Kim Yoo-jung has taken a bold step in her acting career by successfully portraying the “crazed” antagonist Baek Ah-jin in the hit drama Dear X. In a recent interview with Korean media, she revealed that some friends began avoiding her after watching the series due to the intensity of her performance. Remarkably, she also admitted to experiencing temporary memory loss after emotionally charged scenes, unable to recall her own acting.
In the drama, Kim Yoo-jung completely shed her previous image of innocence and sweetness, bringing to life Baek Ah-jin, a character with antisocial personality traits, who is driven solely by ambition and a desire for power.
Reflecting on the drastic change, she shared with a smile: “Everyone who watched it said it was ‘scary’… some friends even avoided me. But my family and close friends found it fascinating. Fans of the original webtoon said, ‘You look exactly like Baek Ah-jin stepping out of the novel,’ which truly made me happy.”
To prepare for the role, she studied the psychology of antisocial personalities meticulously. The production team consulted experts and compiled a collection of common phrases and manipulative tactics used by such individuals. “Reading just a few lines like, ‘You have the right to criticize me, but I won’t do the same to you,’ I was completely absorbed. I knew I couldn’t read more without being drawn in,” Kim Yoo-jung explained.
During filming, she admitted to losing herself in the character, experiencing weight loss and emotional strain. “ There were moments when Baek Ah-jin’s circumstances mirrored my own emotions at the time, so I didn’t want to pull away. The director and fellow actors helped me return to myself after scenes so I could interact normally off-camera,” she said.
The actress also recalled her memory lapses during particularly intense scenes, such as confrontations with Shim Sung-hee (Kim Yi-kyung) and her father (Bae Soo-bin) on the rooftop. “It felt like short-term memory loss. Some scenes I had no recollection of filming because the emotions were overwhelming. Watching my own expressions later, I was shocked to see how cruel I could appear,” she revealed.
Dear X quickly gained international recognition. Within four days of release, it topped TVING’s paid subscriptions, becoming the first Korean series to launch simultaneously on HBO Max and Disney+ Japan. According to FlixPatrol, the series ranked #1 on HBO Max in seven countries and reached the top 3 on Disney+ Japan.
Alongside the show’s success, Kim Yoo-jung topped the Good Data ranking for most popular TV actors, confirming her breakthrough performance and the transformative impact of this role on her career.
Kim Yoo-jung’s portrayal of Baek Ah-jin marks a significant milestone, demonstrating her range as an actress and her willingness to fully immerse herself in complex, challenging roles.
Sources: k14
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