Kim Woo-bin Reflects on 'Everything Will Come True' and His Journey with Suzy and Writer Kim Eun-sook

Kim Woo-bin's latest project, 'Everything Will Come True,' evokes mixed feelings of happiness and disappointment among audiences. Despite reuniting with writer Kim Eun-sook and actress Suzy, the outcome didn't quite meet expectations.

On the 13th, an interview with Kim Woo-bin, who plays the role of Genie in Netflix's 'Everything Will Come True,' took place at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. The fantasy romantic comedy follows Genie, a career-interrupted lamp spirit awakened after a thousand years, as he meets Ga-young, an emotionless human played by Suzy, and navigates three wishes. Kim Woo-bin, reminiscent of his character Choi Young-do from the drama 'The Heirs,' donned a navy jacket, showcasing his timeless visuals.

The interview was particularly special as Kim Woo-bin was the only cast member available to participate. He explained, "Everyone is busy. I'm not currently working on a project. Suzy is filming overseas." Suzy is currently engaged in shooting her next project, 'Hypnotic.'

He added, "Others couldn't join, unfortunately. I always promote my projects diligently, and since I'm not filming anything else right now, I put in extra effort. Feel free to ask me anything you're curious about."

This project was particularly special for Kim Woo-bin as he reunited with Suzy after nearly nine years since 'Uncontrollably Fond' (2016). He expressed, "I like Suzy's acting. It may seem expressionless, but it's not. She acts with subtlety and detail."

It was also a reunion with writer Kim Eun-sook after about 12 years since 'The Heirs' (2013). Regarding Kim, he said, "I'm grateful for her continued offers. It means she enjoyed working with me and trusts me, which is an honor. I love her humor and wanted to bring it to life."

He continued, "Though Genie has an Asian face, I believed the world would be crafted smoothly with the writer's unique humor. Having been watched by the writer for a long time, I felt I could perform this script enjoyably."

Kim Woo-bin also embraced new challenges within familiar settings. During the Dubai location shoot, he took on the challenge of acting in Arabic.

He shared, "It's not a familiar language, so I would forget it quickly. It was concerning. I had to memorize it entirely, and acting on top of that was challenging. But I wanted to overcome it." He added, "Listening to a phrase about 1,000 times helps memorize it. There were 52 Arabic lines in the script. Some parts were unfortunately edited out, but I managed to do it by listening 52,000 times."

Despite the trusted actor lineup, a star writer's script, and the challenge of a new language, the response was somewhat disappointing. Regarding the mixed reactions to 'Everything Will Come True,' Kim Woo-bin commented, "Every project has its likes and dislikes. Our story contains so much, so it's natural for diverse opinions to emerge. I listen to all feedback attentively and appreciate the honesty."

Even in the face of criticism, Kim Woo-bin expressed gratitude and shared his philosophy with the press as the interview concluded. After battling nasopharyngeal cancer from 2017 to 2019 and achieving remission, he stated, "Since my hiatus, I don't set grand goals. I focus on living each day to the fullest and being present. My only goals are to live well with loved ones and stay healthy." He added, "I used to have many goals. I lived today for tomorrow, but now I live today for today."

Ryu Ye-ji, TenAsia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr