Maggie Kang, director of Netflix’s most popular animated film ever, "KPop Demon Hunters", is in Korea this week to connect with the people at the center of today’s global culture wave.
On Aug. 20, Kang appeared on TV alongside President Lee Jae-myung and TWICE members JEONGYEON and JIHYO, who performed the soundtrack cut “Take Down.” The group talked candidly about K-pop’s worldwide stature and the fresh possibilities opened up by globally minded Korean content.
On Aug. 21, she visited the National Museum of Korea, joining a tour program led by Director Yoo Heung-jun. She’ll wrap her trip on Aug. 22 with a press roundtable for Korean media.
Kang also guested on Arirang’s special program "K-Pop: The Next Chapter" on the 20th, where President Lee and TWICE joined the conversation about the film’s impact and the boundless potential of Korean culture.
“From the start of my career, I dreamed of an animated film that truly centers Korean culture,” Kang said. “Making this movie, I chose not to hide any of it―I wanted to show it as it is.” Asked about the future of Korean content, she added, “There’s an endless amount our culture can share with the world. There are no limits.”
“We’re seeing firsthand that the more Korean something is, the more global it can be,” President Lee said. “Because culture is part of the new administration’s core industrial strategy, the possibilities for Korean culture will only expand.” He continued, “For the tree of culture to thrive, it needs plenty of water so healthy competition and diversity can grow naturally. The government will focus on creating the environment where new fields can take root and flourish.”
On the morning of the 21st, Kang toured the National Museum of Korea with Kim Min-young, Netflix’s VP of Content for Asia Pacific (excluding India). With the film’s success sparking new interest in Korea’s heritage, art, and even merch, the visit aimed to exchange insights on how the museum and Netflix have helped bring Korean culture to a global audience.
“We’re thrilled that "KPop Demon Hunters"―the most popular animated film in Netflix history and the second most-watched Netflix film overall―brought us together for such a meaningful moment,” said Kim Min-young. “We’re proud to showcase Korea’s culture to the world through Netflix, and we’ll keep serving as a cultural bridge that elevates Korea’s global standing while expanding industry boundaries and fandom.”
"KPop Demon Hunters" stunned the industry with record-breaking viewership―No. 1 among Netflix animated films and No. 2 among all Netflix movies to date. The film leans into distinctly Korean flair, pairing polished, real-deal K-pop-level music and choreography with icons like the tiger character “Derpy” and a magpie sporting a traditional gat (Korean hat). For audiences unfamiliar with Korea, those details left a striking impression and helped fuel another wave of global interest in Korean culture.
During her stay, Kang also taped an episode of tvN’s "You Quiz on the Block", where she shared the project’s original vision and behind-the-scenes stories. The episode airs Aug. 27.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)