"In acting, I felt I needed to work as Kim Jin Young, not Dex."

Creator and media personality Dex is stepping into the public eye as actor Kim Jin Young. He has taken the plunge into the film industry with 'Tarot.' "I am grateful for the first opportunity. I did my best not to disappoint," he said.

Director Choi Byung Gil was the first to reach out. After seeing Dex’s sincerity on shows like 'Toy Soldiers: Fake Men 2,' 'Single's Inferno,' and 'Adventure by Accident,' he saw potential.

"The production company didn't know Dex well. I assured them that he could be trusted," said Director Choi.

Kim Jin Young seized the opportunity without hesitation. Despite it being his first acting role, first film, and first lead role, he faced it without fear. "I wanted to express the arrogance and audacity of youth," he said.

The film 'Tarot' held a special press conference on the 12th at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan, Seoul. Actors Jo Yeo Jeong, Kim Jin Young (Dex), Go Gyu Pil, and Director Choi Byung Gil attended.

'Tarot' is a cruel fate mystery. It tells the story of people living their daily lives who suddenly face ominous destinies foretold by tarot cards. The film is an omnibus format consisting of seven episodes, with three episodes bundled into the movie.

The episodes include Jo Yeo Jeong’s 'Santa’s Visit,' Kim Jin Young’s 'Throw Away,' and Go Gyu Pil’s 'Going Home.' Director Choi said, "We filmed it like a documentary."

Through the film, the director wanted to convey messages about the city and reality. "I wanted to talk about a mother’s maternal love, the burden of the head of a family, and a strong-willed youth. These characters represent our city's population," he explained.

Kim Jin Young stars in the episode 'Throw Away,' which serves as the film’s finale. It portrays the horror faced by a veteran delivery rider called Dong In (played by Kim Jin Young), also known as the Delivery King.

Kim Jin Young expressed, "I was frustrated with the director. He placed my episode at the end. I felt embarrassed that my acting would be shown after Jo Yeo Jeong and Go Gyu Pil’s stable performances."

Contrary to his concerns, Director Choi expressed satisfaction. "He did very well overall. I had a good feeling from the start," he said, "I think he will shine even more as an actor."

From the beginning, 'Tarot' felt like destiny for Kim Jin Young. He had received several offers from other production companies before 'Tarot,' but he turned them down because he didn't feel they were right for him.

'Tarot' was the only project he decided to join without hesitation after reading the script. "Meeting Dong In felt like destiny. There were many similarities between us, so I thought I could synchronize with the character," he recalled.

He aimed to immerse himself in the character, putting a lot of effort into image training. "I tried to overlay myself on Dong In. I wanted to express him as Kim Jin Young," he explained.

He set clear goals for his acting. "Dong In is a character who lives each day diligently. I wanted to blend arrogance and audacity from youth into him," he said, "It was a challenge to balance without overdoing it."

Kim Jin Young also referred to documentaries to experience the character’s life indirectly. "I looked at how delivery workers actually work and what challenges they face," he shared.

He proposed ad-libs as well. For example, in a scene where he talks to the snack shop owner, his script only had the lines 'Thank you, thank you.' On set, he improvised and created new dialogue.

"I felt that the director was very generous," he said, "I wanted to express more with the bright energy on set, and he readily agreed."

How did his senior actors evaluate his acting? Jo Yeo Jeong starred in 'Santa’s Visit,' and Go Gyu Pil led 'Going Home.' Go Gyu Pil said, "He did so well for his first time, it was surprising."

Kim Jin Young has built his recognition in various entertainment shows under the name Dex. However, as an actor, he is using his real name, Kim Jin Young. This choice reflects his clear value system.

"I wanted to clearly distinguish between my persona in variety shows and acting," he said, "I chose Kim Jin Young to have a new mindset, passion, and initial determination. My effort is crucial in making my name known."

Was he worried about his first acting role and the evaluations that come with it? "I’m not afraid," he said confidently. "Since I work in front of people, the more constructive criticism I receive, the more I will take it in and make corrections."

Finally, he stated, "I didn’t start this just to get a taste. I approached it with a serious mindset," he said, "The process of immersing myself in a character and expressing it was fresh and enjoyable. Next time, I’d like to try a full-on action role."

The film 'Tarot' will be released on the 14th. The remaining four episodes, which were not made into a movie, will be released as a series next month.

SEE ALSO: Captivating main poster for upcoming series 'Tarot' unveiled