TVING’s original series Dear has officially concluded its five-week run, concluding with an explosive and deeply emotional finale that left viewers around the world starkly divided.
Episodes 11 and 12, released on December 4, mark the final fate of Baek Ah-jin (Kim Yoo-jung), Yoon Jun-seo (Kim Young-dae) and Kim Jae-oh (Kim Do-hoon), ending their turbulent journey of obsession, betrayal and self-destruction.
In the final act, Jae-oh discovers the truth behind Ah-jin’s collapse, tracing the danger of both Shim Sung-hee’s psychiatric hospitalization and Moon Do-hyuk’s (Hong Jong-hyun) disturbing behavior. Meanwhile, Ah-jin, who has partially lost her memory, remains trapped in a state of growing confusion. Jae-oh repeatedly warns her of Do-hyuk’s growing threat, but Ah-jin knows that leaving her husband means losing everything she’s built.
Jae-oh ultimately sacrifices himself in a desperate attempt to protect her. Jun-seo, consumed by guilt and unresolved trauma, faces the reality of Ah-jin’s suffering when he discovers her shivering alone in a pool. Overwhelmed by fear and desperation, he makes a tragic final decision that seals the show’s bleak and irreversible ending.
The ending stayed true to the dark tone of the original webtoon, while expanding the narrative with bold and unpredictable twists. Its depiction of toxic love, irreversible damage and moral collapse has been praised for its intensity and emotional mastery. However, not all viewers were satisfied.
Many international fans expressed frustration with the symbolic, open-ended conclusion, claiming that the final scenes offered no clear resolution. Comments ranged from confusion to disappointment, with some harping on the story “It can’t end here” and asking for a second season to complete the character arcs.
Despite the controversy, Dear X it was a global triumph. According to TVING, the drama series ranked first in 108 countries including the United States, Brazil, Mexico, France and India via streaming platform Rakuten Viki, entering the weekly Top 3 and solidifying its position as one of the most talked-about Korean series of the year.
As a debate around the Dear X The finale continues to intensify, its haunting final message remaining clear: in a world driven by obsession and fear, love can be the most destructive force of all.
Sources: TVING, TV Report
