One of South Korea’s most beloved content creators is pressing pause — and this time, it’s for real.
On June 18, 2026 KST, DEX — real name Kim Jin-young, the former South Korean Navy UDT/SEAL soldier turned reality star, actor, and YouTuber — uploaded a deeply personal video titled “Taking a Break from my 7-Year YouTube Journey”, officially announcing an open-ended hiatus from his channel DEX101. Here’s everything fans need to know.
DEX : Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Kim Jin-young (김진영) |
| Known As | DEX (덱스) |
| YouTube Channel | DEX101 |
| Subscribers | 1.06 Million |
| Channel Started | 2020 (after military discharge) |
| Hiatus Announced | June 18, 2026 |
| Return Timeline | Confirmed NOT within 2026 |
| Agency | Kick The Hurdle Studio |
When Did DEX Start His YouTube Channel?
DEX launched his YouTube channel DEX101 in 2020, immediately after being discharged from the military, where he served as a member of the South Korean Navy’s elite UDT/SEAL unit. In his own words: “It’s already been 6 years since I started operating my own YouTube channel. Because I started as soon as I was discharged.”
What began as a vlog-style channel sharing daily life moments quickly snowballed — especially after his breakout appearance on Netflix’s Single’s Inferno 2 — turning DEX101 into a 1 million+ subscriber platform beloved across Korea and internationally.
Why Is DEX Taking a Break?
In the emotional farewell video, DEX was candid about his reasons, addressing his colleagues Mimiminu and Kwon Sung Jun directly:
“I’m not saying that I’m quitting for good, I’m just taking a break. This video will be like a comma… There’s a reason. Some of it is personal, and some of it has to do with my condition. All things considered, I thought it would be best to take a break from one thing if I want to show my best elsewhere.”
He also opened up about a deeper career identity crisis that many creators will recognise: “From a critical perspective, I felt like I was in an awkward situation in terms of my place in this industry. What am I good at? I’ve just gotten my foot in the door in a lot of different categories, but I’m not exactly good at any single one. It’s about time that I started getting serious about one.” allkpop
Is DEX Leaving Entertainment Entirely?
No. His agency clarified: “In recent years, Dex has been busy juggling broad activities with acting. He was starting to feel that it was difficult to keep juggling multiple activities. As of now, Dex has started a new project and intends on focusing on that project. But he is not taking a break from the entertainment industry as a whole.”
He has already made his acting mark — with a special appearance in the Netflix original drama Hounds 2 (April 2026) and a role in the upcoming film The Haunted House in the pipeline.
When Will DEX Return?
DEX confirmed: “This is the longest break that I’ve ever taken from YouTube, so there was some fear and uncertainty. But I can say for sure that I will not be back within the year.” That means fans shouldn’t expect new DEX101 content before 2027 at the earliest. allkpop
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FAQs
Q: When did DEX start his YouTube channel DEX101?
Q: Will DEX return to YouTube after his hiatus?
A: DEX has confirmed his break is not permanent, describing it as “a comma, not a period” — but has stated he will not return within 2026, with a comeback expected no earlier than 2027.
