Dear X cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the latest thriller K-drama

Dear X is among the newly released K-dramas, with Kim Yoo-jung leading the cast as Baek Ah-jin. What's unique about this character is that she isn't the typical female lead from a rom-com, but a woman who rose to power after experiencing only torture and scars throughout her childhood.

The story kicks off with flashbacks revealing how violent and brutal Ah-jin's parents were. Not only her father, but even her mother was an alcoholic who forced Ah-jin to steal and abused her regularly.

And the day when Ah-jin's father, Baek Seong-gyu, killed his wife, their daughter had no option but to stay silent and watch her mother dying a brutal death. During her high school years, Ah-jin staged Seong-gyu's death, putting an end to her father, who kept torturing her.

At this point, it might look that Ah-jin is left with no one in her life. Being a poor girl, she did suffer for years, but also made some true friends and a secret lover. And now, Baek Ah-jin is one of the top actresses in Korea, who managed to hide her dark past and now lives a seemingly perfect life.

Curious to know who else stars in this melodramatic thriller? A cast and character guide is right below!

Dear X cast and character guide: Exploring the main figures in the latest K-drama

While Kim Yoo-jung appears as the anti-heroine in Dear X, the K-drama also features other acclaimed stars from the entertainment industry. Here's a look at the main cast members:

1) Kim Yoo-jung plays Baek Ah-jin

Baek Ah-jin in her high school days (Image via X @tvingdotcom)

Kim Yoo-jung appears as Baek Ah-jin, who was once a helpless kid and then learned to turn her pain into power. Ah-jin is highly skilled at manipulating people, especially those who try to ruin her reputation or hurt her.

As seen in the first four episodes of Dear X, Ah-jin didn't just stage her father's death, but also destroyed a teacher's life and the family of her rival in high school. The reasons? They tried to bring her down.

Also Read: Dear X release schedule: When do new episodes of the K-drama drop?

2) Kim Young-dae plays Yoon Jun-seo

Jun-seo attended school with Ah-jin (Image via X @tvingdotcom)

Kim Young-dae plays the male lead, Yoon Jun-seo, who was introduced to Ah-jin as her stepbrother. However, the two never had a sibling bond, and Jun-seo ended up falling in love with Ah-jin. He's the secret lover in Dear X, whom Ah-jin can't expose.

Jun-seo knows about all of Ah-jin's revenge plans and how she has ruined people's lives including an innocent cafe owner who only wanted to protect her. But since Jun-seo loves Ah-jin, he cannot let the world know about her hidden dark secrets.

3) Kim Do-hoon as Kim Jae-oh

Kim Jae-oh protects Ah-jin (Image via X @tvingdotcom)

Kim Do-hoon appears as Kim Jae-oh, Ah-jin's best friend since childhood. Just like Ah-jin, Jae-oh also faced abuse from his parents and even ended up killing his father. However, it was an accident, and to prevent Jae-oh from getting a longer prison sentence, Ah-jin helped him fake grief and manipulate others.

At the same time, Jae-oh likes Ah-jin. He isn't just a friend but also someone who wants to be in Ah-jin's life forever. But little does Jae-oh know that Ah-jin's manipulation can also ruin his life.

Also Read: Dear X Episodes 1–4 recap: How Baek Ah-jin turns trauma into terrifying power

4) Lee Yul-eum plays Lena

Lena is Ah-jin's rival actress (Image via X @viki)

Actress Lee Yul-eum plays Lena in Dear X, who happens to be Ah-jin's rival when she joins the entertainment industry. Their bond is marked by jealousy and competition, and Lena might face really tough times if she tries to clash with Ah-jin.

The supporting cast and guest roles in the Dear X K-drama explored

Apart from the main cast, Dear X has several other actors who will appear in guest and supporting roles. The actors who will be seen playing guest roles include:

Hwang In-youp as Heo In-gang: He will be Ah-jin's partner from the entertainment industry, and the two will make headlines for the pairing.

Kim Ji-hoon as Choi Jeong-ho: The actor was seen in episode 2 of Dear X, who owned a cafe, and ended up being locked inside prison after Ah-jin manipulated him.

Other guest stars include Hong Min-ki, Lee Ung-jae, Jeon Goon-hwak, and more. As for the supporting cast, actors like Kim Yi-kyeong, Kim Yoo-mi, Hong Jong-hyun and more will be seen playing key figures.