The hit Korean drama "Dear X" on Tving has captivated audiences across Asia with its dark exploration of how childhood abuse can transform an innocent child into a manipulative psychopath. Starring Kim You-jung as the complex anti-heroine Baek Ah-jin, the thriller-romance series poses a fundamental question about human nature: are monsters born or made?

According to webtoon creator Ban Ji-un, who adapted her original work for television, the answer becomes crystal clear by the fourth episode. Baek Ah-jin wasn't born evil – she was shaped into a monster through years of brutal domestic violence and emotional neglect. As a young child, Ah-jin suffered horrific abuse first at the hands of her alcoholic mother, then later from her father and stepmother. This relentless trauma taught her a harsh lesson that would define her entire worldview: no one will protect you, so you must use others before they use you.

Kim You-jung delivers a chilling performance as the adult Ah-jin, a successful actress who conceals dangerous psychopathic tendencies beneath her flawless beauty and razor-sharp intelligence. The character speaks with an unnervingly cold voice and maintains an emotionless gaze while systematically exploiting and destroying the people around her, particularly the men who fall under her spell. Kim's restrained acting approach makes Ah-jin's cruelty all the more disturbing as she watches her victims' lives collapse with nothing more than a satisfied smile.

The drama presents two key male characters who become entangled in Ah-jin's web of manipulation. Yoon Jun-seo, played by Kim Young-dae, serves as her most devoted victim despite being fully aware of her cruel nature. His obsession with Ah-jin runs so deep that he even assists her in murdering her father. In a haunting monologue, Jun-seo reflects on his impossible situation: "If God existed, I'd ask why I fell in love with this devilish girl." The second victim, Choi Jeong-ho (Kim Ji-hoon), represents the tragic fate that awaits good-hearted people in Ah-jin's world. As a kind cafe owner who hires Ah-jin out of genuine compassion, he ultimately faces destruction when she frames him for murder, demonstrating one of the show's darkest themes: goodness isn't just powerless against evil – it becomes ammunition for it.

Despite her monstrous behavior, the fourth episode reveals a crucial moment of vulnerability when Ah-jin offers a rare glimpse into her damaged psyche. In a confession to Jun-seo, she explains the origins of her cruelty: "I couldn't even have a normal life like everyone else. Since I was a kid, I spent every day wondering when I'd get kicked out, how much I'd get hit. I was just trying to get through it. And now you expect me to care about other people's pain?" This brief, almost reluctant admission represents the only hint so far that some fragment of humanity might still exist within her.

Drama critic Yun Suk-jin praised "Dear X" for its unflinching portrayal of domestic violence, noting that the series depicts abuse with almost cinematic realism. "Scenes of parents whipping children and abusing them are portrayed vividly, which sets this work apart from other dramas," Yun explained. However, he also expressed concern about how such graphic violence might be exploited by producers seeking high viewership ratings, raising questions about the responsible portrayal of trauma in entertainment media.

The series has achieved remarkable commercial success, currently topping Tving's popularity charts while ranking first on HBO Max across seven Asian countries and holding third place on Disney+ Japan. This widespread popularity suggests that "Dear X" resonates with international audiences who are drawn to its complex exploration of psychological trauma and moral ambiguity. The show's success also highlights viewers' appetite for darker, more psychologically complex storytelling that doesn't shy away from difficult subjects.

Beyond entertainment value, "Dear X" serves an important social function by forcing viewers, particularly parents, to confront the long-term consequences of childhood abuse and neglect. Scientific research has consistently demonstrated strong correlations between emotional neglect and physical violence in childhood and the later development of psychopathic personality traits, lending credibility to the drama's central premise about how monsters are made rather than born.

As the series progresses, the fourth episode concluded with Ah-jin securing the biggest role of her acting career, though this professional triumph feels more like ominous foreshadowing than celebration. The moment suggests that a woman who has built her entire life around acting and manipulation may finally be stepping onto a stage she cannot control. Creator Ban Ji-un hinted at even more intense developments ahead, revealing in a recent interview: "I had goosebumps while writing Baek Ah-jin's scenes in Episode 5."

The 12-episode drama continues to release two new episodes every Thursday through December 4, promising to further explore the psychological depths of its troubled protagonist. As audiences await each new installment, "Dear X" stands as a compelling examination of how childhood trauma can create monsters while challenging viewers to consider the complex relationship between victimhood and villainy.