"I wanted to showcase Korean culture as it is." (Maggie Kang, Director)

A priestess faces off against a grim reaper. They form K-pop groups and sing K-pop songs. Moreover, they prominently feature Korean elements such as the tiger character 'Duffy' and a magpie wearing a hat. This distinctly Korean work has shaken the world.

This is the story of Netflix's "K-Pop Demon Hunters" (hereinafter 'K-Death'). At the center of it is director Maggie Kang. She is a skilled talent who participated in the storyboards for global animations such as "Shrek," "Puss in Boots," and "Kung Fu Panda."

'K-Death' is her debut feature film. Director Kang brought a work she honed and crafted over seven years into the world. Despite everyone's concerns, it achieved the highest ever viewership in Netflix animation history, with total cumulative views ranking second.

On the 22nd, the 'K-Death' team held a press conference in Yongsan, Seoul, where director Maggie Kang was present. "I can't believe it. It doesn’t feel real," she shared with overwhelming emotion.

'K-Death' is an animation centered around K-pop idols. It tells the story of a girl group and exorcists called 'Huntress' as they face off against the reaper boy group 'Lion Boys.' Director Kang explained her reason for choosing K-pop as the theme.

"When I was five years old and went to Canada, my teacher asked where I was from. I replied 'South Korea,' but she couldn't find it on the map. From that moment on, I felt a desire to promote my country," she reminisced.

The production period lasted a staggering seven years. The longest time was spent on developing the story. "The story is the most important aspect of any work. No matter how great the visuals are, if the story is lacking, no one will watch it," she emphasized.

The top priority was Korean culture. "Entities like grim reapers and goblins are unique themes that can’t be found overseas," she said. "When I thought of demon hunters, the concept became more interesting when combined with K-pop."

"Shamanistic rituals use music and dance to drive away evil spirits. The atmosphere of the stage and performance, along with the interaction with the audience, resembles today’s concerts. I believe that aspect resonated well with global audiences."

The ultimate theme Director Kang wanted to address in 'K-Death' was 'shame.' Shame is one of the fundamental human emotions that anyone, from children to adults, can experience.

In the story, the character Lumi experiences this shame. Lumi is a half-human, half-demon hybrid and a hunter of demons. Just before the completion of her transformation, demonic patterns appear on her body, causing her to break down significantly. This is a rare narrative not often seen in animations.

Director Kang stated, "I wanted a more layered narrative. I incorporated mature themes into superhero characters," emphasizing that "I aimed to satisfy the desires of not only children but all viewers."

She also shared a moment from the initial screening that left a strong impression. "A six-year-old child said they understood Lumi's fear after watching the movie. It was astonishing that people of all ages could empathize equally."

Since it’s based on K-pop, the OST was a key component of its global success. In particular, Huntress's 'Golden' has received acclaim for encapsulating 'Honnun'—the hybridization of human and demon. Recently, it even reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 main chart in the U.S.

'Golden' closely follows the formula of Korean K-pop hit songs. It has a clear narrative structure, and the message embedded in the song feels familiar. Moreover, the Korean lyrics are seamlessly integrated, with the stunning high notes being particularly notable.

Director Kang emphasized, "'Golden' had to be an 'extremely hard song to sing.' When you hear those high notes, your heart trembles and your emotions surge. I thought that moment could leave a bigger impact."

"I wanted to capture an explosion of emotions in the high notes. The final version went through seven to eight rounds of revisions," she recalled. "When I first heard the demo, I thought, 'This is it.' It brought me to tears."

'K-Death' delicately incorporates Korean details into its visuals. Familiar scenes for Koreans, such as traditional clinics, bathhouses, ramen shops, Namsan, and subways, can be found throughout.

The tiger character 'Duffy' and the magpie 'Suji' were inspired by the traditional Korean folk painting 'Hojakdo' (Tiger and Magpie). These characters made a strong impression on international viewers as well.

Director Kang noted, "I've seen many instances where Korea is poorly represented in foreign animations, which was disappointing. I wanted to ensure the details were accurate in this work."

"I didn't want to merely mimic the surface of (Korean) culture. I wanted to showcase our culture as it is. I believe that sincerity resonated with audiences worldwide."

'K-Death' is currently being discussed as a strong contender for the Academy Awards (Oscars) in the U.S. Director Kang remarked, "No one creates for that reason," but she added, "If it can be recognized in any form, that itself would carry great significance."

Will there be a 'K-Death Season 2'? "I have ideas. I'm also looking forward to it," she smiled. "If a next work comes out, I would like to showcase various Korean music genres, like trot."

Lastly, Director Kang concluded by saying, "What the audience wants is not fake but real. The way for Korean content to be loved more is to show our culture as it is."

<Photo Credit=Netflix>