Dear X () is a 2025 South Korean melo-thriller television series co-written by Choi Ja-won and Vanziun, directed by Lee Eung-bok and Park So-hyun, and starring Kim You-jung, Kim Young-dae, Kim Do-hoon and Lee Yul-eum. Based on Naver Webtoon of the same title by Vanziun, it depicts the rise and downfall of top actress Baek Ah-jin and her two faces hidden behind it. The series first premiered in the On Screen section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival on September 18, 2025 where two of its twelve episodes were screened. It then premiered on TVING with the release of its first four episodes on November 6, 2025, at 18:00 (KST), followed by two new episodes every Thursday, for a total of 12 episodes. It is also available for streaming on HBO Max and Viki in selected regions, on Disney+ in Japan, and on STARZPlay in MENA region.
Growing up, Baek Ah-jin faced abuse and neglect. Early on, she learned how to mask her feelings and pull the strings for her benefit. That was how she could survive and later make her ambition a path to success. As she grew older, she turned herself into an up-and-coming actress whose beauty, talent, and charm cloaked a merciless drive for fame and power. By her side since childhood was Yoon Jun-seo. He loved and protected her unconditionally and believed his devotion could save her. As Ah-jin's actions turned darker over time, Jun-seo began to question whether he had been helping or enabling her. Another person molded by a tragic past was Kim Jae-oh, who became close with Ah-jin. He played the role of being her shadow to support and protect her while being deeply involved in her moral struggles. She rose to the top in her career amid opposition from Im Re-na, a rival actress and former idol. Re-na's presence and interest in Jun-seo developed tension and rivalry, complicating the relationships between Ah-jin, Jun-seo, and Jae-oh. As Ah-jin navigated the world of entertainment, power, and betrayal, her manipulations created a web of secrets and shifting loyalties. Those who loved or trusted her, including Jun-seo and Jae-oh, became caught in the chaos.
Dear X was co-directed by Lee Eung-bok and Park So-hyun and written by Choi Ja-won, who won the grand prize at the 2018 KBS One-Act Drama Script Contest. The series is based on a popular Naver Webtoon of the same title by Vanziun, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Choi. It is planned by Studio Dragon, produced by Monster Union and Siwoo Company, and primarily distributed by TVING. The series was a recipient of the OTT-Specific Content Production Support in 2024, a program owned and operated by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) to support domestic streaming services and production companies.
On June 4, 2024, Kim You-jung was reportedly offered the role of sociopathic actress Baek Ah-jin and was considering it. A day later, Kim Young-dae was also considering joining. According to OSEN, both actors were confirmed to star together. On June 25, Kim Do-hoon received an offer and was in talks to join the series. The next day, Hwang In-youp was confirmed for a special appearance after receiving an offer. On August 8, TVING officially confirmed the casting of Kim Yoo-jung, Kim Young-dae, Kim Do-hoon and Lee Yul-eum.
The OST singer lineup, which includes Lim Kim, Elaine Kim, Minnie, Sam Ock, Cocona, and Olivia Marsh was unveiled on November 4, 2025. The music director of the series is Gaemi. Dear X soundtrack album was released on December 8, 2025; it contains all of the singles and background tracks from the series.
Singles included on the album were released from November 6, to December 4, 2025.
Dear X premiered on TVING on November 6, 2025, at 18:00 (KST). The first four episodes were released on November 6, followed by two new episodes every Thursday, for a total of 12 episodes. It is also available on HBO Max in selected regions. It was invited as one of six drama series in the On Screen section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival on September 18, 2025, where two of twelve episodes were screened. It became available in select Asian cable channels through tvN Asia on January 29, 2026, every Thursday and Friday.
Dear X received widespread acclaim from critics and was frequently described as a "prestige psychological thriller". Following its film festival screening, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) described the series as a high-energy "wicked melodrama noir". It reimagined the original webtoon's characters with a bolder narrative, leading to a more intense plot. Drama Critic Yun Suk-jin, in an article for The Korea Times wrote that Dear X "depicts the brutality of domestic violence with almost cinematic realism," further stating that by the fourth episode, it was clear that it depicted how monsters were made.
The performance of Kim You-jung was singled out as the series' defining feature, as well as her "career best performance". The Chosun Ilbo lauded her "masterful pacing between emotional outbursts and restraint," noting that her nuanced portrayal, together with how she revealed the character's pain and emptiness through a lack of emotion, significantly elevated the dramaâÂÂs overall quality. Pop Culture Critic Jeong Deok-hyeon, who also serves as judge for Baeksang Art Awards and the Republic of Korea Art Awards, described her performance as breaking away from her "Nation's Little Sister" image, transforming into "a villain who evokes both pity and horror". Times Now India also named her as one of the Top Ten Korean Performers in a Drama for 2025.
Director Lee Eung-bok was also lauded for his cinematic approach, where the use of a muted palette elevated the dark atmospheric tone of the series.
The series was a massive commercial success for TVING. Domestically, it served as a cornerstone for TVINGâÂÂs domestic growth in late 2025. Upon its release, Dear X ranked number one in new paid membership contributions for five consecutive weeks. It set new records for total viewing time and the number of completions among all TVING Original series, with the platform labeling it its "top blockbuster" of the year. Dear X also consistently ranked in the top three of the TV-OTT integrated drama buzz rankings during its run, with Kim You-jung reaching the number one spot for actor popularity in November 2025.
Internationally, the series became a global hit through distribution partnerships with HBO Max, Disney+, and Rakuten Viki:ÃÂ
Dear X served as a pivotal case study for CJ ENM's "Brand Hall" strategy. The series was a flagship title in the multi-year partnership between CJ ENM and Warner Bros. Discovery which established a branded TVING hub on HBO Max, and also on Disney+ in Japan. This model improved profitability beyond content partnerships as it enabled the sale of older titles as packaged content together with Dear X.
This "Brand Hall" strategy with Dear X as pilot has been widely discussed as a breakthrough in the South Korean content production market. Instead of reliance on single-platform release, local production companies and domestic streaming platforms could expand overseas through multiple platform agreements while also maintaining ownership of IP Content. In its Year End review, the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) recognized the "Brand Hall" model used in distributing Dear X as a benchmark for a global distribution model that could restore balance to the South Korea content ecosystem.
Financially, the series contributed to a significant turnaround for CJ ENM: Q4 2025 operating profit more than doubled year-over-year driven by the success of global content, and the advertising revenue generated by TVING through its hit originals Dear X and Transit Love 4.
Dear X was included in the 2026 Overseas Korean Wave Survey (ôì¸ÃÂÂë¥Âì¤ÃÂÂì¡°ì¬), an annual study commissioned by South KoreaâÂÂs Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The series ranked fifth among the most preferred Korean dramas globally, based on responses from 27,400 Korean cultural content consumers across 30 countries, making it the only TVING original to appear in the surveyâÂÂs top five.