“Too Stiff?”—Dex's Acting in Drama Debut Sparks Online Debate

'Eye Shopping' marks the drama debut of Dex (Kim Jin-young), and his acting skills have sparked varied opinions.

Premiering on the 21st, ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Eye Shopping' is an action thriller depicting the desperate survival and revenge of children abandoned by their adoptive parents, who narrowly escape death.

Dex plays Jung Hyun, a human weapon cultivated in the shadows by SH Medical Foundation's CEO Kim Se-hee (played by Yum Jung-ah) and the real operator of an illegal adoption trafficking ring. In the first episode, Jung Hyun showcased a ruthless side, eliminating anything that threatens SH Medical Foundation.

However, Dex's portrayal of Jung Hyun has divided opinions, with some finding his performance distracting. While his action scenes without dialogue were not particularly jarring, his speaking and walking scenes seemed somewhat awkward. His vacant expressions and gaze were also criticized.

Online commenters shared mixed reactions: "He seems stiff," "His walking looks uncomfortable," "He seems too tense," "I think he's fine," "Everything feels awkward," and "He barely appeared, but the criticism is harsh."



'Eye Shopping' is notable as Dex's first drama challenge, and his acting skills were immediately scrutinized following the first episode. Prior to the broadcast, senior actors like Yum Jung-ah and Choi Young-joon praised Dex's challenge during the production presentation.

Yum Jung-ah, who previously worked with Dex on tvN's variety show 'Unnies' Farm-to-Table,' praised his dedication, saying, "Jin-young was truly earnest in portraying Jung Hyun on set. He showed the rookie attitude of wanting to absorb everything, which I highly value. I see a lot of potential in him and was impressed by his attitude."

Choi Young-joon also complimented Dex's approach, saying, "What I like about the character Dex is his competitiveness and fearlessness. Jin-young was like that on set, constantly asking questions before shooting, and his eyes would light up once the camera rolled. It reminded me of my early days and was educational for me. He's already a good actor in my eyes."

Dex shared his unique mindset, saying, "I felt guilty about possibly being a flaw among such great actors. I gave my all to compensate for that feeling, trying to bring out everything I could while filming."

Despite receiving positive evaluations for his passionate attitude on set, Dex has yet to win over the viewers. However, with only the first episode aired, it remains to be seen how his performance will evolve in future episodes.

Photo = Xportsnews Park Ji-young, ENA broadcast screen

This article was originally published in Korean on Xportsnews and was translated into English using AI.

by Jo Hyejin