Kim Yoo-jung ranks No.1 in drama buzz for Dear X. The series gains strong global streaming traction. Viewers praise her powerful transformation.
The end of mid-November 2025 brought exciting news for Kim Yoo-jung. Good Data Corporation, which monitors online media conversations, placed the actress at the top of the most talked-about TV OTT drama actors. This is an extraordinary achievement considering her new series Dear X had only aired two weeks prior. Congratulatory messages quickly filled social media timelines.
This success has also reached beyond South Korea. During its debut weekend, Dear X recorded a surge in new paid subscribers on TVING and topped the HBO Max TV show rankings in several Asian countries, such as Hong Kong and Indonesia. The series also entered the top three on Disney+ Japan and Viki United States.
Source: Screenshot of Dear X via X @hyovrse
Dark Story and Drama Competition of Dear X
The webtoon adaptation written by Vanziun tells the story of Baek Ah-jin, a top actress who appears flawless in front of the camera but takes advantage of others to reach the top. According to Wikipedia, the drama released its first four episodes on November 6, 2025, before continuing with two episodes per week. A background filled with neglect and violence shapes Ah-jin into a sociopathic figure, giving the main actress space to explore the darker side of humanity.
Kim Yoo-jung’s performance has received widespread praise. She portrays Baek Ah-jin with a balance of coldness and restrained emotions, allowing viewers to sense the cracks beneath her calm exterior. OSEN reported that many viewers consider this role one of her best transformations. The success is also supported by director Lee Eung-bok and writer Choi Ja-won, who created a dark and suspenseful visual tone.
Kim Yoo-jung’s dominance comes at a time when drama competition is becoming increasingly intense. Good Data recorded that the Netflix drama As You Stood By topped the TV OTT Integrated Drama Buzz category with a significant rise. All eight top titles surpassed a score of 10,000 points, including Typhoon Family, Dear X, The Manipulated, and several other titles. PD Won Sun-woo even referred to 2025 as a year filled with high-quality dramas.
Kim Yoo-jung’s leap to the top shows how a compelling storyline combined with global distribution can elevate popularity. In early November, she was still in second place behind Ji Chang-wook, but strong viewer support brought her to No.1 in just a matter of days. With several episodes still left to air, Dear X has a strong chance of maintaining its momentum and further strengthening Kim’s reputation as one of the best actresses of her generation. This achievement truly deserves recognition.
Support and pride from viewers also filled social media, showing how fans celebrated this milestone through various comments, such as:
“Omg! 🎉 Huge congrats to our queen Kim Yoo-jung for being #1 on the buzz charts!”
“So proud of our Kim Yoo-jung for Dear X”
“Congratulations to our actor Kim Yoo Jung; she deserves every bit of success!”
“Congrats Kim Yoo jung 👏👏👏”
“Our Yoojung is doing great, she has taken another step in her career as an actress.”
As Dear X continues to unfold, the anticipation surrounding Kim Yoo-jung’s character development and the drama’s darker narrative grows stronger among audiences both locally and internationally. With the show’s rising global visibility and her performance earning consistent praise, many viewers are eager to see how far the momentum will carry her in the remaining episodes. Whether in critical acclaim, audience engagement, or breakthrough recognition, this milestone marks another solid chapter in Kim Yoo-jung’s ongoing evolution as one of Korea’s most compelling actresses today.
Source: OSEN via ChosunBiz, Top Star News, K-HallyuNews article, Dear X Wikipedia entry.
An elegant and powerful transformation for a talented actress!
That character is so complex. Is anyone else both scared and rooting for her?
To show such restraint while conveying so much depth… it’s what separates a good performance from a truly memorable one. This will surely be a defining role in her career.