According to Netflix’s official TUDUM ranking, the fantasy-romance series Genie, make a wish recorded 8 million views (based on hours viewed divided by duration) between October 6 and 12, earning it the top spot in the Top 10 Global Non-English Series. The drama also entered the Top 10 in over 50 countries, including Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and the Dominican Republic, claiming the top spot out of ten of them. Furthermore, Genie, make a wish ranked first on Korea’s TV-OTT integrated chart for two consecutive weeks, demonstrating its strong popularity.
The chemistry between Suzy and Kim Woo Bin, who reunited after nine years, has become a major talking point. Both top the Korean drama cast charts – Suzy in first place and Kim Woo Bin in second – receiving praise for their emotional depth and natural on-screen rapport. Viewers particularly applauded Suzy’s transformation, calling her portrayal of Ka Young, an emotionless and complex character, one of his most mature performances to date.
In an interview, Suzy reflected on her role and the impact of the series: “The moments I spent immersed in Ka Young still remain deeply within me,” he said. “Thanks to all the viewers who loved this strange but beautiful story, I was able to experience those intense emotions again. I am truly grateful to everyone who saw behind the scenes. For those who haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend entering this strange world.”
When asked about her interpretation of the character, Suzy explained that Ka Young suffers from antisocial personality disorder but is not portrayed as a typical psychopath.
“She lives like a robot, bored with life, and has accepted the label ‘psychopath’ that has been imposed on her since childhood,” Suzy said. “I wanted to portray her as someone who already believes she is bad and unworthy before she even understands herself.”
Suzy also revealed that she portrayed Ka Young’s past and present with different tones and expressions: “In his past life, he was altruistic, the opposite of who he is now. Going from one version to another made me realize how much happiness lies in expressing yourself.”
Discussing the symbolic line in which Ka Young wishes “feel human emotions” Suzy noted: “It reflects her desperate desire to understand feelings she has only observed in others. After losing her grandmother, her emotional safety net disappears and she begins to long for the humanity she never knew. This is her true growth.”
As for styling, Suzy said she intentionally highlighted Ka Young’s aloofness through bold styling: “The current Ka Young doesn’t care about the opinions of others and has the wealth to do whatever he wants. He freely wears flashy colors, while his past self was toned down and innocent.”
His most memorable scene, he said, was with his grandmother, played by Kim Mi Kyung: “When the grandmother secretly wipes away her tears while teaching young Ka Young about emotions, that scene broke my heart. It shows unconditional love in its purest form.”
Suzy also shared her thoughts on collaborating with writer Kim Eun Sook for the first time: “It was a meaningful experience. Even though we didn’t talk much, his feedback and encouragement gave me strength.”
Reuniting with Kim Woo Bin, he said: “His emotional depth in the subsequent episodes really impressed me. Every moment felt new and surprising. Next time, I would love to work with him again in a completely different genre, maybe an office drama!”
When asked about filming with Song Hye Kyo, who made a surprise cameo as “Genie’s ex-girlfriend,” Suzy shared:
“I was so nervous because we weren’t close then. I had to act like I was competing with her, which was intimidating but a great honor. We became friends after that. Now, every time it rains, I joke: ‘Is Unnie mad?’ and she finds it funny.
Suzy also revealed that she has been practicing her Arabic verses tirelessly: “It was tough. I listened to the recordings non-stop and memorized everything, but then I quickly forgot it! Luckily, my scenes weren’t too long.”
When asked to define the love story between her and Kim Woo Bin’s characters, she responded in one word: “Habibti (my love).”
Reflecting on the feedback and reviews, Suzy shared: “The comments that struck me most were from people who said the show made them realize that humanity is a matter of choices, not birth or circumstance. That’s exactly the message we wanted to convey.”
Finally, to the question of what Genie, make a wish means to her, she said:
“It reminded me how much I love warmth and compassion. Those immersive moments will stay with me forever. Warmth truly is the best thing.”
Sources: born
