Who would’ve thought an animated movie could take over both the screen and the music charts? Netflix’s recent animation K-Pop Demon Hunters has become a global sensation, reaching 325 million views on Netflix, making it the platform’s most watched movie ever. In addition to the film itself, its soundtrack has been dominating the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The movie’s prominent soundtrack Golden topped the Billboard chart for six consecutive weeks, while three others reached the Top 10, making it the first soundtrack ever to place four songs there simultaneously. “K-pop Demon Hunters” tells the story of Huntrix, a group of female K-pop artists, who secretly fight as demon hunters while bringing hope to the fans with their songs. Along their journey, they confront Saja Boys, a rival group of demons whose goal is to steal fans’ souls and strengthen the evil forces. The movie ultimately delivers the lesson on resilience and unity, showing that courage and integrity can defeat the dark forces.
This film is not merely global entertainment, but a trigger for the global spread of Korea’s cultures and practices. Much like the earlier boom of Squid Game, which made the audiences more familiar with Korean culture and generated numerous spin-off products and game content, K-Pop Demon Hunters seems to follow the same path. What makes this trend even more remarkable is how widely this film has been applied to everyday life around the world and captured global attention. Fans are joining online challenges, dancing and singing along to the movie’s soundtracks. Cosplay of the characters are trending on social media, and companies such as Nongshim and Paris Baguette are releasing products related to the foods and characters of the film. Then why is this film so sensational?
In my perspective, the movie’s global popularity comes from its authenticity in portraying Korean culture, even though it was created through an international collaboration. Produced by Sony, a Japanese multinational company, and distributed by Netflix, an American media company, the project could have easily been subjected to Western influences. Instead, the story remains deeply rooted in Korean culture, incorporating everyday lifestyles, iconic architecture, and folklore that have shaped the nation’s traditions. I believe it is the unique and exotic aspects of Korean culture that capture the attention of international audiences and draw them into the stories.
In addition to the food, this film also provides a glimpse of Korea’s famous places. Several iconic sites such as Naksan Park, Myeongdong Street, Namsan Seoul Tower, and Bukchon Hanok Village appear naturally in the story, guiding and immersing the audience into Korea’s bustling yet romantic cityscape. Furthermore, Korean cultural elements like tigers, magpies, and hanok architecture capture the true beauty and spirit of Korean culture.
As a Korean who watched this film with American friends, I felt joy in recognizing details that only Koreans would fully understand. For instance, the group name “Saja Boys” reminded me of Jeoseung Saja, the Korean version of the grim reaper who escorts souls to the afterlife. Another subtle reference is the wordplay on “gwi-ma,” which when reversed becomes “ma-gwi,” a Korean word meaning devil. What huntrix members eat is also distinctly Korean: they enjoy kimbap, cup ramyeon, and Korean corndogs, which are popular Korean street foods. I found myself smiling at these details, seeing that these ordinary things I grew up with are now appreciated across the globe.
Directed by Maggie Kang, a Korean-Canadian, K-Pop Demon Hunters introduces authentic Korean culture to the global mainstream without distortion, and its cultural influence is already visible. Insadong craft shops and the National Museum of Korea are full of visitors from all over the world. Sales of Korean traditional crafts have surged dramatically, especially items inspired by the tiger “Derpy” and the magpie “Sussie,” which are characters from the film. K-Pop Demon Hunters proves that Korean culture has become a universal language and deeply resonates worldwide, and we must continue to honor and share these traditions with the world.
