Netflix is entering a new space with its Korean content lineup. The streaming service has announced If Wishes Could Kill, its first Korean young adult horror series. The show centers on a deadly app that grants wishes but comes with a terrifying price. With a fresh cast of rising stars and a director known for Kingdom and Moving, this series is set to bring a new kind of fear to screens.
The show will officially arrive on April 24, 2026, streaming globally on Netflix.
What is If Wishes Could Kill About?
The story follows five high school students at Seorin High. Their ordinary lives change when they discover a mysterious app called Girigo. The app lets users upload a video of their wish. The wish comes true, but there is a catch. A countdown to death starts for the user.
The teaser trailer shows a tense moment where a student named Hyeong-wook runs toward his classmate Se-ah with a box cutter. A red timer on his phone ticks down. The trailer also shows students sending videos to the app as a joke. Right after uploading, strange and dangerous events start happening.
The tagline for the series asks: “Do you have one? A wish you’d die for.” This sets up the main idea of the show—desire and danger mixed together. The students must figure out how the curse works and try to break it before it kills them.
Director Park Youn-seo leads the project. He worked as a second unit director on Kingdom Season 2 and co-directed the hit series Moving. The script comes from writer Park Joong-seop. The series has 8 episodes and comes from production companies CJ ENM STUDIOS and KAIROS MAKERS.
Meet the Cast of Rising Stars
The series brings together a group of young actors who are gaining attention in the industry. Here is the main cast:
Jeon So-young plays Yoo Se-ah, a promising track and field athlete. She is the type of person who jumps into action when her friends are in trouble. She becomes the one trying to uncover the secrets of the Girigo app.
Kang Mi-na takes on the role of Lim Na-ri, a popular student with an idol-like appearance. She does not believe the app is dangerous at first. Kang Mi-na has appeared in Welcome to Samdal-ri, Cafe Minamdang, and Hotel Del Luna.
Baek Sun-ho plays Kim Geon-woo, Se-ah’s secret boyfriend. He struggles as he watches her become more involved with the app’s mysteries. Baek Sun-ho’s past work includes Between Him and Her and Dongjae, the Good or the Bastard.
Hyun Woo-seok is Kang Ha-joon, the smart and logical member of the group. He uses his tech and coding skills to try to figure out how the app works. His credits include Time to Be Strong, Dolphin, and Cheer Up.
Lee Hyo-je plays Choi Hyeong-wook, a mischievous student whose life changes after he makes a wish on the app. His previous roles include Concrete Utopia, The Loop, and Boar Hunt.
Why This Series is Different
If Wishes Could Kill moves away from the typical horror formats seen in Korean series. Instead of zombies or virus outbreaks, it brings psychological and supernatural horror. The app acts as a curse that turns the characters’ own desires against them.
The show also reflects modern anxieties. Young people today live in a highly digital world. The idea of an app that grants wishes but asks for something in return connects to real concerns about privacy, online actions, and unintended consequences. The series uses horror to explore these themes in a way that feels current and relatable.
Director Park Youn-seo brings a style focused on characters and emotions. His work on Moving showed how to blend action with deep personal stories. If Wishes Could Kill will likely do the same, mixing scares with moments of friendship and personal growth.
What the Teaser Trailer Shows
Netflix released a teaser trailer and poster for the series on March 26, 2026. The teaser starts with a shocking scene. Hyeong-wook runs toward Se-ah in the middle of class with a box cutter. His phone shows a red timer counting down.
The teaser then shows students recording videos of their wishes and sending them through the app. They hold papers with their names and fortunes. Right after they upload, the videos go viral and chaos begins.
The teaser poster shows an empty school hallway. A student in uniform holds a cracked smartphone. The image creates a strong visual connection between the app and the danger that follows.
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When and Where to Watch
The series will be available on Netflix starting April 24, 2026. The release is global, meaning viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, and other countries can watch the same day.
The show has 8 episodes. Subtitles in multiple languages will be available, along with dubbing options for some languages.
This release marks an important step for Netflix’s Korean content. The platform has found success with Korean dramas in many genres, including romance, thriller, and action. Adding a young adult horror series expands their range and brings in a new type of story for global audiences.
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