Netflix animation-director
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| ▲ Maggie Kang (C) attends a press conference in Seoul on Aug. 22, 2025. (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ "KPop Demon Hunters" co-director Maggie Kang visits the National Museum of Korea in Seoul on Aug. 21, 2025. (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ A still from "KPop Demon Hunters" is seen in this image provided by Netflix. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ A poster of "KPop Demon Hunters" is seen in this image provided by Netflix. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Netflix animation-director
'KPop Demon Hunters' director on how 'shame' powers Netflix's record-breaking hit
By Woo Jae-yeon
SEOUL, Aug. 22 (Yonhap) -- Maggie Kang, co-director of "KPop Demon Hunters," said Friday the universal feeling of insecurity is what made Netflix's animated hit resonate globally.
At a press conference in Seoul, Kang said she wanted to tell a story centered on shame, a theme not often explored in animation, believing that it would connect with viewers everywhere.
"I think everybody knows what it feels like to hide parts of themselves, or be ashamed of something. So I think everybody can relate to that," she said.
Premiered on June 20, the animated film became a global phenomenon. It is currently the streaming company's second-most watched film ever, poised to soon beat the current No. 1, the action-comedy "Red Notice." Its catchy soundtrack has also conquered the Billboard charts.
To illustrate the film's broad appeal, the Canadian Korean director recalled an encounter with a six-year old girl at a screening. The girl shared that she deeply related to Rumi, the lead singer of the girl group Huntr/x in the film.
"The girl said, 'You know, I hide things from my friends, because I don't want to be judged, or I'm scared what they will think,'" the director recounted. "So I think that's kind of the reason why it's been able to speak to so many demographics, regardless of age or race or culture."
"KPop Demon Hunters" centers on the three-member group Huntr/x who live a double life, balancing their music careers with their duties as warriors who protect the world from demonic spirits, like the overlord Gwi-Ma and the soul-stealing Saja Boys.
The film marks the feature debut for the director, a longtime industry veteran who previously worked at studios such as DreamWorks Animation and is now with Sony Pictures Animation.
Her experience is evident in the film's bold and successful blending of Korean cultural elements, from shamanism and street foods to pop culture, with universal storytelling.
Kang emphasized her commitment to authentic cultural representation, a mindset she said is rooted in her faith and confidence in the power of a story.
She refused to shy away from specifics, even if it meant the audience might not understand them right away.
"I did not want to hide anything," she said, adding, "I believed they will eventually."
She also shared her belief in the power of film as an art form to break down barriers between cultures.
"Anywhere you go in the world, everybody wants same things, like love, security and acceptance," she said. "When you tell a story that kind of encompasses all of that, it's inevitable that you will reach a global audience."
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