical redemptive arc (Baek A Jin is saved/cured/redeemed) or clear consequences (Baek A Jin is punished/dead), leaving an open ending that may lead to a second season. The ending represents Baek A Jin’s nature of being a sociopath.
Kim Jae O
This drama is not a healing drama
With dramas presenting protagonists with mental health disorders, automatically, viewers want them to show improvement or even a cure for their conditions. In Dear X, the protagonist Baek A Jin is a sociopath. Sociopathy is an informal term for people with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD).
While reading comments and reviews, I came across confusion between sociopathy and psychopathy. With this article, I took the liberty of exploring the difference between the two conditions briefly. From the drama, it’s explicit that one character, but not A Jin, might be a psychopath.
The official diagnosis for ASPD is the clinical term for a pattern of violating others’ rights, failing to conform to laws, deceit, impulsivity, aggression, and lack of remorse. This is according to the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Psychopathy is not a standalone diagnosis in the DSM because of a lack of consensus on its definition, a perception that it is too stigmatizing, and because many of its core features are covered by the diagnosis of ASPD.
The layman’s terms to easily explain the differences:
Sociopath: Often described as having a weak conscience or some capacity for empathy, but still choosing to disregard it. Behaviors can be erratic, impulsive, and linked to poor upbringing or trauma.
Psychopath: Believed to have no conscience or empathy, appearing charming and normal (high-functioning) while being predatory and calculating. More innate or biological factors are often cited.
As a sociopath (she’s never been diagnosed with ASPD), Baek A Jin doesn’t seek cures because she doesn’t see her traits as problems. On the contrary, she views manipulation and lack of empathy as strengths or tools for personal gain, and she doesn’t feel remorse or a need for change. In general, a sociopath might seek treatment for co-occurring issues like depression or addiction. Their mindset, rooted in a lack of concern for rules, others’ feelings, and self-reflection, makes them resistant to traditional therapies, which often focus on internal insight and emotional connection, concepts foreign to them.
The times when Baek A Jin genuinely cries during other people’s deaths (major spoiler)
Heo In Gang’s grandmother, Hong Gyeong Suk, collapsed accidentally (due to a dizzy spell) while A Jin was present. A Jin failed to reach Hong Gyeong Suk during the emergency. A Jin prayed earnestly for Heo In Gang’s grandmother to live, but the old lady died eventually. A Jin cried for her death.
Baek A Jin also cried when she was with Kim Jae O shortly before his death. Her cry at this time was not purely mourning, but was more of confusion and guilt. She was also in excruciating heartache when reflecting on her past with Jae O.
The one possible instrument of healing
This drama is not a romance
I disagree that Dear X has a romance genre; at least it’s not the typical romance drama that viewers want to see. If a drama is marketed as a romance, viewers expect the central couple to end up together, happy, or at least an open ending with the possibility of them being happy in the future.
Moreover, a typical romance drama centers on the development of a strong romantic relationship between lead characters, often utilizing specific tropes and narrative structures. These dramas emphasize emotion, personal growth, and overcoming significant obstacles that threaten the couple’s union.
Being a sociopath, Baek A Jin experiences a form of attachment to men, but it’s different from typical love, characterized more by fascination, personal benefit, or conditional connection, rather than deep empathy, self-sacrifice, or genuine emotional depth. Her relationships with men in the drama lack the selfless care and emotional understanding common in non-sociopathic love.
By the way, the “X” in Dear X, doesn’t refer to her ex-lover, but it’s clarified in the image below.
Let me give you examples in the drama (with spoiler tags)
Baek A Jin and Yun Jun Seo
Baek A Jin’s relationship with Yun Jun Seo is a complex, twisted bond built on childhood trauma, dependence, manipulation, and shared guilt. A Jin manipulates Jun Seo, using him to achieve her goals, while she clings to him out of fear and a warped sense of need, not healthy love. Jun Seo’s love is driven by guilt (his mother abused A Jin), which becomes an unhealthy, obsessive devotion, even as she uses him. In the end, she views him as an obstacle to her freedom, abandoning him and choosing to sever ties with her past rather than embrace his twisted affection.
Baek A Jin and Kim Jae O
Kim Jae O had deep feelings for A Jin since childhood because they both shared a history of enduring abuse, and he found in her a reason to live. He remained devoted to her and tried to protect her, even in his final moments. On the other hand, A Jin used Jae O to her advantage. She saw him as a tool, and her actions toward Jae O are driven by her ambition and desire for success, not love for him.
Baek A Jin and Heo In Gang
A Jin saw Heo In Gang as a means to climb higher in the entertainment industry, because he is an established actor. She used her insight into his vulnerabilities to draw him in. Although initially wary of A Jin, with her clever plan, Heo In Gang eventually fell for her and genuinely cared for her. Their relationship ended tragically.
Baek A Jin and Moon Do Hyeok
Their relationship is not one of mutual love; instead, it is characterized by obsession, manipulation, and a toxic power struggle. Moon Do Hyeok is a wealthy, dangerous, and equally obsessive character who finds A Jin fascinating. He views her as someone he wants to claim. He supports her ambitions with the underlying intention of controlling her. She endures a toxic relationship with him out of desperation to maintain her luxurious life and power, but she is gradually losing her mind and control due to his suffocation.
Posters misleading to a romance drama, even a love triangle
This drama is not like the Webtoon (especially the ending)
Live-action drama adaptations differ from original novels or webtoons due to inherent differences in the mediums, practical production constraints, and the creative interpretations of the screenwriters. In Dear X‘s case, we know from the Drama Info section above that the Webtoon creator, Ban Ji Un, also served as the screenwriter of the drama.
Fans of the original webtoon were particularly disappointed because the drama’s ending diverged significantly from the source material, which they felt was more conclusive, and A Jin actually faced her karma.
If you have never read the Webtoon and are curious about the Webtoon ending, below is the summary in spoiler tag.
Webtoon ending
After Jun Seo exposes A Jin’s wrongdoings, leading to her public downfall, she attempts suicide but is saved by Jae O. They move to Hong Kong. Later, A Jin leaves Jae Oh to pursue a wealthy man (not Moon Do Hyeok). The man’s daughter pushes A Jin down the stairs, severely injuring her face and body. Shen then undergoes plastic surgery that changes her appearance. Following her recovery, A Jin, now with a new face, returns to Korea and delivers her final revenge on Jun Seo.
What kind of revenge? The thing is, in the Webtoon, A Jin and Jun Seo have a daughter together. She becomes pregnant after manipulating Jun Seo to sleep with her. The initial plan is to claim the child as Moon Do Hyeok’s to secure her future (Moon Do Hyeok in the Webtoon is not a psychopath, and he’s also infertile).
After returning to Korea, A Jin sends Jun Seo a letter revealing their daughter, but she won’t tell their daughter about her father’s existence as a form of revenge. During her final revenge on Jun Seo, A Jin uses their child to ask for his autograph during his book signing event. The girl then informs him that her mother’s name is Baek A Jin, but it’s too late; mother and daughter have left. Jun Seo will live the rest of his life with longing and regret, wondering about his daughter, but unable to connect with her.
After reading the ending in Webtoon, I do prefer the drama ending.
Why I like the drama ending better than the Webtoon’s
One, I don’t think I will take another emotional distress with the Webtoon’s subplot with her manipulating another man, whose daughter later ruins her face.
Two, using a child as a means of revenge is too cruel in my opinion. Judging that A Jin has never received mother love and care, who knows what she’ll do to her child? Another cycle of child abuse, perhaps. That might be the motivation of the Webtoon creator to give such an end, since Jun Seo would also worry about his daughter under the ‘care’ of A Jin.
Three, the karma in the drama seems more effective than in the Webtoon. Although A Jin is not disfigured, besides losing her reputation after Jun Seo’s revelation, she has lost people who are devoted to her, who she can depend on (to be used) in the future. She also loses her identity, since she’s regarded as dead. In the Webtoon, she still has Kim Jae O, and now her daughter, whom she can manipulate in the future.
Below are several Baek A Jin’s facial expressions at the ending scene, which I interpreted as ranging from happiness, shock/disbelief, sadness, and disgust, showing Kim You Jung’s mastery of acting.
The Reason to Watch the Drama
If you haven’t watched the drama and read this article, you may wonder, Why do you want to watch Dear X then? If it’s not a romance, it’s not a healing drama; the protagonist is irredeemable, and the ending is inconclusive.
First of all, let me list some positive reviews regarding other aspects. Dear X is praised for its sharp pacing, complex characters, stunning cinematography, and stellar performances, especially from lead Kim Yoo Jung, who masterfully portrays a chilling sociopath, making it a must-watch for fans of gripping, non-traditional K-dramas that leave you unsettled and thinking.
Moreover, we get to find out what the actual themes of this drama are that the Webtoon creator, the production company, and the screenwriters want to show the audience. Knowing a drama’s themes is crucial because themes provide the story’s deep meaning, connecting plot and characters to universal human experiences, making the story emotionally resonant, memorable, and relevant, allowing viewers to see themselves in the narrative and ponder bigger questions about life, love, or morality.
The negative effects of domestic violence and child abuse. A central theme is how childhood domestic violence and emotional neglect shape Baek A Jin’s adult personality. The drama portrays the lasting scars of abuse and how, without support, these wounds can rewire a person’s brain, leading to the development of sociopathic or manipulative traits as survival instincts.
The psychology of manipulation. Baek A Jin is a master manipulator who uses her charm and beauty to control people and climb the social ladder. The show explores the mechanisms of psychological manipulation and the damage it causes to victims.
The duality of human nature: A Jin maintains a good public persona externally, both when she was a child and as a top actress, while hiding a dark inner self. The drama constantly blurs the line between victim and villain, leaving the audience to question if A Jin is inherently bad or a product of her circumstances. The duality of human nature is also present in Jun Seo and Jae O in a smaller screen time.
Toxic relationships: The drama explores different forms of obsessive relationships. I will give you an example of A Jin and Jae O’s friendship/relationship, which is safely mentioned in one of the synopses. Like A Jin, Jae O had a difficult background, making him vulnerable to her influence and creating a strong bond over shared trauma. Jae O’s life gained purpose through A Jin, and he was willing to be used by A Jin, because it meant being needed and valued by her.
The dark side of the entertainment industry: Through A Jin, actress Kim Rei Na, actor Heo In Gang, and CEO Seo Mi Ri, the drama explores ambition and the ruthless pursuit of success within the competitive entertainment industry. A Jin’s rise from misery to power and her eventual downfall, highlight the moral compromises people make to achieve their dreams.
Baek A Jin and Heo In Gang
Conclusion
In conclusion, Dear X is a hard watch and a wild ride. After recovering from emotional exhaustion and overwhelm, I thought about it and decided to write an editorial instead. As a powerful tool for emotional connection, education, and social change, the drama delivers messages I explored below.
The long-term impact of child abuse: A significant message is the importance of addressing mental health and the devastating, long-lasting consequences of untreated childhood trauma. As I studied about ASPD to write this article, I learned that the best chance for preventing ASPD is early intervention before age 15.
Questioning morality: The show challenges traditional K-drama narratives by presenting an unapologetic anti-heroine and forcing viewers to confront their own perceptions of right and wrong, and the nature of evil. The series suggests that when faced with a “kill or be killed” world, some people will do whatever it takes to survive, regardless of the moral implications.
Love as a complex force: The drama questions whether love can truly counter evil or if it can become twisted into an unhealthy obsession or dependence. Would you stop loving someone if you discovered they were evil? The actions of those around A Jin force the audience to consider their own perceptions of morality, loyalty, and forgiveness.
Spoilers
What is the ending?
It’s up to the viewer’s interpretation.
How is the ending?
Kim Jae O died, killed by Moon Do Hyeok’s men. After exposing her crimes, Yun Jun Seo wanted to kill Baek A Jin and kill himself by intentionally driving the car, with both of them inside, off the cliff. However, A Jin survived and left Jun Seo in the car to die.
