Updated: December 5, 2025
Here’s a collection of quotes from the Korean drama, Dear X (2025):
Episode 1
“You know, people like you are the first to die in movies.” – Baek Ah Jin
“I don’t need stuff. But I do need a person.” – Baek Ah Jin
“No matter how useless I am, I can’t beat up my parents.” – Jae Oh
“What’s so wrong with protecting yourself?” – Baek Ah Jin
“You’re not useless. At least, not to me.” – Baek Ah Jin
“You act like a perfect student then shake kids down for cash behind their backs.” – Sim Sung Hee
“How come you mouth off to me but let others walk all over you?” – Jae Oh
“Don’t say it’s because of me. This is all on you.” – Baek Ah Jin
“You really thought you could beat me, didn’t you? You can’t, Sung Hee.” – Baek Ah Jin
“As you said I’m practically an orphan. But it’s not like I was born without parents.” – Baek Ah Jin
“I just remember her as my first X.” – Baek Ah Jin
“Sung Hee, thank you for being my target. Truly you made school life so much less boring.” – Baek Ah Jin
“She’s a devil. A devil wearing human skin.” – Sim Sung Hee
Episode 2
“Get some counseling over in hell and be born again. Who knows? In your next life, your daughter might save you.” – Baek Ah Jin
“I won’t ever live like you. I won’t die like you, either. Watch from where you are just how far I climb. Then you’ll feel less wronged about how you died and your death will carry more value.” – Baek Ah Jin
“Why would you go to such lengths for her? You’re complete strangers.” – Baek Seon Gyu
“Would you like to be a celebrity?” – Seo Miri
“Pretend to regret it. So people will pity you.” – Baek Ah Jin
“Even if you go to prison, you’ll still be free since you’ve cut the chain that was tying you down. What’s important is what happens next.” – Baek Ah Jin
“You were a victim before you were an assailant. Appeal with that.” – Baek Ah Jin
“Do you think your mom loves you? She doesn’t let you go outside and she won’t even let you say hi to the neighbors. Why do you think that is? Your mom. She’s ashamed of you. Because she doesn’t love you.” – Baek Ah Jin
“I won’t die easily, either. I’m pretty lucky and I’m a lot like my mom.” – Baek Ah Jin
“You don’t have to listen to the bad things grown-ups say.” – Jun Seo
“The you must know X is a bad grown-up.” – Baek Ah Jin
“Do you still like X?” – Baek Ah Jin
“I only like you, Ah Jin. You’re the only nice person at home.” – Jun Seo
“If I hadn’t cross paths with that man then his life would’ve been completely different.” – Baek Ah Jin
Episode 3
“Why do you think I met someone like him at this point in my life?” – Baek Ah Jin
“How far would you go for me?” – Baek Ah Jin
“I don’t care if you get hurt but I don’t want to be the one who hurts you. I don’t want to lose you.” – Baek Ah Jin
“You know I don’t treat you like I treat everyone else.” – Baek Ah Jin
“Sometimes, you scare me. But I think it’s because you weren’t loved growing up so I don’t know what to do.” – Jun Seo
“Do you ever regret it? Helping someone when it isn’t really your problem. Sacrificing yourself for no gain. Forgiving and rooting for the friend who ruined your career.” – Baek Ah Jin
“I’m not the type to dwell on regrets.” – Choi Jung Ho
“He’s a good adult. He’s driven by justice and willing to help others. He’s the kind of adult I need right now.” – Baek Ah Jin
“Everything has its use. Even small things, if used right, can turn into an opportunity.” – Baek Ah Jin
“You weren’t the only one who had to wait. I’ve also been waiting for this moment.” – Baek Ah Jin
“And so, she offered up a sacrifice and broke free from her shackles.” – Jun Seo
Episode 4
“You’re the one who made me this way. Think of this as your punishment for ruining my childhood.” – Baek Ah Jin
“We live in a country where the people without power can’t clear their names or protect what’s theirs.” – Seo Miri
“I never got to have a normal life like other people. Ever since I was little, I spent everyday wondering when I’d get kicked out, of how bad the next beating would be. So why should I care about other people’s pain?” – Baek Ah Jin
“You may be right. But you don’t know how I feel because you haven’t walked in my shoes. You’re not me so you’ll never understand.” – Baek Ah Jin
“Your kindness will put me in danger. You’re too kind. And to me, that’s a shackle, just like my father. You keep dragging me down. I’m saying this is goodbye.” – Baek Ah Jin
“I’ll climb to the top, where no one will dare stand in my way. I want to be reborn at the very top.” – Baek Ah Jin
“Where you’re headed could be the loneliest, most miserable place there is.” – Jun Seo
“It’s not like I even know what happiness is.” – Baek Ah Jin
“If she ever finds happiness, it’ll come at the cost of someone else’s pain. That illusion of happiness will never last. I’m certain of it.” – Jun Seo
“If there’s a god, I’d like to ask him this, why is it that I love someone so cruel?” – Baek Ah Jin
Episode 5
“Don’t ask me for reasons. Look for the reasons in yourself. That’s the only way you won’t be replaced next time.” – Baek Ah Jin
“I’ll climb steadily so this doesn’t happen again.” – Baek Ah Jin
“If you keep this up, you’ll only end up more upset.” – Baek Ah Jin
“My misfortune turned into your commodity.” – Baek Ah Jin
“I’ve always suffered. I thought I had escaped but I was always in the same place. I’m sick of it.” – Baek Ah Jin
“Jun-seo, help me. I want to learn to love him. Heo In-gang.” – Baek Ah Jin
Episode 6
“Did you see that? I’m still stuck in that hell.” – Baek Ah Jin
“I just want her to live an ordinary life. That’s why I need you. Because she’s more likely to live a normal life through you, rather than me.” – Jun Seo
“And Heo In-gang is just a step that I need in my current situation. A lovely set of steps that will help me get to the top.” – Baek Ah Jin
“There are so many dangerous people in this line of work. You have no idea.” – Heo In Gang
Episode 7
“Boss. That really hurts.” – Kim Jae Oh
“People are always curious about celebrity relationships. Someone else’s love life is always more entertaining.” – Baek Ah Jin
“This is just the beginning. Hell doesn’t end with a single blow.” – Baek Ah Jin
“I like you better than anything.” – Heo In Gang
“Keep acting like a wife and I’ll change the door code.” – Jun Seo
“I’m suddenly interested in you.” – Kim Jae Oh
“I don’t have a home. And if I leave, you’ll die. Of boredom.” – Kim Jae Oh
“No matter what happens, I’m on your side.” – Mrs Hong
“Everyone says I’m a bad person. What am I to you?” – Baek Ah Jin
“When I’m with Ah-jin, it feels like a dream. I catch myself smiling for no reason. People say I’ve gone mad. But I’m happy. I’m so happy that it scares me. I’m scared that this will end. I’m afraid I’ll be the one who destroys this happiness.” – Heo In Gang
“I’m so grateful that you were born and that you came into my life. It’s been a year and when I’m with you, my heart still races. This might be sudden, but I hope you won’t say no.” – Heo In Gang
Episode 8
“At that fork where one life stands between life and death, what kind of prayer did desperate Ah-jin offer up? At death’s door was that one’s life or one’s end?” – Jun Seo
“If you had had even one proper adult in your life as a child, I thought your path might have been different.” – Choi Jung Ho
“There’s no such thing as best revenge. What just happened was that you missed your one and only chance to take revenge on me.” – Baek Ah Jin
“Ah-jin is a rising sun and In-gang is a setting sun. She’s gotten everything she could out of him.” – Reporter Lim
“How can a person change so completely overnight?” – Heo In Gang
“Given your tragic life, I’m probably not even nightmare-worthy. Don’t make a scene over something as ordinary as a breakup.” – Baek Ah Jin
“You were pretending ignorance.” – Baek Ah Jin
“Can’t you just live like a normal person?” – Jun Seo
“When you condemn me, you’re actually condemning your past self.” – Baek Ah Jin
“Everyone ends up abandoned and broken in life. You were just too weak.” – Baek Ah Jin
“Don’t pick fights you can’t win, and get out.” – Baek Ah Jin
“In hell, hope is something you should never hold onto.” – Baek Ah Jin
Episodes 9-10
“I’ll have to undo the knot I tied myself. And that means sending you back to the life you came from.” – Seo Miri
“The one year he spent with me meant more to him than the ten years he spent with you.” – Baek Ah Jin
“The same hands that used to stroke your hair are the ones that shoved my head underwater.” – Baek Ah Jin
“When has my life ever been easy?” – Baek Ah Jin
“The people you keep hurting are the people I care about the most.” – Jun Seo
“You believed in me when everyone else turned their backs.” – Baek Ah Jin
“I never thought my miserable life would captivate anyone.” – Baek Ah Jin
“How high do you want to go?” – Moon Do Hyuk
“I’ll wipe away all the stains from your past. And you’ll start over by my side.” – Moon Do Hyuk
“A safe, solid fence. That’s what I need. Are you saying you can give me that?” – Baek Ah Jin
“My life isn’t worth betting on.” – Kim Jae Oh
Episode 11
“Why do I always have to suffer? Why only me?” – Baek Ah Jin
“I just want to live. I want to protect everything I’ve achieved. I don’t want to lose any of it.” – Baek Ah Jin
“If divorce isn’t an option, we just have to put a leash on him so he can’t mess with you again.” – Kim Jae Oh
“If I become someone indispensable in your life, I’d be honored.” – Moon Do Hyuk
“Why should I live my life the way you want?” – Baek Ah Jin
“Do you know what I realized today? I realized I could still be thrown away.” – Baek Ah Jin
“After all I’ve done to climb up here, how can I still be someone who gets thrown away?” – Baek Ah Jin
“Why is he allowed to do whatever he wants, and I’m not? Why am I always the one who has to suffer? Why am I the only one who has to fear hitting rock bottom?” – Baek Ah Jin
“Maybe it’s because I don’t have much in my life but you’re everything to me.” – Kim Jae Oh
“Use me all you want. That’s what I want.” – Kim Jae Oh
Episode 12
“Knowing too much will get you hurt.” – Kim Jae Oh
“Because we’re husband and wife, I’m telling you not to treat me like a doll. If I am your wife, you should treat me as your equal.” – Baek Ah Jin
“You’re not the only one who can corner me or discard me.” – Baek Ah Jin
“With your perfect little life, a single crack will stand out. Can you handle that, Mr. Perfectionist?” – Baek Ah Jin
“Who has the right to condemn me? Who can understand my situation and my position right now?” – Baek Ah Jin
“I can’t stop. I won’t stop. If you knew how dangerously I’m hanging onto this position, you wouldn’t tell me to stop.” – Baek Ah Jin
“Because her final appearance will stay in people’s memories as her most beautiful one.” – Jun Seo
“Every step I took to get here wasn’t easy. But I never stopped. I kept moving forward and eventually, I got here. To everyone who walked with me on my journey to today, I offer my sincere gratitude.” – Baek Ah Jin
“If you truly have nowhere to go, how about we go to hell together.” – Jun Seo
“I thought there was nothing left that could tie me down. But it was you. My final shackle.” – Baek Ah Jin
“At some point, your presence started feeling like a blade stuck in my heart. Even in death, I wouldn’t be able to understand or forgive you. So, in this life, I wanted to clearly sever anything tied to you and leave. And I wanted to disappear from your life, too. That’s the best choice.” – Jun Seo
“I gave you one last brief moment of happiness so you can live the rest of your life with that in mind.” – Jun Seo
Genre: Crime, Romance, Thriller
Synopsis: The story of a top actress who uses manipulation to survive and a man who chooses hell to save her during her downfall.
No. of episodes: 12
Cast: Kim Yoo Jung, Kim Young Dae, Kim Do Hoon, Lee Yul Eum
Screenwriter: Choi Jawon
Directors: Lee Eung Bok, Park Sohyun
Network: TVING
Streaming platform: Viki, HBO Max
Date: November 6, 2025
HBO Max English subtitle translation:
Ho Young Yun, Jennifer Jean Lim, Hye Lim Park
Images: TVING, HBO Max
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