tvN <You Quiz on the Block> Director Maggie Kang, the creative force behind K-Pop Demon Hunters, appeared on tvN’s popular talk show You Quiz on the Block, where she shared behind-the-scenes stories and personal reflections about the film. Here is a comprehensive summary of that conversation. A Global Phenomenon Begins “Golden” — When the Most Korean Became the Most Global “The idea that ‘the most Korean is the most global’ has become reality.” Maggie Kang admitted she never imagined one film could gain this level of popularity. Host Yoo Jae-suk praised the film’s brilliant fusion of K-pop and Korean culture in the battle against evil spirits, calling it “a masterstroke.” K-Pop Demon Hunters tells the story of a K-pop girl group, Huntrix, who secretly protect the world from demons, battling an evil demon boy group, Saja Boys, while performing as idols. Maggie Kang explained that while creating the music, her hope was simply that K-pop fans would accept Huntrix and Saja Boys as real idol groups. She never imagined the songs would climb the Billboard charts. “Seeing Huntrix and Saja Boys competing on Billboard felt surreal.” Creating “Golden” The song Golden was composed and sung by EJAE, a former SM Entertainment trainee of 10 years. Maggie Kang recalled watching EJAE record the song in New York, singing extremely high notes repeatedly—20 to 30 times in a row. “I asked her to make it difficult on purpose. High notes lift people up emotionally. I wanted a song that makes you feel empowered—because our movie gives positive energy.” Lyrics like: “We’re goin’ up, up, up, it’s our moment”“Gonna be, gonna be golden” helped fuel viral cover challenges, parodies, and massive global engagement across social media. Cultural Impact Beyond the Screen Global interest in Korean culture surged: Maggie Kang’s Roots “At the time, I hated it. Now I’m incredibly grateful.” She spent every summer vacation in Korea, watching TV, singing the latest hits at karaoke with cousins, and absorbing Korean pop culture. Her favorite artists growing up: These influences appear throughout the film’s soundtrack. “Even though I have a Canadian passport, I’ve always felt 100% Korean in my heart.” From Storyboard Artist to Director Inspired by her father’s love for films, Maggie Kang developed an early passion for storytelling and animation. She worked as a storyboard artist at DreamWorks, contributing to: She explained that storyboard artists visually translate scripts into camera angles, character movement, and emotional tone—forming the blueprint of an animated film. K-Pop Demon Hunters is her directorial debut. Why She Made K-Pop Demon Hunters After 20 years in animation, Maggie Kang longed to see an animated film that truly represented Korea. “I kept waiting for someone else to make it. When it didn’t happen, I thought—why not me?” She drew inspiration from Korean folklore: These elements evolved into demon hunters and stylish, mysterious antagonists. The concept combined: Traditional elements woven into the film include: Meticulous Korean Details Director Yoo Jae-suk praised the film’s astonishing realism: Maggie Kang credited the many Korean artists on the production team. “If the rice and soup were switched, someone would immediately say, ‘That’s wrong.’ This film was made together by Koreans.” Voices and Cast “Having Lee Byung-hun alone made the film feel like a true Korean movie.” Seven Years, One Love Letter to Korea “This movie is my love letter to Korea and K-pop.” She admitted to deep insecurities: “I wondered if I had the right to make a film representing Korea.” The overwhelming global response erased those doubts. “I poured my entire heart into this. If people didn’t like it, I thought I’d quit animation. That’s how much it meant to me.” The Message “The message is about overcoming fear within yourself.” Through characters like Rumi and Jin-woo, the film explores hidden fears and insecurities. “We may never completely erase our fears, but we can learn to acknowledge them—and grow stronger.”