Blackpink’s Jisoo is set to step into her first romantic comedy role with Netflix’s upcoming series “Boyfriend on Demand,” setting her sights on earning the ambitious title of “rom-com goddess.”

“This is my first romantic comedy and also my first drama project set in modern times,” said Jisoo during the series’ press conference held in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Thursday. “As I read the script, I found a lot of it relatable since my character is around my age, and there were many fun elements as well. I really enjoyed building the character while connecting with her.”


When asked about her goal of earning the title, she answered without hesitation. “I want it.”

Director Kim Jung-sik also expressed strong confidence in Jisoo’s rom-com potential, saying, “It makes me wonder why she’s only now doing a rom-com.”

The series follows Mi-rae, a webtoon producer, who escapes her worn-out reality through a subscription-based virtual dating simulation program that offers custom-made fantasy scenarios tailored to users’ tastes. The service itself is called “Boyfriend on Demand.” While she enjoys dates with her virtual boyfriends, in reality, she is exhausted from her office life and carries emotional scars from a past relationship.

In the series, Jisoo plays Mi-rae alongside actor Seo In-guk, who takes on the role of Park Kyeong-nam, her colleague and office rival.

Director Kim shared that the series started off from a simple question: What if dating could be something you subscribe to?

“The story follows a protagonist who has been hurt in real life and heals through experiencing dates with the ‘Boyfriend on Demand’ service,” Kim said.

“I also believe that something like this could actually be in development somewhere right now, so viewers can get a glimpse of the near future,” he added.

The concept’s sense of realism was also what drew Jisoo to the project, saying, “From the moment I first read the script, the idea of a subscription-based virtual service didn’t feel like something far-off in the future.”

Jisoo shared that while portraying Mi-rae, she envied her wide range of experiences, as she goes on “all kinds of dates” across different times, professions and even locations in the virtual world.

As part of these varied dating simulations, she revealed that she wore around 250 outfits throughout the series.

“I don’t think I’ve ever worn this many outfits before,” she said. “There are so many different looks and themes, which I think will definitely make the show more fun to watch.”

The series also features a star-studded lineup of virtual boyfriends, from Seo Kang-jun, Lee Soo-hyuk, Ong Seong-wu, Lee Jae-wook, Lee Hyun-wook, Jay Park, Kim Young-dae, and Lee Sang-yi.

“The casting was driven by our desire to present romance across a variety of settings and dynamics,” director Kim said, adding that each actor was cast to best suit the specific scenario.

Seo, taking on the role of Mi-rae’s rival, builds a tense yet compelling dynamic with her. Despite being a lead character, Seo hinted that his character’s true charm emerges later in the story.

“He’s quite reserved and someone who expresses his presence mainly through his work,” Seo explained. “But the moment he begins to show his emotions, that’s when you start to see the real Park Kyeong-nam.”

Seo, while trying to avoid spoilers, teased that a “huge twist” awaits viewers, which he and the director put a lot of effort into.

With the story largely centered on Mi-rae’s journey between reality and the virtual world, Jisoo carries the majority of the narrative, about 95 percent of the show, according to the director. Ahead of its release, however, she has faced skepticism over her acting, following criticism of her previous performances.

Addressing the concerns, Kim emphasized Jisoo’s dedication, saying he saw that “hard work can beat talent.”

He said, “While viewers will be able to see the character’s growth within the story, I also believe they’ll witness Jisoo’s growth as an actor through the series.”

The series “Boyfriend on Demand” will debut on March 6 on Netflix.



BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]