The spotlight’s about to get darker. The new Korean drama “Dear X,” starring Kim You-jung and Kim Young-dae, has already made waves at the 2025 Busan International Film Festival—and now it’s ready to take over your screen when it premieres Thursday, 6th November on HBO Max.
Based on the award-winning NAVER Webtoon by Van Zi-un, “Dear X” is a 12-episode romance thriller that dives deep into ambition, desire, and the price of fame. Kim You-jung plays Baek Ah Jin, a celebrated actress who hides a painful past behind her flawless image, manipulating her way to the top. By her side (and sometimes in her shadow) is Yoon Jun Seo, played by Kim Young-dae—the man who would do anything to protect her secrets.
The series has already built huge buzz thanks to its stellar cast lineup, featuring Kim You-jung (“My Demon”, “Love in the Moonlight”), Kim Young-dae (“The Penthouse: War in Life”), Kim Do-hoon (“Love Scout”), and Lee Yul-eum (“The 8 Show”).
Directed by Lee Eung-bok, the mastermind behind “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” and “Descendants of the Sun”, and co-directed by Park So-hyeon, “Dear X” promises the kind of emotional intensity and visual flair that made K-drama fans fall in love with Lee’s storytelling in the first place. The screenplay, written by Choi Ja-won and the original webtoon’s Van Zi-un, brings a layered look at power, vulnerability, and how far people will go to stay in control.
This series also marks a major milestone in the newly announced multi-year partnership between CJ ENM and Warner Bros. Discovery. “Dear X” will be the first exclusive new original series to premiere on HBO Max across the Asia Pacific region. And come 2026, fans can look forward to a TVING-branded hub on HBO Max—rolling out across 17 markets, including Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong—featuring exclusive TVING K-drama premieres and hundreds of hours of CJ ENM favourites.
Behind every spotlight lies a secret, so catch “Dear X” on HBO Max this 6th November.
