KPop Demon Hunters success fuels sequel plans

“Much remains under wraps, but the sequel will be a film I would want to watch myself, just like the first. It will be bigger in scope and more dynamic. I also want to share more of Korea’s style with global audiences.”

Maggie Kang, director of the Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” outlined her vision for the sequel during a press event in Seoul on April 1. The event celebrated the film’s wins for best animated feature and best original song at the 98th Academy Awards.

The event, held at I’Park Mall in Yongsan, was attended by Kang, co-director Chris Appelhans, and the team behind the title track “Golden,” including singer-songwriter Lee Jae and composers Lee Yu-han, Kwak Jung-gyu and Nam Hee-dong, known collectively as IDO.

The film has surpassed 500 million cumulative views on Netflix, becoming the first title on the platform to reach the milestone. A sequel has already been confirmed. Discussing its music, Kang said she hopes to combine trot, which reflects Korea’s traditional musical roots, with heavy metal, which she described as a foundational influence in K-pop.

Appelhans said “Koreanness” remains at the heart of the project, adding that the pride and resilience shaped by Korea’s history will carry through to the sequel.

Kang, who grew up in Canada, said Korean culture was largely missing from the films she watched as a child. “I saw Chinese and Japanese elements, but not Korean,” she said, explaining that the project was motivated by a desire to introduce Korea to a global audience.

She also spoke about identity among the Korean diaspora. “Many people abroad feel they are not fully Korean,” she said. “But living between cultures allows us to serve as a bridge. Even if we were not born or raised here, we are still part of Korean culture.”

Lee Jae reflected on the film’s impact, recalling how she once faced teasing for listening to K-pop and rarely saw Asian representation growing up. “Seeing the support at the Oscars brought me to tears,” she said. She also described performing “Golden” on the Oscar stage, which incorporated traditional Korean music and dance.

“I became emotional from the rehearsal stage,” she said. “It made me proud to present gugak and pansori on such a global platform.” Lee added that seeing figures such as Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio holding K-pop light sticks was something she had never imagined. “It showed the global reach of Korean culture,” she said.

Composer Lee Yu-han said he regretted not being able to complete his acceptance speech. “I wanted to thank and congratulate my colleagues,” he said. “Even so, it was a moment I will always value.”


김도연 기자 repokim@donga.com