tvN You Quiz on the Block**
Director Maggie Kang of K-Pop Demon Hunters appeared on tvN’s You Quiz on the Block and shared stories behind the film. Below is a summary of that conversation.
– A K-Pop Demon Hunters sing-along bus appears in Chicago
– Only two days of special screenings… K-Pop Demon Hunters ranks No.1 at the North American box office
– The film that captivated audiences around the world
– K-Pop Demon Hunters
– No.1 on Netflix in 43 countries
– Achieved 236 million views
– The Korean creator who sparked the global K-Pop Demon Hunters phenomenon
– Director Maggie Kang (Kang Min-ji)
〈Golden〉
– “The most Korean becomes the most global” has become a reality.
Maggie Kang: I never imagined a single movie could become this popular.
Yoo Jae-suk: The combination of K-pop and Korean culture in the battle against evil spirits was a masterstroke.
– An animation set in Korea that uses K-pop music to tell the story of a girl group, Huntrix, who protect fans from an evil spirit boy group, Saja Boys, while saving the world from demons.
– Released in June, ranked No.1 in 43 countries
– Cumulative views surpassed 236 million
– Became the most-watched film in Netflix history
– Still breaking records
– OST GOLDEN ranked No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Official Singles Chart, with eight OST tracks charting simultaneously
Yoo Jae-suk: Did you expect this kind of global phenomenon?
Maggie Kang: When we made the songs, I hoped K-pop fans would accept them as real K-pop and see Huntrix and Saja Boys as actual idol groups. But I never imagined the songs would reach Billboard. It feels surreal—seeing Huntrix and Saja Boys “compete” on the Billboard charts.
– Scenes from the movie becoming reality (Soda Pop, Golden)
– The singer and composer of Golden, EJAE, drew attention after it was revealed she had been an SM trainee for 10 years.
Maggie Kang: I watched the recording of Golden in New York. She sang extremely high notes 20–30 times in a row. It’s a very difficult song. I asked her to make it challenging because high notes naturally lift people up emotionally. I wanted a song that makes you feel uplifted and overwhelmed. Our movie gives positive energy.
Yoo Jae-suk: The lyrics keep saying “UP.”
Lyrics:
– We’re goin’ up, up, up, it’s our moment
– You know together we’re glowing
– Gonna be, gonna be golden
– With its bright, empowering message and addictive chorus, Golden spread through SNS cover challenges
– Loved by all ages
– Countless parodies followed
– Only two days of screenings, yet No.1 at the U.S. box office… earning 25 billion KRW
– “Shall we seal the soul gate with a chant?”—7-hour waits for sing-along buses in the U.S.
– The world is in the middle of the K-Pop Demon Hunters craze
Iconic Scenes &Cultural Impact
Yoo Jae-suk: Not just the music, but scenes from the movie are going viral.
– Iconic scene: eating an entire gimbap in one bite
– Many people are recreating the scene
– Interest in gimbap surged, with homemade gimbap videos trending
– Soda Pop Challenge reached 13 million views
Director Maggie Kang’s Childhood
– Emigrated to Canada at age five
– Though Korean could have been forgotten, she remains fluent
Maggie Kang: When I first moved to Canada, I only used English and stopped speaking Korean at home. After six months, my English became perfect. Then my mom gave me Korean books, and I couldn’t read them. She said, “This won’t do,” and started teaching me Korean—dictation, reading, repetition—three to four times a week. I hated it then, but now I’m so grateful.
– Studying Korean at age five was difficult but became a priceless asset
– Despite immigrating, she visited Korea often
Maggie Kang: I spent every summer vacation in Korea. My parents always believed we would return someday.
– Korean sensibilities naturally embedded
Maggie Kang: Every summer in Korea, there were hit songs. I went to karaoke with my cousins and sang popular songs. Those memories are precious.
Yoo Jae-suk: Which singers did you like?
Maggie Kang: H.O.T. and Seo Taiji and Boys.
– Influences from childhood favorite artists appear throughout the film
Maggie Kang: My mother always said, “You are Korean. Never forget the Korean language.” Even though I hold a Canadian passport, I’ve always felt 100% Korean at heart.
Journey into Animation
– Inspired by her father’s love for films
– Began 2D animation after discovering animation could be a career
– Passed DreamWorks’ story test and joined the studio
– Favorite animations: Dooly the Little Dinosaur, Candy Candy, Korean comics, Disney, and Western animation
– Worked as a storyboard artist on Shrek 3, Kung Fu Panda 2, Minions 2
Role of a storyboard artist:
– Visualizing scripts through camera angles, character placement, movement, and mood
– The foundation upon which animation is built
– Progression: storyboard artist → storyboard supervisor → director
– Her first directing project: K-Pop Demon Hunters
Why She Made K-Pop Demon Hunters
Maggie Kang: I’ve worked in animation for 20 years. I always wanted to see an animation that represented Korean culture. When no such project appeared, I decided to make it myself. Korean folklore—grim reapers, goblins—felt unfamiliar overseas, so I connected those ideas to demon hunters.
– Goblin-faced demons inspired by folklore
– Grim reapers reimagined as stylish, mysterious figures
– To hide their identities while fighting demons, idols felt like the perfect cover
– Girl group demon hunters Huntrix
– Demon boy group Saja Boys
– Korean traditional culture woven throughout:
① Shamanistic rituals (gut)
② Irworobongdo (Sun, Moon, and Five Peaks painting)
③ Norigae ornaments
④ Shaman tools (ritual knives)
– The tiger character Duffy, inspired by folk paintings and the director’s cats
– Real Korean locations depicted:
Namsan Seoul Tower, Bukchon Hanok Village, Naksan Fortress Trail, public bathhouses, herbal clinics, subways
– Extensive on-site research across Korea, from Jeju to Seoul
Voices &Korean Cast
– Demon King Gwima voiced by Lee Byung-hun
– Maggie Kang also voiced minor roles
– Jinwoo (Saja Boys leader): Ahn Hyo-seop
– Celine: Kim Yoon-jin
– Young Rumi: Director’s daughter
– Created by a largely Korean production team
– Meticulous Korean cultural details praised by viewers
Impact &Legacy
– Searches for Korean culture increased 10× globally
– K-Pop Demon Hunters pilgrimage tourism trends
– Public bath experiences +84%
– Clinics and museums saw dramatic visitor increases
Production &Message
– Seven years of production
– Released after two decades in animation
– Maggie Kang described it as a “love letter to Korean culture”
Message of the film:
– Overcoming inner fear
– Accepting hidden parts of oneself
– Building inner strength rather than erasing fear
Maggie Kang: I poured my entire heart into this film. I never imagined this level of love, and I’m deeply grateful.
