Kim Da Mi Defends "Nine Puzzles" Character Against Sociopath Claims

Kim Da Mi addresses criticism of her quirky criminal profiler Yoon I-na in Disney+'s hit thriller "Nine Puzzles," firmly rejecting viewer interpretations of the character as sociopathic.

Kim Da Mi recently defended her distinctive portrayal of criminal profiler Yoon I-na in Disney+'s psychological thriller "Nine Puzzles" during an interview with Xports News on June 5 in Seoul. The actress addressed polarizing viewer reactions to her character's unconventional mannerisms.

"Nine Puzzles" has become Disney+'s most-watched Korean series of 2025 and ranks as the second-most-watched Korean content on the platform globally, following "Moving." The 11-episode series premiered its first six episodes on May 21, 2025, followed by three episodes on May 28, and concluded with the final two episodes on June 4.

The psychological thriller follows I-na, a brilliant criminal profiler who was the sole witness to her uncle's unsolved murder a decade ago. Now working with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's criminal analysis team, she becomes entangled in a new string of serial killings that reawaken suspicions from Detective Han Saem (Son Suk Ku), who still considers her a suspect from the original case.

Some viewers interpreted I-na's calm demeanor and unusual behavior as sociopathic traits. Kim firmly disagreed with this assessment.

"I-na is someone who speaks quickly because thoughts pop into her head instantly," Kim explained. "I wanted to give her a rhythmic, almost cartoonish, and fairytale-like quality. Since she has a lot of explanatory lines, I used many hand gestures. I focused on capturing her anxious demeanor, fast breathing, and how she often doesn't listen to others."

Addressing the sociopathy allegations directly, Kim stated: "I think I-na is someone with an exceptional talent in a specific area. She's imaginative and has intense focus when profiling. She cares for her team and seeks love, so I don't think she lacks social skills entirely, though I would say she's not very socially adept. She's a genius with highly developed abilities in one area, and she becomes anxious if that area isn't working properly. But I never saw her as a sociopath."

Kim acknowledged that I-na's high-pitched tone and quirky mannerisms were bound to polarize audiences. "I anticipated that some people might feel divided," she admitted. "It can be jarring when a character with such a high tone leads the story."

However, she views these traits as essential to the show's identity: "That contrast might be what makes 'Nine Puzzles' unique. I think the character's quirks add a different dimension to the drama."

The actress was particularly concerned about emotional connection: "I was worried that since I-na doesn't express her emotions in a typical way, viewers might struggle to relate to her. The director emphasized that viewers should be able to empathize with her. That's why we added more emotional vulnerability in the scene where she confides in Seungjoo."

Directed by Yoon Jong-bin ("The Spy Gone North," "Narco-Saints") and written by Lee Eun-mi ("Tunnel," "Navillera"), the series has been praised for its layered storytelling and symbolic visual elements. Viewers have described it as "a masterclass in intricate design" that "unfolds like a fiendishly clever puzzle itself."

Fan comments on social media have defended Kim's performance, with one noting: "Kim Dami has played I-na's character well and according to the needs of the story. I-na was traumatized and trapped in childhood due to witnessing her uncle's murder."

Kim concluded: "Normally, I don't speak in such a high tone. But since it's still me playing the role, aspects of my personality naturally came through. I definitely acted in a much higher tone than usual, and that's a side of me viewers will only see in 'Nine Puzzles'."

While the series concluded with a potential teaser for a second season, Disney+ has not yet confirmed future plans.