Actress Kim Yoo Jung, currently captivating audiences with her dark role in the thriller “Dear X,” recently shared a surprising story from her childhood. During a YouTube appearance, the actress, who began her career at just four years old, disclosed that she learned to read Korean by studying acting scripts.
The host, Jung Jae Hyung, expressed his amazement, stating he thought all directors in the country would know her as the “nation’s little sister.” Kim Yoo Jung explained that she has been acting since she was so young that she doesn’t really remember her early career. She revealed that because she started working before she could read, she initially memorized her lines by listening as someone read them to her.
Jung Jae Hyung responded with shock, “You memorized all that? You must’ve been a great student.”
Kim Yoo Jung added that she always had a strong desire to study and worked hard to meet standard expectations, which eventually made her very good at Korean and fast at comprehension.
A Lasting Career and Its Challenges
Kim Yoo Jung’s recent revelation adds a new layer to her public persona as a veteran in the entertainment industry. Having debuted in 2003 as a child advertisement model, she has now spent 23 years in the spotlight. This long career, however, comes with its own set of challenges.
In the same interview, she opened up about the difficulties of forming close relationships with colleagues. She shared that she often finds it hard to get close to people easily and actively works to overcome this.
“Sometimes it’s hard to get close to people easily. So, I put in a lot of effort. During filming, I always make a lot of calls. Every one or two weeks, I call everyone. I ask if they’re doing well, how their condition is, and whether they had any trouble while shooting their scenes. I think it’s important to communicate,” Kim Yoo Jung said.
The host praised this proactive approach, noting that this sense of responsibility is what truly defines a lead actor, rather than just expecting special treatment.
Transforming for a New Role
These personal stories come as Kim Yoo Jung receives widespread praise for her latest project. In the TVING original series “Dear X,” which premiered on November 6, 2025, she plays Baek Ah Jin—a top actress who is secretly a manipulative sociopath. This marks a dramatic departure from the pure and innocent “nation’s little sister” image she built over many years.
Her transformation for the role was so intense that it affected her interactions on set. She shared that during the filming of “Dear X,” she did not interact much with other actors, staying in her character’s cold mindset.
“I didn’t realize it, but people told me, ‘As soon as filming ended, you became nice again. Your eyes changed, and your expressions came back,’” she revealed.
The series is based on a popular webcomic and is directed by the award-winning director Lee Eung-bok. It follows Baek Ah Jin’s ruthless ascent to power, exploring whether a person is born evil or shaped by their circumstances. The drama is available globally on platforms including Viki, HBO Max, and Disney+ in Japan.
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Source: insight
