Overview of Spellbound
‘Spellbound’ is a South Korean horror romantic comedy that tells the story of a street magician who falls in love with a woman who can see ghosts. The film is written and directed by Hwang In-ho and features Son Ye-jin and Lee Min-ki in lead roles.
Profile
- Movie: Spellbound (English title)
- Genre: Romantic-Comedy / Fantasy
- Director: Hwang In-ho
- Writer: Hwang In-ho
- Producers: Ahn Young-Jin, Ahn Sang-Hoon, Lee Won-Tae
- Cinematographer: Lee Doo-Man
- Release Date: December 1, 2011
- Distributor: CJ Entertainment
- Language: Korean
Cast
Main
- Son Ye-jin as Kang Yeo-ri
Yeo-ri is a woman with the ability to see ghosts, an ability she gained after a traumatic event in her past. Yeo-ri is portrayed as a complex character, struggling to cope with her supernatural ability and the emotional toll it takes on her. She is isolated and withdrawn, sleeping in a tent in her living room and only communicating with her few friends through the phone. However, Yeo-ri also has a kind and empathetic nature, using her ability to help the ghosts. Her emotional journey and growth throughout the film make her a compelling and relatable character. - Lee Min-ki as Ma Jo-goo
Ma Jo-goo is a street magician who falls in love with Yeo-ri. He is shown to be persistent in his pursuit of Yeo-ri’s affections, even in the face of her unusual ability to see ghosts. Despite initially being fearful of ghosts, Jo-goo overcomes his fears and supports Yeo-ri in her supernatural endeavours. Jo-goo is a kind-hearted and devoted partner to Yeo-ri.
Supporting
- Park Chul-min as Pil-dong
- Kim Hyun-sook as Min-jung
- Lee Mi-do as Yoo-jin
- Yoon Ji-min as Sun-woo
- Lee Hyun-jin as Ki-woo
- Hwang Seung-eon as Lee Joo-hee
- Uhm Tae-goo as Magic show producer
Synopsis
Ma Jo-goo (Lee Min-ki), a street magician, always keeps an eye out for his audience. As he performs his latest trick, he notices a woman in the crowd who seems sad and alone. Her name is Yeo-ri (Son Ye-jin), and something about her gloomy demeanour inspires Jo-goo to create a new horror-themed magic act revolving around an exorcist magician. She agrees to work together, and their show becomes an instant hit.

As the months go by, Jo-goo becomes more and more fascinated by Yeo-ri’s peculiar personality. He soon discovers that she possesses an unwanted ability to see the dead ever since a horrific accident in high school. Her best friend Joo-hee, who died in the same accident, follows her everywhere as a vengeful ghost, scaring those around her relentlessly. Yeo-ri has become so isolated that she sleeps in a tent in her living room, speaks to her few friends only through the phone, and has even been abandoned by her own family.
Despite Jo-goo’s failed attempts to find Yeo-ri a boyfriend, their friendship blossoms into something more. Jo-goo’s love for Yeo-ri is strong enough to overcome his own fears, even as the vengeful Joo-hee becomes a dangerous threat to him. In an effort to protect Jo-go from herself and the ghost, Yeo-ri decides to leave Jo-go. However, despite facing numerous barriers, their love triumphs in the end, and they are able to reunite.
Romance
The romance in this film is a slow-burning one, with Jo-goo and Yeo-ri starting off as mere acquaintances but eventually developing deep feelings for each other. Jo-goo is initially drawn to Yeo-ri’s somber aura, which inspires him to create a horror-themed magic act revolving around an exorcist magician. As they work together, they begin to open up to each other, with Jo-goo becoming increasingly curious about Yeo-ri’s solitary lifestyle.
Despite Yeo-ri’s reluctance to let anyone into her life, Jo-goo is persistent in his efforts to befriend her. He tries to set her up with a boyfriend, but his attempts are unsuccessful, and it becomes clear that he has developed feelings for her. As their friendship deepens, Jo-goo becomes more protective of Yeo-ri, even as he learns about the spirit of her deceased friend Joo-hee, who follows her around and terrorizes those around her.

Throughout the film, their romance is tested by numerous obstacles, including Yeo-ri’s fear of opening up to others and the dangerous presence of Joo-hee’s spirit. However, despite these challenges, their love persists, with Jo-goo’s willingness to stand by Yeo-ri and support her through her struggles proving to be a key factor in their relationship.
In the end, their love triumphs, and they are able to reunite after Yeo-ri decides to leave Jo-goo in an effort to protect him from the dangerous spirit that haunts her. The film showcases the power of love to overcome even the most daunting obstacles and the importance of being willing to stand by someone through their darkest moments.
The Supernatural Elements as an Exciting and Thrilling Aspect of the Plot
The supernatural beliefs and fantastical elements in the movie add an exciting and intriguing layer to the plot. The female lead, Yeo-ri, possesses the ability to see the ghosts of dead people including her best friend Joo-hee, who died in an accident in high school. These ghosts appear in her life on a regular basis. She is able to communicate with them and even helps them fulfill their final wishes.
The concept of seeing ghosts and communicating with them is a common theme in many Asian cultures, and the movie portrays this belief in a fascinating and thrilling way. Yeo-ri’s ability to see and interact with ghosts not only adds a supernatural element to the story but also creates an emotional connection between her and the spirits of the dead.

Interesting Facts about Spellbound
- A Philippine remake of ‘Spellbound’ starring Bela Padilla and Marco Gumabao was released on February 1, 2023, by Viva Films.
- The movie ‘Spellbound’ is alternatively titled as ‘My Girlfriend Can See Ghosts’.
- ‘Spellbound’ ranked 7th in terms of box office gross film among Korean films in 2011, and it was the most successful romantic comedy film from Korea in recent years by a large margin.
FAQs
- Who is the writer and director of the ‘Spellbound’ movie?
The film is written and directed by Hwang In-ho. - What is the Genre of the ‘Spellbound’ movie?
It’s a horror romantic comedy. - Who are the lead actors in the ‘Spellbound’ movie?
The film features Son Ye-jin and Lee Min-ki in lead roles. - What is the Instagram ID’s of the Lead actor?
yejinhand is the Instagram ID of Son Ye-jin m.m.minki is the Instagram ID of Lee Min-ki.