'Dear X' Star Kim Yoo-jung: “I Fainted While Filming a Violent Scene—Uncontrollable Laughter Led to Ruin” [Interview]

[Financial News] "Even my close friends reached out, saying, 'You were scary, you worked so hard and did so well.' People who know me well sometimes find it hard to watch my work because of the disconnect, but this time, they told me they truly enjoyed it. It makes me happy and proud."
With the TVING original series 'Dear X' approaching its finale next week, Kim Yoo-jung, who has successfully transformed her acting style, met with reporters at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 25th.
Based on the popular WEBTOON of the same name, 'Dear X' tells the story of Baek A-Jin (played by Kim Yoo-jung), a woman who wears a mask to escape hell and reach the top, and the Xs who are cruelly trampled by her. The series is directed by Lee Eung-bok, known for 'Guardian: The Lonely and Great God,' 'Mr. Sunshine,' and 'Sweet Home.'
Episodes 9 and 10, released on the 27th, depicted actress Baek A-Jin, who falls from grace after the death of her ex-lover and top star Heo In-gang (Hwang In-youp), making a comeback by teaming up with successful entrepreneur Moon Do-hyuk (Hong Jong-hyun). However, after marrying into the upper class, A-Jin soon discovers another side to her husband. In contrast to the series' tragic developments, Kim Yoo-jung was all smiles, buoyed by the show's positive reception.

Baek A-Jin is both a victim of horrific domestic violence and a sociopath who manipulates those around her for her own survival. If someone crosses her, whether it's a teacher or a classmate, she takes ruthless revenge. Sometimes, like with Heo In-gang, she uses people without hesitation for her own success.
In this process, she treats Junseo (Kim Young-dae), who was once her legal sibling, and Jae-o (Kim Do-hoon), a high school friend with no place to turn due to a violent home, as loyal followers. Junseo, who failed to protect A-Jin from her mother's abuse, carries a sense of guilt, which A-Jin continually exploits through gaslighting. For Jae-o, A-Jin is a special person who made him feel useful when he thought he was worthless. Both call her "boss" and support her, but A-Jin, despite knowing their true feelings, dates other men and marries without warning.



How did Kim Yoo-jung prepare for the enigmatic character of Baek A-Jin? She said, "A-Jin is a character whose true feelings are rarely revealed, so the nuances in tone were crucial." She added, "Many of her lines are delivered abruptly, so I tried to vary the endings or lengthen the pauses to add flavor. I wanted to find moments that would make those close to her feel uneasy."
She also endured several intense violent scenes. In particular, while filming a scene with her father, she actually fainted on set. She recalled, "We shot that scene over several days, and it was emotionally and physically exhausting." She explained, "During the final scene where I kill my father, I was so drained that I collapsed. I was so immersed in the moment that I felt dazed, as if I were somewhere else, and I couldn't wake up easily."
In a physical fight scene with Junseo’s mother, she laughed maniacally, sending chills down viewers’ spines. Kim Yoo-jung said, "I started laughing uncontrollably without realizing it. Since it was a scene where repressed emotions suddenly exploded, I wanted to mix various feelings. I felt that I could show my true emotions only to Junseo’s mother." She added, "As I laughed, I even felt like I was losing control of my body."
Ji-seon (Kim Yoo-mi), who married A-Jin’s father after her own husband died, is portrayed as an immoral and shameless character. Junseo is the child of an affair, and after her husband’s death, Ji-seon briefly remarried A-Jin’s father before divorcing him. She lives recklessly, squanders money, and seeks help from her father-in-law and son whenever she runs out of funds.

Understanding Baek A-Jin was not easy. Kim Yoo-jung said, "I tried not to force myself to understand A-Jin, but rather to accept that 'this is how she acts.'" She continued, "What was more difficult was suppressing the emotions that instinctively surfaced within me. In episodes 7 to 9, there were moments when sadness could have emerged, but since A-Jin is not someone who feels such emotions, I had to suppress my own feelings while acting."
Unexpected viewer reactions were both surprising and fascinating. Kim Yoo-jung said, "Before filming, I never thought A-Jin was pitiful or felt the urge to support her." However, "Being in her situation, I saw her loneliness and struggles. The director and I focused on the question, 'Could we throw stones at this person? Could we support her?'"
Regarding the support for A-Jin, she said, "I think it’s because of her unfortunate family background and the fact that everyone ultimately lives for themselves." She analyzed, "A-Jin is someone who lives for herself to an extreme degree. That desire exists in everyone, but she expresses it in the wrong way."
Instead of relying on external references to portray a sociopath, Kim Yoo-jung consulted with a psychologist. She explained, "I was curious whether someone could actually behave this way or lack emotions, so I sought advice from a psychology professor." She also mentioned that the director provided a list of gaslighting phrases commonly used by such individuals before filming, but she found them so disturbing that she had to stop reading. Still, she incorporated elements that fit each situation as she built the character.

What are Baek A-Jin’s feelings toward the people around her? Regarding Heo In-gang, who made an extreme choice after being abandoned by A-Jin following her grandmother’s death, she said, "I didn’t feel a typical kind of love for him."



However, she believes A-Jin had her own unique affection for those around her. She interpreted, "A-Jin felt a different kind of emotion toward In-gang compared to Junseo and Jae-o." In particular, In-gang’s grandmother was the first true adult A-Jin ever met, and even after learning the truth, she forgave and embraced A-Jin.
Regarding the anecdote where Kim Young-dae, who played Junseo, confessed he was intimidated by Kim Yoo-jung’s presence on set, she said, "The atmosphere on set was great. Especially Kim Young-dae and Kim Do-hoon stood before me as their characters. Thanks to them, I was able to immerse myself completely, and even now, Junseo and Jae-o still feel like those characters to me." She expressed her deep affection for the cast and the project.
As for the direction of the ending, she hinted, "It seems like a story of destruction is coming." She explained, "The work itself is a chronicle of Baek A-Jin, and the overall framework is the same as the original. Since webtoons and dramas are different mediums, we adapted the story to fill in the narrative gaps for viewers." She added, "As expected, the story heads toward catastrophe. Please watch to see what kind of ruin unfolds."
"From the beginning, I felt this work makes you ponder what humanity is. There are various opinions, but ultimately, I think everything is about humanity."
Meanwhile, as Kim Yoo-jung marks her 20th year since debut, she candidly shared her anxieties and pressures as an actress. She said, "Even if I appear calm on the outside, I sometimes feel anxious and impatient because I’m only human. Since my job is to be seen and to prove myself, I try to steady myself when these thoughts arise." She added, "While the positive response to this project brings some pressure, I’m trying to reorganize myself with a mindset of starting anew," revealing a more resolute side.


jashin@fnnews.com Shin Jin-ah Reporter