Can Jisoo finally silence ‘bad acting’ critics with Netflix’s ‘Boyfriend on Demand’?
Jisoo / Xportsnews
BLACKPINK’s Jisoo is returning to screens with a high-stakes lead role that could redefine her acting career — or reignite long-running criticism. As Netflix’s upcoming romantic comedy “Boyfriend on Demand” approaches its March 6 release, online debate has intensified over whether the K-pop star can finally shed the “bad acting” stigma that has followed her since her debut.
The series centers on Mi-rae, a webtoon producer played by Jisoo, who escapes her exhausting reality through a futuristic virtual-dating subscription service. In the show’s premise, users can enter simulated worlds and experience romance across 900 themed scenarios simply by wearing a device — allowing Mi-rae to live out relationships, careers and alternate lives she cannot access in reality.
The project marks Jisoo’s first drama lead since her acting debut in JTBC’s “Snowdrop” in 2021. She has since appeared in films including “Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman” and “Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy,” as well as the streaming series “Newtopia,” steadily building her acting résumé. Yet criticism over her diction, vocal delivery and facial expressions has persisted in Korean media and online communities.
That scrutiny resurfaced immediately after the “Boyfriend on Demand” trailer dropped. YouTube commenters wrote, “Her diction seems much better,” while others said, “Her acting hasn’t improved,” and “A one-woman-show-type story depends entirely on the lead’s acting, so I’m not confident.”
Jisoo / Courtesy of Netflix
Director Kim Jung-sik said at a Feb. 26 press conference that Jisoo dominates the series’ screen time. “She appears in more than 95 percent of the show,” he said, emphasizing both the scale of her role and the pressure it carries.
He praised her work ethic on set. “We gave her many different settings and characters, and she handled all of them,” Kim said. “She worked extremely hard and showed that effort can surpass talent. She was so dedicated that I even wanted her as an assistant director.”
Jisoo acknowledged the expectations and said she actively sought to improve. “Because I take on different roles in each project, I talked a lot with the director to show a better side of myself this time,” she said. “Since Mi-rae is around my age, I wondered if I could act more naturally, like wearing clothes that fit me well. I hope viewers feel I’ve finally found a character that suits me perfectly.”
Kim said audiences may see both the character’s and the actor’s growth. “You will see the character develop in the drama, and you will also see actor Jisoo grow,” he said. “Her effort overcame talent.”
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.