If Wishes Could Kill: Who Dies, Who Survives? Fate Of Every Main Character, Open-Ended Finale DECODED

If Wishes Could Kill grabbed the attention of viewers soon after it released on April 24. The Netflix show is a Korean horror drama that follows a group of high school friends whose lives spiral into terror after discovering a mysterious wish-granting app called Girigo. The app promises to fulfill any desire if the user records a video stating their wish, but with a deadly catch: once the wish is granted, the user dies within 24 hours. While several lives go on stake right from its first scene, in its 8-episode run, it gives us a lot of blood, gore, and adrenaline rush. If Wishes Could Kill features a rookie starcast of Jeon So-young, Kang Mi-na, Baek Sun-ho, Hyun Woo-seok, and Lee Hyo-je, who are receiving a lot of praise, but their main characters

face uncertain, unexpected, and shocking fates in the show.

*SPOILERS*

Who dies in If Wishes Could Kill?

Hyeon-wook

He's the first victim of the curse. He's taken away by the spirit right at the end of episode 1. Infact, his death sets the ball rolling for the events that follow. Hyeon-wook’s death marks the moment the story shifts from curiosity to horror. After using the Girigo app to wish for perfect exam scores, he initially enjoys his sudden success. But once the 24-hour countdown appears, his behavior turns erratic, as if controlled by an unseen force. In a deeply disturbing scene, he dies by slitting his own throat in front of his classmates. His death establishes the app’s core rule: every wish granted comes at the cost of the user’s life.

Lim Na-ri

Facing the most tragic fate, Na-ri is consumed by jealousy and manipulation. She is already struggling with jealousy toward Se-ah and unresolved feelings for Geon-woo, she becomes emotionally vulnerable to the curse. The malevolent force exploits her insecurities, pushing her into paranoia and isolation. In the final confrontation within the spirit realm, she turns against Se-ah, convinced she has been betrayed. Despite Se-ah’s attempts to reach her, Na-ri cannot break free from the influence and her own resentment. The conflict ends with Se-ah killing her in self-defense. However, the ambiguity of the ending—and the mid-credits scene—suggests Na-ri’s presence may not be entirely gone.

Kwon Si-won

Si-won is the true architect and origin of the horror, though her story is rooted in pain and anger. A brilliant student burdened by shame over her shaman mother and personal trauma, she helped create the Girigo app as a simple project. After a series of betrayals and misunderstandings involving her friend Hye-ryung, the app becomes a tool for revenge. Before dying, Si-won makes a final wish that ensures the curse will continue indefinitely. Her spirit becomes the primary force behind the app’s deadly power. In the finale, her existence is finally ended when her phone, the true anchor of the curse, is destroyed in the spirit world.

Do Hye-ryung

As the catalyst of the tragedy, Hye-ryung’s actions set the curse into motion. Humiliated and emotionally broken after being exposed and mistreated, she uses the app to wish death upon those who wronged her before taking her own life. This act imbues the app with its first deadly intent. Though initially believed to be the main source of the curse, it is later revealed that she is more of a victim than a villain. Once Si-won’s hold over the curse is broken, Hye-ryung’s spirit is finally released, allowing her to move on.

Who survives in If Wishes Could Kill?

Yoo Se-ah

Se-ah emerges as the emotional and moral center of the story. She survives as the one who breaks the curse. Driven by her desire to save Geon-woo, she uses the app herself and becomes entangled in the curse. Throughout the series, she confronts both supernatural threats and her own fears, including traumatic memories and guilt. In the final episode, she enters the spirit realm and, despite immense danger, manages to locate and destroy Si-won’s phone. This act collapses the curse and frees the trapped spirits. Though she survives, the emotional toll—especially losing her friends—marks her deeply.

Geon-woo

He manages to escape death after a lot of edge-of-the-seat moments. Geon-woo becomes one of the app’s targets after making a seemingly harmless wish. As his countdown progresses, his life hangs in the balance until Se-ah intervenes by making a wish to save him, transferring the curse onto herself. This act of love saves him physically, but leaves him burdened with guilt. By the end, he survives and gains closure, encouraging Se-ah to let go of the app and remember their lost friend in healthier ways.

Ha-joon

As the loyal supporter, Ha-joon plays a crucial role as the steady presence within the group. Though he harbors feelings for Se-ah, he prioritizes her safety and well-being throughout the crisis. He brings her to his sister, the shaman Ha-sal, and helps uncover the truth behind the curse. While he is not directly targeted by the app in the same way as others, he remains deeply involved in the fight against it. He survives, representing resilience and loyalty amid chaos.

Haetsal/Kang Ha-young

Her role as the shaman who fights the evil force, is prime to the story. She is instrumental in confronting the supernatural forces behind Girigo. As a powerful shaman, she bridges the human and spirit worlds, guiding Se-ah through rituals and eventually entering the spirit realm herself. In the climax, she risks her life by directly engaging Si-won’s spirit, even injuring herself to hold it back long enough for Se-ah to destroy the phone. Though severely wounded, she survives, embodying sacrifice and spiritual strength.

Bang-ul/Bangwool

Haetsal's partner, is gravely injured while protecting the group from vengeful spirits. But, one can call him the survivor with a new gift. Despite the severity of his injuries, he survives and undergoes a transformation, gaining the ability to see spirits. This newfound “second sight” symbolizes both the cost of confronting the supernatural and the possibility of understanding it. By the end, he provides a sense of reassurance, even witnessing Hyeon-wook’s spirit at peace.

If Wishes Could Kill's uncertain ending

After all this, is the curse really over? While the main conflict appears resolved with the destruction of Si-won’s phone, the story leaves behind a chilling possibility. In the mid-credits scene, another student is guided to Na-ri’s abandoned phone, which still contains the Girigo app. This moment suggests that the curse is not entirely eradicated—it may simply be waiting for a new host. Whether Na-ri’s spirit is behind this or the curse itself has evolved remains unclear, reinforcing the show’s central idea: as long as human desire exists, the cycle may never truly end.