The breakout lead of Netflix’s boundary-pushing horror series If Wishes Could Kill is making waves on screen and on stage — and she’s firmly on the public’s radar. Meet rising star Choi Joo-eun.
In If Wishes Could Kill, which premiered on the 24th of last month, Choi plays Si-won, the very origin of the curse, delivering a spine-chilling portrayal of a malevolent spirit. Appearing as the daughter of shaman Eopsun (played by Lee Sang-hee), she faces exposure at school and, to cover up her true nature, frames her friend Hye-ryeong (played by Kim Si-a), igniting the show’s central chain of curses. Critics say she fully embodied the character’s arc and served as a pivotal key player throughout the narrative.
As the series captivates global viewers, fans on online communities and social media are revisiting Choi Joo-eun’s past filmography.
Before this, she appeared in the TVING original series Dongjae, the Good or the Bastard as Yuri, a high school student who meets a mysterious death, drawing attention. Her poised performance — uncommon for a rookie — earned praise for her chemistry with Lee Jun-hyuk.
Choi’s momentum isn’t confined to the screen. This January, she took the lead penguin role in the musical A Long Long Night, proving her commanding stage presence. Alongside solid vocals, she showed a deeper, distinct charm compared to the child actors who shared the role, earning raves from audiences. Meanwhile, footage from her breakout on the 2020 DIMF ‘Musical Star’ program is circulating again among fans, reinforcing her promise as a next‑gen multi‑talent.
Netizens are reacting enthusiastically: “I can’t believe the demon in If Wishes Could Kill and the penguin in A Long Long Night are played by the same actor,” “Her everyday Instagram photos embody the current ‘good‑vibes girl’ trend,” “Her alluring low voice got me,” and “Her acting spectrum seems incredibly wide.”
With Choi Joo-eun moving seamlessly between film, television, and the stage, all eyes are on which project she’ll conquer next.