Netflix's 'GIRIGO': A New Korean Horror Series Set to Captivate Audiences

Following the success of the film 'Salmoji', can Korean horror series continue to captivate audiences? Netflix's 'GIRIGO', an 'young adult horror' series, is stepping up to the challenge.

On the 21st, a highlight screening and press conference for the Netflix series 'GIRIGO' was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The event was attended by actors Jeon So-young, Kang Mi-na, Hyun Woo-seok, Lee Hyo-je, No Jae-won, and director Park Yoon-seo.

'GIRIGO' tells the story of high school students who receive sudden death predictions due to the curse of an app that grants wishes. They struggle to escape the curse.

Director Park Yoon-seo, who helmed the series, stated, "It's a young adult horror genre. Although the story begins in an unrealistic situation, we aimed to connect it with reality to engage viewers." He further explained the decision to present the story as an 8-episode series rather than a film, saying, "I wasn't involved from the initial planning stage, but we focused more on the narrative since it's not a short horror film."

Jeon So-young plays Se-a, a promising track and field athlete at Seorin High School, who delves into the secrets of 'GIRIGO'. She shared, "Since the character is a national team prospect, I focused on learning the posture of long jump athletes and trained almost daily for two months." She added, "I also gained some weight, cut my hair short, and tanned to look like Se-a. Besides the physical transformation, I had many discussions with the director to express the character's narrative well."

Kang Mi-na portrays Nari, a realistic character who doesn't believe in the curse. Kang Mi-na said, "I've had short hair for years, but I prepared long straight hair for the character." She added, "I usually find horror genres scary and can't watch them well, but I approached the filming with a determined mindset."

Kang Mi-na also expressed regret about not participating in the IOI 10th anniversary reunion project, saying, "I was really disappointed not to join, but I thought focusing on my acting commitments was the best choice." She continued, "I feel sorry for the fans, but I want to repay them with good performances by focusing more on acting. I hope they look at me with kind eyes."

No Jae-won plays Bang-ul, a witty shaman who supports Hae-sal (Jeon So-young). He explained, "Although he's a shaman, he's not exactly a capable one." He added, "I tanned for a tough image and practiced mind control. I also sought advice from a shaman teacher and tried to find my own sense of spirituality and perception to get closer to a field I hadn't experienced before."

Lee Hyo-je also underwent a physical transformation for his role. He revealed, "The director suggested gaining weight, so I increased my weight by about 20kg. Although I was given enough time, it wasn't easy as I don't gain weight easily." He added, "It wasn't easy, with blood sugar spikes during filming, but I did my best for the character."

Finally, director Park Yoon-seo shared the key points to watch, saying, "Instead of balancing for global viewers, we focused on enhancing Korean elements. I believe it will feel fresh to overseas audiences."

The Netflix series 'GIRIGO' will be available on Netflix starting the 24th.

Kim Se-a, TenAsia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr