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Dex
Dex (Kim Jin-young, 김진영) is a South Korean entertainer, actor, YouTuber and former Republic of Korea Navy UDT special forces soldier. Born June 9, 1995 in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, he served with the 251st UDT class from 2016 to 2020, including a deployment to the 13th Akh Unit in the United Arab Emirates. After discharge, he transitioned into entertainment through military variety content.
Dex rose to national prominence through Netflix Single's Inferno Season 2 (2022), where his combination of athletic physicality, candid humor, and effortless charm made him a fan favorite. He earned the nickname "Catfish Man" (메기남) as a late arrival who shook up existing dynamics. His success led to a return as a panel member for Seasons 3, 4, and 5 of the show, joining hosts Hong Jin-kyung, Lee Da-hee, KYUHYUN, and HANHAE.
Beyond Single's Inferno, Dex has appeared on Bloody Game 2 (2023), co-hosted the 2023 MBC Entertainment Awards with Jun Hyun-moo and Lee Se-young, and became a regular on travel variety Adventure by Accident (2023-2025) with Kian84, Pani Bottle, and Lee Si-eon. He hosts the YouTube interview show Dex's Fridge Interview for Channel 117. His YouTube channel @dex101 has crossed 1 million subscribers.
In 2024-2025, Dex expanded into acting. He appeared in horror-thriller Tarot: The Seven Chapter Story (2024) and action thriller The Defects (2025) as a main villain. He filmed special appearances for Netflix Bloodhounds Season 2, premiering April 2026. In September 2025, he was cast as the lead in The Haunted House, a Korea-Japan film based on Banana Yoshimoto's short story from Dead-End Memories.
1 articles15 creditsSouth Korean
Gallery
Filmography
2026
The Haunted HouseFilm
Lead actor
2026
Bloodhounds Season 2K-Drama
Special appearance
2025
The DefectsK-Drama
Main villain
2024
Tarot: The Seven Chapter StoryK-Drama
Actor
Other Credits
2026
Single's Inferno Season 5Reality
Panel member
2025
Single's Inferno Season 4Reality
Panel member
2024
Zombieverse: New BloodReality
Cast member
2024
Fresh off the SeaVariety
Cast member
2024
The Zone: Survival Mission 3Variety
Cast member
2024
My Name is GabrielVariety
Cast member
2023
Single's Inferno Season 3Reality
Panel member
2023
Bloody Game 2Reality
Contestant
2023
Adventure by AccidentVariety
Regular member
2023
2023 MBC Entertainment AwardsTV Special
Host
2022
Single's Inferno Season 2Reality
Contestant
Fans Also Ask
Who is Dex?
Dex (Kim Jin-young, born June 9, 1995) is a South Korean entertainer and former Navy UDT special forces soldier. After completing military service in 2020, he entered entertainment and broke through on Netflix Single's Inferno Season 2 (2022). He has since hosted major award shows, appeared on variety programs, and built a YouTube audience exceeding 1 million subscribers at @dex101.
What did Dex do in the military?
Dex served in the Republic of Korea Navy UDT (Underwater Demolition Team), the elite special forces unit comparable to Navy SEALs. He was part of the 251st UDT class and served from 2016 to 2020, including a deployment to the 13th Akh Unit in the UAE. His military background has shaped his tough, grounded public image.
What shows has Dex appeared on?
Dex is best known for Single's Inferno Season 2 (2022, Netflix), returning as a panel member for Seasons 3-5. He appeared on Bloody Game 2 (2023), Adventure by Accident (2023-2025), Zombieverse: New Blood (2024), The Zone: Survival Mission 3 (2024), and Fresh off the Sea (2024). He hosted the 2023 MBC Entertainment Awards.
Is Dex still on Single's Inferno?
Yes. Dex joined Single's Inferno as a panel member starting with Season 3 (2023) and has continued through Season 4 (2025) and Season 5 (2026). He provides commentary alongside hosts Hong Jin-kyung, Lee Da-hee, KYUHYUN, and HANHAE, offering insight from his experience as a Season 2 contestant.
What is Dex doing in 2026?
In 2026, Dex appears on Single's Inferno Season 5 as a panel member and makes a special appearance in Netflix Bloodhounds Season 2 (April 2026). He is filming The Haunted House, a Korea-Japan film based on Banana Yoshimoto's Dead-End Memories, in which he plays the lead role.
