Actor Kim Young-dae Reflects on Career Milestone with 'Dear X' and Upcoming Military Service

Actor Kim Young-dae, who starred in TVING's 'Dear X,' has received praise for his acting skills, marking a turning point in his career. He shared, "I've heard a lot of compliments about my acting since the show aired," and expressed satisfaction with the project, saying, "I think the work turned out to be quite entertaining." As he prepares for his upcoming military service, he confidently stated, "I will start anew once I am discharged."

Kim Young-dae, who has captured public attention with 'Dear X,' was interviewed at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, on the 25th of last month. 'Dear X' 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 trampled on. It portrays 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.

On that day, Kim Young-dae expressed satisfaction with his performance and the audience's reaction, saying, "I was proud to hear that the response was positive after the broadcast," and added, "I watched the drama from the viewer's perspective, and I am grateful that it was completed in an entertaining way."

Kim Young-dae described the project as a unique experience for himself, stating, "Unlike the dramas I've participated in before, this one was so enjoyable that I watched it as a viewer. It had been a while since I enjoyed a project this much."

Previously, Kim Young-dae had revealed that he was a fan of his co-star Kim You-jung. He said, "I used to look for works featuring Kim You-jung," and added, "Although she's younger than me, she felt like a senior. She helped resolve difficult parts and was very considerate, allowing us to work comfortably as partners on set."

Kim Young-dae expressed admiration for Kim You-jung's acting skills, saying, "Watching her up close was almost intimidating. As a colleague, I felt sorry for her and wondered how exhausting it must be," and added, "Despite the many challenging scenes, she gave her best, and I found it impressive and inspiring."

He also addressed the dating rumors between Kim You-jung and Kim Do-hoon that made headlines last September. In May, sightings of the two at a Vietnamese airport sparked rumors, as both posted photos from their Nha Trang trip on social media.

Recalling the incident, Kim Young-dae said, "I was relieved it wasn't about me. I had no idea," and explained, "Kim You-jung and Kim Do-hoon were very close, and the three of us often hung out together before filming. I wanted to travel abroad too, but I couldn't because of my impending enlistment."

He continued, "I asked them to send lots of photos, and I kept seeing them in our group chat. It seemed like Do-hoon was being a gentleman, carrying luggage, which could easily be misunderstood," and added, "We all laughed a lot about it at the time."

When asked about his thoughts on Shin Min-a, who played his on-screen wife, getting married in real life, Kim Young-dae laughed and said it was amusing. Shin Min-a recently announced her marriage to actor Kim Woo-bin on the 20th of last month, drawing attention. Kim Young-dae shared, "I texted her immediately after hearing the news. I'm a fan, so I congratulated her," and added, "She didn't read it for a day, but then replied, 'Young-dae, thank you so much.'"

Regarding his enlistment, Kim Young-dae mentioned, "I think I'll go by the end of this year or early next year." He explained, "I've been working non-stop because I believed I could grow by preparing for projects, studying, and acting simultaneously," and added, "It feels like a chapter has ended."

As for his plans after discharge, he expressed a desire to take on ambitious roles, saying, "I want to become an actor who can handle roles with ambition. After discharge, I want to read all the scripts and audition for roles to seize opportunities. I want to expand my acting world in that way."

Kim Young-dae stated, "I have no anxiety about the hiatus," and added, "I'm okay with being forgotten. I want to start again by auditioning like a rookie." He concluded, "Enlistment seems like a chance for a new beginning. I think I can prepare and strengthen my resolve while spending new time there."

By Kim Se-a, TenAsia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr