Kim You-jung Opens Up About Her Role in 'Dear X' and On-Set Challenges

Kim You-jung, who plays the cold-hearted protagonist Baek Ah-jin in the TVING original series 'Dear X', candidly shared behind-the-scenes stories and her process of embodying the character. From fainting twice during filming to her chemistry with co-stars and addressing dating rumors, she openly discussed the tension and human struggles portrayed in the series.

'Dear X', rated for mature audiences, tells the story of Baek Ah-jin (played by Kim You-jung), a woman who wears a mask to escape hell and rise to the top, and the 'X's she cruelly tramples on. The series captures the downfall of South Korea's top actress Baek Ah-jin, who hides her cruel nature behind a beautiful face, and the love of Yoon Jun-seo (played by Kim Young-dae), who chooses hell to protect her.

The series has topped TVING's new subscription contributions for three consecutive weekends. Kim You-jung also ranked first in the TV-OTT integrated drama actor category in the Good Data Corporation's weekly buzz index released on the 18th. Regarding the enthusiastic response, Kim You-jung said, "I didn't expect such a positive reaction when the teaser was released. I hoped the good response would continue after the official release."

She added, "I felt relieved that many good reviews were written and fans liked it. Especially, I saw many evaluations from those who loved the original work saying they enjoyed it, which I think is the most fortunate."

Playing a character who manipulates others and commits heinous acts, managing her mental state was challenging. Kim You-jung admitted, "It still feels like an unsolved task. Sometimes I wonder if all the emotions accumulated during filming have been resolved." However, she noted, "The atmosphere on set was very good, unlike the work itself. I had many conversations with the directors, both about the work and personally. I prepared myself by promising to protect myself from Ah-jin."

Kim You-jung expressed that she didn't want to support the villainous Baek Ah-jin. She explained, "The work posed conflicting questions about whether one can support or throw stones at this child. I wanted to convey the message that it's important to share and empathize with each other's emotions and live kindly."

Previously, Kim You-jung revealed she fainted twice during the filming of 'Dear X', citing the scene where she kills her father as the most physically and mentally challenging. She said, "Not just that scene, but the moments when Ah-jin's grandmother and Heo In-gang leave are emotionally difficult for anyone. It wasn't the acting itself that was hard, but hiding my personal emotions was challenging."

She continued, "Although it's a sad scene for the audience, it wasn't a sad situation from Ah-jin's perspective, so hiding that emotion while acting was the hardest part."

Kim You-jung also mentioned her co-stars Kim Young-dae and Kim Do-hoon. She said they naturally built a rapport through continuous readings and meetings before filming. "We became really close and filmed like a family. There wasn't a single uncomfortable moment while acting. Everyone became their character and enjoyed acting," she said.

She added, "Both are pure, bright, and cheerful actors. It was hard to choose just one because they both contributed many ideas and respected each other. I'm grateful for that."

Kim You-jung admitted she was concerned about appearing too isolated, given Baek Ah-jin's self-imposed isolation in the series. "I worried about appearing too isolated when working with others, so I tried harder to offset that," she said. "I asked for understanding in that process and am very grateful."

Kim You-jung and Kim Do-hoon were embroiled in dating rumors in September. Reports surfaced of them being spotted at a Vietnamese airport in May, and both posted photos from a trip to Nha Trang on social media.

Addressing the dating rumors with Kim Do-hoon, she said, "We joked that we hoped the work would do well because of this." She added, "I'm pleased that people liked not only the relationship with Jun-seo but also with Jae-oh in the series. I'm happy that many people enjoy the work."

Regarding the photos from the Nha Trang trip, Kim You-jung said, "There are many photos with the director, not just the two of us. We met and filmed so often that there are many memories, and it's hard to let go."

Kim You-jung revealed she focused on portraying Baek Ah-jin, a character contrasting her bright image. She said, "I was worried about whether the character would be visible at a glance because of my bright image. I thought it was important to show a subtle boundary where viewers neither completely hate nor support the character."

Kim Se-ah, TENASIA Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr