A Magical Reunion Nine Years in the Making
It’s been nearly a decade since Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy melted hearts in the K-drama Uncontrollably Fond. Now, they’re back on screen together in Netflix’s highly anticipated fantasy-romance, Light Your Wish with a Magic Lamp, premiering October 3.
A Fresh Spin on an Age-Old Tale
In this new series penned by hitmaker Kim Eun-sook (The Glory), Kim Woo-bin plays Genie, a wish-granting spirit awakened after a thousand-year nap in the Dubai desert. His mission? To prove that humans are irreparably flawed. Enter Bae Suzy’s character, Ga-yeon—a seemingly emotionless woman who grew up with strict rules and an unshakable belief that humanity is inherently good. The two make a high-stakes bet that questions the very essence of good and evil.
Bae Suzy’s Bold New Role
“Ga-yeon isn’t your usual K-drama heroine,” Suzy explained at the press conference. “She has antisocial personality disorder and shows zero emotion, but somehow, she lives more righteously than others thanks to her self-made rules.” Suzy admitted she sometimes felt guilty during filming—“I couldn’t react at all while acting opposite Woo-bin. It felt like he had to do a one-man show.”
Kim Woo-bin, the Gen-Z Genie
Kim Woo-bin described Genie as “joyful and powerful, but also scary and brutal—definitely not your average Disney-style spirit.” He added, “He’s human-like, but he’s not human. I wanted him to feel off-rhythm, slightly awkward in a way that makes you curious.”
Supporting Cast Brings Extra Spark
The drama boasts a star-studded lineup including Ahn Eun-jin as mysterious visitor Mi-ju, Roh Yoon-seo as an eerily charming building owner-turned-angel, Ko Kyu-pil as Genie’s quirky right-hand man who used to be a jaguar (yes, seriously), and Lee Joo-young adding heart as Ga-yeon’s only friend in the rural village of Cheongpung.
A Script That Hooked the Stars
It’s no surprise the cast signed on after reading Kim Eun-sook’s script. “Each scene was so vivid and meaningful,” said Woo-bin. Ahn Eun-jin said she was drawn to the unique blend of fantasy and realism, while Roh Yoon-seo praised the originality of portraying a ‘death angel.’
From ‘The Glory’ to Genie Shenanigans
This marks writer Kim Eun-sook’s first project since The Glory, and though the original director (Lee Byung-heon of Extreme Job) was replaced mid-production by Ahn Gil-ho, Woo-bin kept it classy: “I appreciate both directors and feel lucky to have worked with them.”
Mark Your Calendars
Whether you’re in it for the lore, the love story, or the return of a legendary on-screen duo, Light Your Wish with a Magic Lamp is shaping up to be a must-watch fantasy K-drama. The series drops October 3 on Netflix—and yes, we’re already wishing it could come sooner.