UDT-turned-creator DEX is stepping into a bold new role—this time, as an actor under his real name, Kim Jin-young.

🎬 On July 21, the cast and crew of ENA's new Monday-Tuesday drama Eye Shopping held a press conference at Stanford Hotel in Sangam. Kim Jin-young was joined by co-stars Yum Jung-ah, Won Jin-ah, and Choi Young-jun to discuss their upcoming action-thriller series.

This marks Kim Jin-young's second acting project after his debut in the 2023 film Tarot. Reflecting on his journey, he said, "I was fascinated by the process of diving deeply into a single character for an extended time."

But the transition wasn't easy. "Acting still feels like a challenge," he admitted. "There were times I worried I might become a burden to my fellow actors."

🔥 Determined to prove himself, Kim Jin-young poured everything into the role:

"I wanted to repay everyone's patience and support by giving my all. I brought out every last ounce of energy I had."

🎥 Eye Shopping: A Brutal Fight for Survival

Based on a webtoon, Eye Shopping is an action thriller about children abandoned by their adoptive parents who survive against the odds—and seek revenge in a world where human lives are bought and sold.

Kim plays Jung-hyun, the right-hand man to Kim Se-hee (played by Yum Jung-ah), the head of an illegal adoption trafficking ring. He portrays the cold-blooded operator of the underground organization.

Director Oh Ki-hwan shared, "From our very first meeting, I saw real potential in Kim Jin-young as an actor. His improvement from the beginning to the end of filming was dramatic."

💬 Praise From Industry Veterans

Yum Jung-ah commented, "He's always sweet and approachable, like the youngest on set. But his attitude toward acting really impressed me. I'm excited for what's next."

Choi Young-jun added, "I was already a fan of DEX from his variety shows. That bold, competitive energy came through on set too. He asked questions nonstop and always wanted to learn."

Kim Jin-young didn't shy away from physically intense scenes either. He performed most of the fight sequences himself, noting, "Action acting is very different from the real thing. I struggled at first because I wasn't relaxed, but that made it all feel more raw and real."

He even shared a dramatic moment from a fight scene with Choi Young-jun:

"I gave so much power during a sequence that I nearly blacked out."

Choi laughed, adding, "He's incredibly strong and fast. At one point, he threw me for real and landed a punch before I even had time to blink."

🎯 Takeaways & What to Expect

Kim Jin-young said he learned an important lesson:

"I once heard that when you act alongside great actors, you naturally improve too. And that was exactly what I experienced on this set."

Grateful yet humbled, he added, "Everyone was far more experienced than me. Their dedication made it easier for me to stay immersed, even though I constantly worried about holding them back."

As for what viewers can expect?

"This may be fiction," he said, "but we tried to make it feel as real as possible. Look forward to the action—and everything else this story has to offer."

🕙 Eye Shopping premieres tonight at 10 PM KST on ENA.