Ah-jin cannot let herself be pulled down by In-gang’s sufferings, so she ended her connection to him in Dear X episode 8.
Dear X episode 8 aired on November 22, 2025, alongside episode 7 via HBO Max and TVING. Episode 8, entitled Before God Judges You, explored the aftermath of the death of In-gang’s grandmother. Jun-seo somewhat believed that it was Ah-jin who killed her, but Hae-oh believes that she’s innocent.
Ah-jin broke up with In-gang after a rumor of them getting married spread. But the break-up affected In-gang more deeply than Ah-jin could imagine—leading to his demise. Seo Mi-ri tries to bring Ah-jin down, and a new character will add spice to the series.
Also Read: Pop Corner: Dear X Episode 7 Recap: Ah-jin and In-gang’s Blooming Relationship
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers about the series. Read at your own risk.
A Tragic Turning Point in Dear X Episode 8
Dear X episode 8 opens with Kyung-suk being rushed into the hospital. While In-gang hurries to her side, Ah-jin silently bows in prayer. Jun-seo watches and questions whether she’s hoping for Kyung-suk to live or quietly wishing for the opposite. Sadly, Kyung-suk doesn’t make it.
At the funeral, Ah-jin stays close to In-gang for support. She tells the police that Kyung-suk was feeding stray cats when she suddenly felt dizzy and fell down the stairs. However, brief flashbacks hint at a different moment—Kyung-suk accusing Ah-jin of destroying her grandson’s life.
Choi Jung-ho also shows up. In-mo, In-gang’s brother, has read about Jung-ho’s link to Ah-jin’s father’s death and confronts him. Jung-ho claims Ah-jin had nothing to do with it. Later, Ah-jin asks why he defended her. He explains that prison gave him time to think about her past and how different her life could have been if even one adult had protected her. He admits he feels sorry for her and sincerely hopes she finds a better path.
Meanwhile, Reporter Lim tries to get information from Ah-jin, but she hangs up on him. He then turns to Sung-hee, who immediately shuts him down. As it turns out, Jae-oh threatened to reveal Sung-hee’s own school secrets at her workplace, forcing her to stay quiet.
New Offer and Rising Doubts
During Kyung-suk’s memorial, Ah-jin runs into Director Seol Yeong-uk. He immediately shows interest in her and offers her a part in his new film. Since his projects usually reach international audiences, Mi-ri believes this could be a huge break for Ah-jin.
Meanwhile, Jun-seo can’t stop thinking about Kyung-suk’s death. He meets Ah-jin in a parking lot and asks her for the truth. Instead of answering, she mocks him and asks what he would do if she really caused it.
Back at his grandmother’s building, In-gang speaks with a neighbour. She claims she heard Kyung-suk arguing with another woman and accusing her of lying. She also mentions that someone else on the same floor has a hidden security camera that likely recorded everything. In-gang reaches out to the resident, who explains that the police already have the footage.
Elsewhere, Jae-oh manages to get that same video and brings it to Jun-seo, who waits at a bar. Jun-seo wants to see what actually happened, but Jae-oh snaps at him for demanding it, insisting that Ah-jin would never do such a thing.
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The Breakup and Its Fallout in Dear X Episode 8
Soon, an article spreads about In-gang buying a ring for Ah-jin. The rumour irritates Director Seol, who warns that it could ruin the audience’s experience of his film. He then ends the meeting and leaves in a hurry. Afterward, Mi-ri shares that In-gang plans to retire soon and asks Ah-jin if she truly wants to marry him. Ah-jin admits she intends to break up with him.
Meanwhile, Jun-seo still can’t bring himself to watch the security footage. Le-na finds him drunk at the pub and drags him home, where Jae-oh is busy cooking.
Later, Ah-jin meets In-gang at his house and ends their relationship, showing him her cold side. She even confesses that she stole his grandmother’s diary and that Kyung-suk learned the truth before she died. When In-gang asks what she did to his grandmother, Ah-jin calmly says she only told her what really happened.
She then leaves and calls Reporter Lim, telling him to prepare an article about her breakup with In-gang.
Ah-jin’s Final Blow and Its Aftermath
Ah-jin then calls Jae-oh and asks him to meet her. However, when he arrives, he notices a car tailing her and tells her to keep driving. He steps in and blocks the vehicle, demanding to know who’s inside. Suddenly, three more cars pull up and several men attack him. He wakes up later on the street and receives a call from Ah-jin. Not wanting to worry her, he lies and claims it was only paparazzi.
Meanwhile, Mi-ri shows up at In-gang’s house to help him recover from the breakup. She tells him she won’t be renewing Ah-jin’s contract and sits with him for a drink. The next day, she returns with food but finds him in the bathtub with his wrist slit—he has taken his own life.
Jae-oh ends up in the hospital because of his injuries, and Jun-seo comes to visit him. Jae-oh remembers seeing a cross tattoo on the man who attacked him, but he keeps that detail to himself. At that moment, news breaks about In-gang’s suicide.
Jun-seo rushes to Ah-jin’s place and confronts her, accusing her of destroying an entire family and lacking any sympathy. She calmly tells him that he’s free to walk away if he wants, and she won’t stop him.
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Chaos After In-gang’s Death
In-gang’s funeral takes place, and Ah-jin slips into his apartment. She sits beside the empty bathtub and quietly asks him to understand her choices. Soon after, the public turns vicious. Fans protest outside the agency and chase Ah-jin while throwing eggs at her. Shockingly, Sung-hee shields her from the crowd and guides her home, though she hints that Ah-jin should repay her before leaving with some clothes.
Meanwhile, Mi-ri also changes sides. She meets Reporter Lim and suggests they work together to expose the truth about Ah-jin’s father and destroy her reputation. Back at Ah-jin’s place, Ji-sun arrives. She kneels and apologizes for everything, but Ah-jin refuses to accept it. As Ji-sun leaves, she asks Ah-jin to tell Jun-seo what she said. Suddenly, Ah-jin bursts into unsettling laughter.
The Truth Behind Kyung-suk’s Death in Dear X Episode 8
A flashback reveals what really happened that night. Ah-jin admits she used the diary but insists she genuinely cared for both In-gang and Kyung-suk. The old woman responds with kindness, saying she still sees Ah-jin as family. She hugs her and promises to keep everything quiet.
Back in the present, Ah-jin tells Ji-sun she hated her most when she showed kindness because it made her afraid of caring in return. She says hope is something she can’t afford.
The flashback continues as Kyung-suk steps out to feed the kittens. She calls Ah-jin over, but suddenly becomes dizzy and falls down the stairs just as Ah-jin reaches for her. At home, Jun-seo finally watches the security footage and learns the truth.
Dear X episode 8 ends with a new, powerful figure—the same man who noticed Ah-jin from his car earlier. His men were the ones who attacked Jae-oh. Now, he orders them to uncover how Ah-jin is connected to Jun-seo and Jae-oh.
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Dear X Episode 8 Review
Dear X episode 8 delivers another gripping episode, even though the ending stretches a bit long. The story raises the stakes with two major deaths, keeping the pressure high from start to finish. Ah-jin continues making bold moves and steering every situation her way. Still, the whole episode hangs on one question—did she push Kyung-suk down the stairs? Learning that she didn’t brings a small sense of relief.
Over time, the show makes it easy to root for Ah-jin, no matter how cold her actions seem. Kyung-suk’s acceptance gives Ah-jin a touch of softness, but it also leaves a few loose ends. What exactly did the neighbour see? And why would Ah-jin treat In-gang so harshly when she clearly cared for his grandmother? Even with a few uneven moments, the drama stays strong enough to keep you watching.
Kim Yoo-jung shines once again as Ah-jin, shifting from gentle to calculating in seconds without overacting. In-gang’s death hits hard, thanks to Hwang In-yeop’s emotional performance. Still, Dear X wastes no time. A new figure steps into the story, clearly powerful and already focused on Ah-jin—hinting that the game is far from over.
Catch the episodes of Dear X on TVING and HBO Max. New episodes will be available every Thursday with two episodes each week. It airs every 18:00 (KST) / 17:00 (PHT) on HBO Max and TVING.
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