The latest Korean drama starring Kim Woo-bin and Suzy, titled Genie, Make A Wish, produced by Netflix, has sparked major controversy after being accused of insensitivity toward religion.
The drama tells the story of a spirit named Genie (Kim Woo-bin) who awakens from a long slumber and must fulfill three wishes of a girl named Ka-young (Suzy).
@netflixkr “Remember this. I will seek you out.” Fantasy rom-com series <Genie, Make a Wish> is coming October 3, only on Netflix. #다이루어질지니 #GenieMakeAWish #Kdrama #KimWoobin #Suzy ♬ original sound – Netflix Korea
However, after the official trailer was released, many international viewers, especially on TikTok, expressed their discomfort.
The issue arose when the character Genie was referred to as Iblis.
In Islam, the term refers to the devil or the leader of evil beings.
Many claimed that the storyline seems to romanticize the figure of Iblis by portraying it as a main character with magical powers.
Netizens stressed that this is highly inappropriate as it touches on religious sensitivities.
“Want to fall in love with the Iblis?” wrote one user.
Additionally, the drama was compared to several other K-Dramas that previously faced criticism for similar issues, raising questions about the level of cultural and religious sensitivity in its production. – BOOM!
