Director Kim Jung-sik says his new romance series "Boyfriend on Demand" blends in every swoon-worthy fantasy the genre can offer.
At the production presentation held the morning of the 26th at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square in Seoul, the Netflix original series "Boyfriend on Demand" (written by Namgoong Do-young, directed by Kim Jung-sik) was introduced as “a story that began with the question, ‘What if you could subscribe to dating?’ A lead wounded by real life experiences heals by going on dates through "Boyfriend on Demand",” Kim said. “One actor plays multiple setups and characters. We threw in everything you love.”
"Boyfriend on Demand" is a romantic comedy about Seo Mirae (played by JISOO), a webtoon PD exhausted by daily life, who subscribes to a virtual dating simulation and tries love on demand. In the series, "Boyfriend on Demand" is the name of the subscription service. Burned out by work and people, Mirae steps into a virtual world and experiences the kinds of relationships she’s only dreamed about.
JISOO, who plays Seo Mirae, said, “From my first read, the idea of virtual reality didn’t feel far off. I found so many relatable parts. Mirae is close to me in age, so her worries and how she pushes through really resonated. That’s why I chose this project.”
Mirae’s virtual dates span a star-studded lineup with distinct charms: Seo Kang-jun, Lee Soo-hyuk, Ong Seong-wu, Lee Jae-wook, Lee Hyun-wook, Kim Young-dae, Jay Park, and Lee Sang-yi. Together, they explore everything from a cherry blossom campus First Love scenario to a cartoon-level romance with a third-generation chaebol―fantasies that feel impossible in real life.
“When you enter the virtual world, even the color of the sky changes,” JISOO said. “I tried on different jobs and felt healed.” She added, “The eras, jobs, and backdrops all change. I enjoyed all kinds of dates.” On embodying a character who experiences multiple romances, she admitted, “I was jealous of Mirae. It didn’t feel wildly unrealistic―more like, ‘This could be possible someday,’ so it was fun.”
Portraying so many virtual romances meant nonstop styling switches. “I wore 250 outfits,” JISOO revealed. “I don’t think I’ve ever worn that many clothes before. There are so many looks and themes. It’ll definitely be fun to watch.”
"Boyfriend on Demand"’s worldbuilding―centered on a virtual dating subscription service―visualizes romance fantasies you can’t have in real life. Director Kim said, “I didn’t approach it as a director. I asked, ‘If I were a developer building the "Boyfriend on Demand" device, what would I worry about?’ We have to keep people from leaving once they’re inside "Boyfriend on Demand", so I focused on how subscribers could enjoy dates in the best environment. We poured effort into art and CG. There are parts I wish we could’ve pushed further, but I hope you’ll see the beauty in it.”
"Boyfriend on Demand" premieres March 6 at 5 p.m. KST on Netflix.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)
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