Dear X starring Kim Yoo-Jung faces plagiarism controversy over its poster resembling Suspect X. Makers apologised and pulled the poster ahead of its November 6 premiere.
The upcoming Korean thriller Dear X, starring Kim Yoo-Jung, Kim Young-Dae, Kim Do-Hoon, and Lee Yul-Eum, has sparked controversy ahead of its release. The series was scheduled to premiere on November 6, 2025. However, it came under fire after the promotional poster drew comparisons to the 2017 Chinese film Suspect X, which was based on Keigo Higashino's novel The Devotion of Suspect X.
On September 8, the makers of Dear X unveiled the drama's first poster following the release of its teaser trailer. The design featured Kim Yoo-Jung, who plays the lead character Baek Ah-Jin, with one eye peeking through a torn sheet of paper, alongside bold red English lettering of the title. The poster soon became the subject of heated online discussions.
Several netizens accused the design of being a copy of Suspect X's poster. One user wrote, "It's not just similar, it's identical." Another commented, "I thought it was the male and female version." A third added, "I would've believed it was a remake."
Reactions on social media grew sharper as more comparisons were shared. "I'm a fan of the original... Please be mindful," one person said. Another remarked, "Wow, it's exactly the same. The film was so famous. Why did they copy the poster?"
Others expressed disappointment in stronger terms: "It's so similar that it's embarrassing. What was the designer thinking?"; "Did the designer really think they could get away with blatantly copying another poster?"; "This movie was so famous. I even know the poster." Several also noted, "They copied the colors, composition, and even the typography."
Following the backlash, the production team acted quickly to remove the poster. In a statement shared via Soompi, the representatives said, "We belatedly recognised the similarity to a particular reference and immediately discontinued its use. We have also decided not to use it in the future. We sincerely apologize for causing discomfort due to our failure to thoroughly review the production process. We will strengthen our review procedures to ensure such incidents do not happen again."
Dear X tells the story of Baek Ah-Jin, a celebrated actress whose carefully crafted image hides a ruthless nature. As she climbs to fame by exploiting others, her entanglement with a man who is both her protector and her weakness pushes her toward an inevitable downfall.