KIM WOO BIN
The actor KIM WOO BIN showed his humor when discussing the differences between LEE BYUNG HUN and director AHN GIL HO, who consecutively directed the Netflix series “두 분은 얼굴이 다르다” (“Genie, make a wish”):
“The difference between the two? They have a different face,” he joked.
During an interview on October 13 at a café in the Sogyeok-dong district of Seoul, KIM WOO BIN added:
“They are both excellent directors, very attentive to their teams.”
Originally, LEE BYUNG HUN was supposed to direct the series before being replaced by AHN GIL HO. The actor explained:
“On a shoot, new things always happen. The director change didn’t really bother me. It was just a bit disappointing because I had worked with LEE BYUNG HUN before and I would have liked to finish the project with him. But AHN GIL HO directed brilliantly and created a wonderful atmosphere. We wrapped up filming happily.”
The series “Genie, make a wish” is a fantasy romantic comedy about the encounter between JI NI (played by KIM WOO BIN), a genie awakened after a thousand years, and GA YOUNG (played by SUZY), a woman indifferent to emotions. With three wishes as the central theme, the two characters experience a humorous and magical adventure.
In the series, KIM WOO BIN plays JI NI, a proud and charismatic spirit, half-angel and half-demon, who tests humans while manipulating their wishes at will. Regarding his preparation for the role, he said:
“I didn’t look for any specific reference. Since the story itself is unique, it wouldn’t really help.”
As the series relies heavily on special effects, he discussed filming on a blue screen:
“Since it’s not a fight between humans, the art team thought a lot about it. Thanks to my previous shoots for ‘Alienoid’ and ‘Black knight’, I was used to blue-screen scenes. To work with special effects, you have to go all in, trust the team, and let yourself be carried by the energy. That’s what I did.”
He added, laughing:
“The VFX team explained every shot to me, and luckily, the final result matched what I had imagined.”
Asked what wishes he would make if he met a real genie, KIM WOO BIN replied:
“That everyone I know lives healthy lives up to 100 years. That everyone has enough money to live comfortably. And the third wish… I’ll keep that one a little longer.”
The actor also spoke about the script:
“The script was really exciting. When the character Young Do from ‘The heirs’ appeared, I was happy. There was also a scene inspired by ‘The glory’, which I found amusing, but it was ultimately cut. I even called the screenwriter to ask why, and she said: ‘I thought you wouldn’t want to do it!’ I told her, ‘On the contrary, I had even prepared the lines!’ and she said, ‘Then enjoy it!’”
KIM WOO BIN enthusiastically reenacted the iconic scene from ‘The glory’, imitating the gestures and lines:
“The crew loved it, we laughed a lot on set.”
Regarding the return of Young Do from ‘The heirs’, he said:
“Many people still remember him, which warmed my heart.”
He even brought back the period costume:
“I wanted to find the original costume, but couldn’t find it anywhere. Luckily, I had kept a copy from the previous shoot. I don’t fit in it anymore, so we remade one. It was moving to become Young Do again, but a bit embarrassing in front of the team.”
Twelve years after their previous collaboration, KIM WOO BIN reunited with screenwriter KIM EUN SUK:
“The script was so good that I almost felt it was a shame it was adapted so quickly. Instead of thinking, ‘When does it end?’, I thought, ‘Too bad it’s ending soon.’ Each scene was filmed with care and joy. She knows me well, which helped a lot. I felt comfortable, as if the role had been written for me.”
Finally, he concluded:
“I really like KIM EUN SUK’s humor. Her works always carry a strong message and raise interesting questions. They make you think, sometimes differently. And I like being able to share that type of reflection with the audience.”
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: SNS KIM WOO BIN
