Actor Kim Woo Bin opened up about his experience working once again with star writer Kim Eun Sook in Netflix’s hit series Genie, Make a Wish. This marks their third collaboration after A Gentleman’s Dignity and The Heirs, and Kim couldn’t hide his gratitude and affection for the project.
In an interview in Seoul, Kim shared, “It felt sad that the remaining scenes were running out,” expressing his deep attachment to the drama. He added, “I’ve seen various opinions, but I’m thankful for all of them. It just means people are watching.”
The fantasy rom-com tells the story of Genie, a mystical lamp spirit played by Kim Woo Bin, who awakens after a thousand years and meets Ga Young, a woman without emotions, played by Suzy. Since its release, the drama has dominated Netflix’s Global Non-English Series Top 10, hitting 8 million views in just one week.
Addressing the mixed feedback, Kim said calmly, “Every project will always have different opinions. That’s normal, and I’m grateful even for those.”
On playing Genie, he explained, “He’s not human, so I wanted everything about him—his actions, tone, expressions, even emotions—to feel different. I imagined how someone who’s met humans for thousands of years would act.”
The actor also shared that his experience with CGI from Black Knight and Alienoid helped him, though it was still challenging. “CG acting is always hard because you’re performing with nothing in front of you,” he said. “But I trusted the CG team completely and gave it my all.”
He credited costume design for helping him embody the role, saying, “Genie was trapped for a long time, so I wanted him to look sharp and a little uncomfortable. I wore colorful outfits—from red to blue—to make him stand out.”
Speaking about Kim Eun Sook, Kim shared, “It’s hard to find any flaws in her. Every scene was so well-written that I didn’t want filming to end. Even when I was tired, her script gave me strength.”
He added, “After we finished filming, she told me, ‘Thank you for doing so well as Genie.’ She’s always encouraging and supportive. I’m just grateful that she trusts me.”
The drama also marked a reunion with Suzy, nine years after Uncontrollably Fond (2016). Kim recalled, “Even though it’s been years, it felt like only a few passed. We didn’t need time to get close again—it was easy and natural.”
He praised his co-star, saying, “Suzy is such a great actress. She showed amazing acting again this time, and it helped me immerse into my role as Genie even more.”
Reflecting on his career, Kim Woo Bin said, “The more I act, the harder it gets. When I was younger, I only focused on my lines, but now I try to understand the whole picture. Still, my heart for acting is the same—I always want to do better.”
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