Tving’s adult-rated original series “Dear X” has become a global hit, reaching number one on Japan’s Disney+, the streaming service announced Thursday. Known for its provocative content and intense storytelling, the series climbed to the top spot on Disney+ Japan just one week after debuting in the platform’s top three rankings, according to global OTT tracker FlixPatrol.
The series continues to dominate in other markets. On Rakuten Viki in the United States, “Dear X” has held the number one spot for three consecutive weeks, while HBO Max reports that the show is the highest-performing Asian title across 17 Asia-Pacific countries and regions, including Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Analysts cite the series as a successful example of Tving Original IP entering global markets through partnerships with major OTT platforms.
Since its November 6 release, “Dear X” has also driven domestic growth for Tving, ranking first in new paid subscriber contributions for two consecutive weekends. The show has sparked intense viewer reactions, with comments such as “truly chilling,” “insane,” and “huge hit” flooding social media.
The official ‘Dear X’ OpenTalk room on Naver, a South Korean community platform, has surpassed 1 million visitors, setting a record for Tving Original content. Fans are actively sharing reviews, discussing characters, and engaging with the show’s narrative.
“Dear X” marks Tving’s first major global release, debuting simultaneously on HBO Max, Disney+ Japan, and Rakuten Viki. The series is based on a popular webtoon and reimagines it as a psychological thriller and melodrama, blending direction, script, and acting to deliver a more intense viewing experience.
The story centers on Baek Ah-jin (played by Kim Yoo-jung), a masked woman striving to rise from despair to power, and the fates of the men she encounters along the way. The intricate plot and dark suspense have captivated viewers internationally.
Tving, South Korea’s second-largest OTT platform and top local service, continues to face a significant gap with Netflix, which has roughly 14 million monthly users compared to Tving’s 7 million. Industry watchers are closely monitoring whether hits like “Dear X” can help Tving narrow the gap with Netflix in domestic streaming.
