In Genie, Make A Wish Episode 3, Iblis told Ka-young she would fail her first wish. Out of five people, three must be corrupted once their wishes are granted. That was the rule. She listened but looked steady.
The first human he met was Im-seon. She worked at a small convenience store. She was also Granny An’s eldest daughter-in-law. Next came Bu-yeong, a bank employee. Ka-young once studied with her back in school.
Then came something odd. A dog appeared. The dog could see Iblis, since spiritual beings are visible to animals. It was on the list, too. The fourth was Sang-tae, son of Granny Sa. His family ran a gamja-tang shop. The last one was Da-jin, a young YouTuber.
Also Read: Where To Watch ‘Genie, Make a Wish’ Netflix K-Drama? Full Streaming Info
Five Symbols, One Moral Test
The selection of these five is not random. It represents a cross-section of society: the undervalued worker (Im-seon), the professional (Bu-yeong), innocence (the dog), family business (Sang-tae), and modern fame (Da-jin).
Including the dog is a brilliant stroke, forcing Ka-young (and the audience) to consider corruption beyond human greed. This sets the stage for a complex moral experiment.
Iblis said a person’s wish reveals their heart. He called the test proof that Ka-young was almost a psychopath. She seemed cold, but he studied her with doubt. He told her there were good genies and bad ones. Evil ones were called Iblis.
The next day, Sayyid spoke to him. He reminded Iblis that Ka-young had used wishes for others, not herself. He said she had done that in her past lives, too. That confused Iblis. He thought maybe it was useless to test her. Iblis left on his flying carpet and drifted far.
The dialogue between Sayyid and Iblis is crucial. In Islamic tradition, Iblis is a jinn who refused to bow to Adam and became a tempter of humanity.
The show uses this to create a fascinating dynamic: Iblis is a ‘bad genie’ by nature, but Ka-young’s selfless actions are causing him to question his fundamental purpose. This internal conflict is the engine of the series’ drama.
He reached Japan. Fighter jets spotted him. The sight caused panic. News spread fast and almost led to conflict between Korea and Japan. Iblis had no choice but to return.
Past Lives and Truths Revealed
Iblis wanted to see why Ka-young was different. He traveled into her past. In 1909, she was alive during the revolts. He tried to speak with her. Firing broke out, and her hiding spot was exposed. She escaped through the chaos, and he lost her.
He went even further back to 1592. In that life, Ka-young was not a woman. She was a man named Sun-sin, working as a royal messenger. Iblis showed himself in the king’s court to question Sun-sin.
But instead of answers, he was punished. The guards ordered him to be beheaded. He slipped back into the present with the scar on his neck.
Ka-young asked how she would know if those five humans truly changed after their wishes. Iblis tested her. He took her to Su-hyeon’s building. He told her to pluck a feather from him.
The Fall and the Feather
Iblis pushed her off the rooftop. Su-hyeon jumped after her. His wings opened in midair. They landed safely. Ka-young plucked the feather and ran.
Iblis greeted Su-hyeon. He mocked him, saying wars and greed thrived even without him. Su-hyeon replied that giving wishes to humans was the real mistake.
He argued that people suffer because their wishes twist their lives. Iblis reminded him that he keeps on throwing dust on his lamp, locking him away. Su-hyeon said he should know how hard human life is.
Ka-young now had the feather. It could only write truths. She tested it. She wrote, “I am Grandma’s burden.” The words changed into, “I am Grandma’s strength.” She stared at it in silence.
Meanwhile, Im-seon discovered the lamp while moving boxes. Iblis appeared to her. He claimed he was a genie who could grant three wishes.
Her first wish was to become a branch manager at the supermarket. It came true. She scolded the boss who had once looked down on her. Ka-young told Iblis about Min-ji, whom she once helped against bullies. Their friendship had lasted since then.
Su-hyeon watched all this quietly. His secretary, Irem, an owl, stayed near. Irem and Sayyid met secretly. They had been exchanging words in secret for decades. Sayyid learned more about Ka-young’s hidden life.
A Kiss Under the Dark City Lights
She ran a side auto shop. Her real money came from stock trading. She also closed her shop on the 4th, 14th, and 24th. The number four meant death. On the 4th, she went scuba diving. On the 14th, she hiked mountains, & on the 24th, she joined a coffin workshop. She wanted her death to look natural—drowning, falling, or an accident.
She told no one. But Iblis guessed her plan. She wanted to die after Granny Pan-guem passed. He decided Pan-guem must stay alive until his task was finished. Iblis even began caring for the old woman. He told her about meeting Ka-young.
Sayyid warned Iblis that Ka-young had once asked about her death. He revealed she had died using three wishes for others. Ka-young overheard this truth.
Later, Ka-young and Iblis went shopping and ate together. He brought her to the tallest tower. She liked the view from the top. She said she liked darkness. To impress her, Iblis turned off every light in the city. She felt something strange.
Ka-young had no emotions of her own, but she remembered Min-ji’s words. Under the night sky, a man kissed a woman. She asked Iblis to kiss her. He refused. She grabbed his cheek and pecked him. Nothing stirred in her heart. She dismissed it coldly.
Iblis was stunned. He pulled her back and kissed her slowly. This time, she answered with warmth. The city lights returned. The moment felt alive. For once, Ka-young let herself feel something.
Final Analysis: The Cost of a Wish
The true cost of a wish is self-revelation. Im-seon’s wish for promotion revealed long-suppressed resentment.
Ka-young’s entire existence, however, is a paradox—her ‘wish’ is to die, but only after ensuring her grandmother is cared for, revealing a selflessness so absolute it breaks the universe’s rules.
The Truth Feather confirmed this: her perception of herself as a ‘burden’ is a lie; her reality is that she is ‘strength.’ The kiss wasn’t just a romantic moment; it was the first time an external force (Iblis) successfully imposed a genuine, self-focused emotional experience upon her.
The central question for the next episode is whether Iblis will succeed in corrupting the three souls, or if Ka-young will succeed in corrupting him by teaching him about selfless love.
This episode carried a mix of mystery and danger. It questioned the weight of wishes and the truth of sacrifice. Iblis seemed caught between his role as a corrupter and his strange connection to Ka-young.
Genie Make a Wish Episode 3 recap and analysis shows how every wish revealed hidden motives, but also how Ka-young stood apart. Her past lives and her present choices kept bending the rules.
Whether she will break or prove Iblis wrong still hangs heavy. The story moved between fantasy and reality, but always circled back to one question—what do wishes truly cost?
Which character's story in Episode 3 surprised you the most?
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Kavita Mishra is a dynamic writer and passionate Korean entertainment enthusiast, combining her love for K-pop and K-drama with a flair for storytelling. With a keen eye for the latest trends, Kavita crafts articles that capture the pulse of K-pop idols, chart-topping hits, and the most buzz-worthy dramas taking over screens worldwide.
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