Stars Bae Suzy, Kim Woo-bin say Genie, Make A Wish defies conventional K-drama archetypes

SEOUL – Netflix Korea is aiming for a sweep with its latest tentpole series Genie, Make A Wish, starring Hallyu heavyweights Bae Suzy and Kim Woo-bin and fuelled by the storytelling chops of Kim Eun-sook, who is behind K-drama hits such as Mr Sunshine (2018) and The Glory (2022 to 2023).

Available on Netflix, Genie, Make A Wish centres on Genie (Kim Woo-bin), who awakens after a millennium-long slumber, and the emotionally detached Ga-young (Bae) as they navigate three wishes that could alter their destinies.

Beyond the star power, the fantasy romantic comedy has created buzz for its distinct characters, including a devilish genie and a morally just psychopath.

At the show’s press conference in Seoul, Bae admitted that her character, Ga-young, is a departure from the familiar portrayal of psychopathy in K-dramas.

“I thought the script was incredibly fresh and new. It was so fun and my character, who lacks emotions due to antisocial personality disorder, felt very compelling to me,” said the 30-year-old South Korean actress-singer.

“Ga-young is a psychopath who lives a life shaped by rote learning and the warmth of her grandmother and the villagers. Psychopaths are often portrayed as frightening or criminal, but Ga-young lives by her own rules and routines, which makes her live in a more righteous way.”

Reuniting with Bae nine years after K-drama Uncontrollably Fond (2016), Kim takes on Genie, a character determined to prove that humanity is God’s failed creation.

“Genie is a character with many sides. He can be cheerful and strong, sometimes cruel and frightening, yet also trivial and, in his own way, even a bit endearing. He may look human, but he isn’t, so I put a lot of thought into making him feel strange, awkward and offbeat in some way,” said the 36-year-old South Korean actor.

Meanwhile, the production for Genie, Make A Wish has been eventful, generating a lot of talk over a directorial handoff.

Initially helmed by Lee Byeong-heon (Extreme Job, 2019 and Be Melodramatic, 2019) – who completed filming but stepped down midway – the series was taken over by Ahn Gil-ho (The Glory and Stranger, 2017 to 2020), marking his return after a 2023 school violence controversy.

Addressing the change, scriptwriter Kim Eun-sook said: “I understand that both directors did not attend the press conference out of consideration. I was happy working with Lee on Twenty (2015), so I wish we could have seen the project through together. It’s a bit disappointing. But I’m grateful that director Ahn came on board and guided the project well, allowing us to finish happily.” THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK