Netflix’s animated hit K-Pop Demon Hunters has become a surprise global phenomenon, blending the flash of K-pop with Korean folklore—and its director, Maggie Kang, says the film’s authenticity is what made it click with audiences worldwide.
Speaking at a press event in Seoul, Kang admitted she never expected the level of attention the movie has received. “For the first ten days after release, my husband and I stayed up until 2 or 3 a.m. just reading fan reactions online,” she said. “When I started seeing posts in Korean time zones, I realized this story had truly gone global.”
Kang said the idea came from a long-standing desire to spotlight Korean culture. “Grim Reapers, goblins—these are concepts that American audiences don’t often see, but they find fascinating. Pairing that with the global phenomenon of K-pop felt like the right mix,” she explained. She revealed she’d been imagining a K-pop themed movie for nearly a decade before the “demon hunter” twist tied everything together.
Her drive, she added, came from personal experiences growing up. “When I was a kid, some teachers couldn’t even find Korea on a map. That made me want to raise Korea’s profile in the world,” Kang said.
The director emphasized that leaning into authenticity rather than pandering to global expectations was critical to the film’s success. “The moment you start adjusting your story to what you think people want, you lose authenticity. And audiences can feel that immediately,” she said. “Yes, there’s always the fear of failure, but being genuine is what makes a story resonate.”
As for what’s next, Kang didn’t confirm a sequel but teased there’s still plenty of ground to cover. “I want to explore more styles of Korean music. And as for Jinu’s death—you never know,” she said with a smile.
K-Pop Demon Hunters follows K-pop stars Rumi, Mira, and Joy, who secretly fight off demons while dazzling fans on stage. The film’s mix of pop spectacle and myth has struck a chord with audiences worldwide, and if Kang has her way, the story might just be getting started.
