‘Single’s Inferno’ Dex Announces Sudden Retirement at 29: “I’m Preparing to Be a Firefighter”

YouTube and variety show star Dex has surprised fans with an unexpected career twist—announcing that he’s preparing to retire and pursue a completely different path: becoming a firefighter.

The revelation came on May 23 in a new episode titled “Kian84’s Art Hobby Club (ft. Dex, Ji Ye-eun)”, uploaded to Kian84’s YouTube channel, Life84. In the episode, Kian84 invited actress Ji Ye-eun and Dex for a day of hiking and sketching in the mountains.

Fans were thrilled by the crossover of two fan-favorite “Kian84 universes”—Ji Ye-eun from Netflix’s Bizarre BnB and Dex from MBC’s Adventure by Accident. The pairing delivered on its promise of lively chemistry and unexpected moments.

During the hike, Kian84 proposed turning their outing into a spontaneous “sketching hike.” Ji Ye-eun, just a year older than Dex, humorously insisted on being called “noona,” a Korean honorific used by younger men for older women. Dex playfully challenged her, poking fun at the age-gap formality and sparking lighthearted banter that hinted at a sibling-like dynamic between the two.

Once they found a scenic spot and settled in to draw, the conversation took a more serious turn. When asked about his mindset these days, Dex opened up with surprising honesty:

“I’ve been working hard, but my attitude toward work has changed. Back then, adjusting to a new lifestyle made each day feel painful. I burned out faster than anyone. When Yoo Jae-suk said, ‘Sometimes everything just needs to stop,’ it really hit home. I started to think—just getting this far is something to be thankful for. Now, I work with the mindset that even if everything crashes tomorrow, it’s okay.”

Then came the unexpected confession:

“If that day ever comes, I already have something else I want to do—I’m preparing to become a firefighter. Having that option gives me perspective. This career isn’t everything. That doesn’t mean I’m not giving my all right now. I plan to leave with zero regrets, whenever that time comes.”

Dex also shared a memorable moment from his recent attendance at the Baeksang Arts Awards:

“My favorite actor? Definitely Lee Byung-hun (Squid Game star). After the ceremony, I saw him getting up and instinctively said, ‘Thank you for all your hard work.’ I shook his hand and held his gaze. I must’ve looked intense, because he looked back at me with real sincerity. I just thought—when else would I get the chance to meet him?”

From reality TV stardom to reflections on burnout and future dreams, Dex’s latest appearance reminded fans of why he's one of the most relatable and unpredictable figures in Korean entertainment.

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