[Photo&] The Stars of “K-Pop Demon Hunters” sweeping the Oscars visit Korea, press conference highlights

Returning in triumph with an Oscar trophy, the stars of “K-Pop Demon Hunters”

The leading stars of the Netflix animated film “K-Pop Demon Hunters” (hereinafter “K-Pop Demon Hunters”), which swept major U.S. awards and sparked a global sensation, returned to Korea in triumph. At the Korea press conference held on the 1st at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, the production team lifted their Oscar trophies and shared their overwhelming emotions. “K-Pop Demon Hunters” is a fantasy animation in which the K-pop girl group “Huntrix” takes on the evil-spirit boy group “Saja Boys.” Following the Golden Globes and the Grammys, the film pulled off the rare feat of sweeping both the Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song categories at the Academy Awards. With a sequel already confirmed, the next installment promises a scale that surpasses the original, and is expected to open a new chapter by blending a variety of genres, including trot and heavy metal.

A breakthrough built on “Korean elements,” powering the sequel

Co-director “Chris Appelhans” pointed to “Korean elements” as the key driving force behind the next project. With a Korean painter as his wife, he said he came to understand in depth the uniquely Korean expressions of affection and patience, and that he wove this strength into the story of the protagonist “Lumi” in a three-dimensional way. It’s an approach that goes beyond simply borrowing from another culture. Director “Maggie Kang,” a Korean-Canadian, also emphasized the weighty meaning carried by the work’s success. She said her ultimate goal was not only to spread Korean culture worldwide, but also to instill pride in overseas Korean communities for being part of Korean culture itself—highlighting the film’s distinct cultural value.

An ensemble of traditional Korean music and K-pop that captivated Hollywood—an overwhelming “K-power”

“Lee Jae,” the Korean-American singer and songwriter behind the voice and songs of the protagonist “Lumi,” vividly shared the thrill of the stage celebrating the Academy Awards. The “Golden” performance they completed together with 24 performers—including a musician playing samulnori instruments and a dancer wearing a gat—drew explosive applause from Hollywood’s top-tier actors. A standout moment unfolded as global stars such as “Leonardo DiCaprio” and “Emma Stone” waved their light sticks and fully enjoyed the show. Looking back, “Lee Jae” said he felt the immense “K-power” when Korea’s traditional music and pansori resonated with the world’s main stage, adding that it proved—perfectly—that Korean music has limitless potential to go global.

Behind the scenes revealed at the awards show—an unsung hero of the soundtrack: “IDO”

Also attending was the composer team “IDO” (“Kwak Jung-gyu,” “Lee Yoo-han,” “Nam Hee-dong”), affiliated with Double Black Label, which helped energize the press conference and shared behind-the-scenes stories from beyond the awards show stage. “Lee Yoo-han,” who ran into an unexpected mishap at the Academy Awards when the microphone was cut due to strict time limits, said he tried to soften the regret from that moment and expressed deep gratitude to his family and the members. Even the episodes they experienced on the world’s best stage remained glorious honors, hinting at the enormous influence “K-Pop Demon Hunters” has had on the global music industry beyond being just content. Their innovative soundtrack has been firmly recognized as a major factor that maximized the film’s overall quality.

A new milestone for K-content—the ongoing “K-Pop Demon Hunters” phenomenon

The monumental achievements of “K-Pop Demon Hunters” symbolize the fact that K-content’s strength shattered the firm barriers of Hollywood’s mainstream market. Their challenge—creating unprecedented synergy by combining two massive cultural pillars, animation and K-pop—won’t stop. Worldwide attention is focused on what new global phenomenon the sequel, which promises an even expanded world and a variety of musical experiments, will bring. Their triumphant return will be recorded not only as a celebration, but as a historic moment that points to the next milestone K-content must move toward.