Dear X (webtoon)
| Dear X | |
|---|---|
| 친애하는 X Chinaehaneun X | |
| Genre | Psychological thriller |
| Author | Ban Ki-woon |
| Publisher | Naver Webtoon |
| English publisher | Line Webtoon |
| Original run | July 20, 2019 – October 3, 2021 |
| Television adaptation(s) | |
| Dear X (2025) | |
Dear X (Korean: 친애하는 X; RR: Chinaehaneun X) is a South Korean manhwa released as a webtoon written and illustrated by Ban Ki-woon. It was serialized via Naver Corporation's webtoon platform, Naver Webtoon, from July 2019 to September 2020, totaling 62 chapters and an epilogue.
As of December 2025, the official English version of Dear X has accumulated 358,681 subscribers and 10.8 million views.[1] It was also adapted into a television series of the same name which premiered on TVING on November 6, 2025.
Synopsis
The narrative follows Baek Ah-jin, a top-tier actress celebrated for her "angelic" image while secretly harboring a sociopathic nature. The story is divided into four distinct parts, which together form the English sentence "I AM NOT PROVOKE HEARTLESS MONSTER" (a grammatical error intended to read "I do not provoke a heartless monster"). Each part covers a specific era of Ah-jin's life:
- Part 1 (I AM NOT): Focuses on Ah-jin's traumatic childhood and early motivations (2002–2012).
- Part 2 (PROVOKE): Covers her school days and the initial development of her manipulative personality.
- Part 3 (HEARTLESS): Details her climb through the entertainment industry as an aspiring actor.
- Part 4 (MONSTER): Depicts her ultimate downfall in 2019 following the exposure of her past during her engagement.
Characters
- Baek Ah-jin: A famous actress who uses her beauty and intellect to manipulate others for her own benefit.
- Yoon Joon-seo: The sub-protagonist and Ah-jin's stepbrother. He is a writer who authors a sequel to a book titled Common Criminal, which he names Dear X.
- Kim Jae-oh: A man who identifies as "trash" and serves as Ah-jin's loyal accomplice, carrying out her most dangerous requests.
Adaptation
Dear X has been adapted into a 12-episode South Korean television series of the same name by Monster Union and Siwoo Company, which premiered on TVING on November 6, 2025.[2] The casting of Kim You-jung, Kim Young-dae, Kim Do-hoon, and Lee Yul-eum was officially confirmed by August 8, 2024.[3]
References
- ^ "Dear X". Webtoon. Archived from the original on December 22, 2025. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ "눈빛부터 달리진 김유정, 티빙 '친애하는 X' 11월 6일 공개". m.entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ "김유정·김영대·김도훈·이열음 '친애하는 X' 출연확정 [공식]". 스포츠동아 (in Korean). August 8, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
External links
- Official website on Naver Webtoon (in Korean)
- Official website on Line Webtoon