〈K-Pop Demon Hunters〉 Ahn Hyo-seop, "There are parts of Jinwoo's face and style that reflect me"

Actor Ahn Hyo-seop revealed the background of his participation in the Netflix animated film 〈K-Pop Demon Hunters〉. He stated that a heartfelt letter from director Maggie Kang was a decisive factor in his decision to participate in the project.

Ahn Hyo-seop said through his agency The Present Company on the 27th, "Director Maggie Kang sent me a letter, and in it, I could feel her warm interest in me and deep affection for the work," adding, "I believed in that sincerity and naturally wanted to create good results together."

This work is a musical animation co-directed by Canadian of Korean descent Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, telling the story of the world-renowned K-Pop girl group Huntress as they act as demon hunters protecting the human world from evil spirits.

Ahn Hyo-seop explained his reason for participating, saying, "The way to convey the message of love through K-Pop felt fresh," and added, "It was a new genre that I hadn't tried before, and I was also interested in the method of voice acting."

He played the role of Jinwoo, the leader of the boy group Lion Boys sent to the human world by the king of evil spirits, Guima, to confront Huntress. Jinwoo stands by Guima to forget his past wounds but undergoes a transformation after meeting Lumi from Huntress, who shares similar pain.

He stated, "Even after losing his soul in a dangerous deal with Guima, he is a character with affection and warmth towards humans," adding, "I believe viewers will also feel compassion and love for Jinwoo."

Since the release of the Netflix animated 〈K-Pop Demon Hunters〉, there has been a strong reaction from fans regarding the character 'Jinwoo.' In particular, there have been many positive comments about Jinwoo's appearance, such as his large eyes without double eyelids and tall stature, with many viewers expressing that they have become fans of this character.

Ahn Hyo-seop revealed, "There are parts of Jinwoo's face and style that are based on my appearance." This is because the character Jinwoo was created by referencing his facial expressions and movements captured on camera during the recording process.

He explained, "I think this process played an important role in bringing the character to life. It is the reason why Jinwoo and I could synchronize with each other."

However, for Ahn Hyo-seop, who challenged the animation genre for the first time, this work was not an easy challenge. He confessed during the recording process, "I couldn't imagine how this would be realized on screen," but added, "When I saw the completed version, it had become a beautiful and touching work that exceeded my imagination. Each scene felt like a dream."

Ahn Hyo-seop pointed out the special aspect of this work as the organic connection between music, story, and emotion. He evaluated, "In animation, music often exists as a background, but in this work, music, story, and emotion were organically connected," and said, "It approached as both a movie and a performance."

He also expressed his hope that through 〈K-Pop Demon Hunters〉, "I hope the message that everyone has darkness and sometimes needs the courage to acknowledge and face it can be conveyed," adding, "I wish to provide comfort and courage to many people."