Dex, a former UDT special forces soldier turned entertainer, has made his small screen drama debut in ENA’s new action thriller 'The Defects.' However, the response from viewers has been less than enthusiastic, with many criticizing his acting performance as unconvincing and awkward.
'The Defects,' which premiered on July 21, airs every Monday and Tuesday on ENA and is also available via the OTT platform TVING. The series follows a group of children who were abandoned by their adoptive parents and survived near-death experiences. It explores their journey of survival and revenge against those responsible.
Dex plays the role of Jung Hyun, the de facto operator of an illegal adoption and human trafficking ring. This marks his first appearance in a TV drama after debuting in LG U+ Mobile’s original web series 'Tarot' last year. In 'The Defects,' Jung Hyun is portrayed as a loyal subordinate to Kim Se Hee, the head of the SH Medical Foundation, and a cold-blooded villain who does not hesitate to commit murder.
The premiere featured several action-heavy scenes, including fistfights, shootouts, and car chases, which Dex handled with competence, thanks in part to his physical background. However, his performance in dialogue-heavy moments was met with disappointment. Critics and viewers alike pointed to unnatural eye movement, stiff posture, and awkward line delivery as major weaknesses.
Lines such as “How can this be undone when you already know everything?”, “Well, that’s good. The insurance payout should be around 3 billion KRW (about $2.14 million). Your wife will be pleased. It’s an amount no journalist’s salary could ever reach,” and “Where is Choi Si Woo? If you don’t find that bastard, you’re dead,” were cited as examples of underwhelming delivery.
While veteran actors like Yum Jung Ah, Choi Young Joon, and Kim Soo Ro brought gravitas to their roles, Dex’s comparatively rigid acting was seen by many as jarring and immersion-breaking.
Social media and online forums were flooded with negative reactions, including comments such as:
“He walks like a video game character.”
"His vocal projection is unstable.”
“Even in brief scenes, he looks awkward.”
"He only moves one arm when he acts.”
"It feels very unnatural overall.”
“This performance feels too unpolished for such an important role.”
“The drama is not a training ground for beginner actors.”
“Action scenes were okay, but that’s about it.”
At the press conference held prior to the premiere, director Oh Ki Hwan defended the casting, stating, “I didn’t choose him because he’s a celebrity. I met with him as an aspiring actor and saw potential.” He added, “There was a noticeable difference in his performance between the first month and the final stages of filming. I believe he has room to grow.”
Given that Dex’s character is central to the story of 'The Defects,' all eyes are on whether he can improve over time and prove critics wrong as the series progresses.
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