‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ Director Maggie Kang Reveals Touching Backstories Behind Global Hit and ‘Golden’ OST

Director Maggie Kang captivated audiences as she shared behind-the-scenes stories from the Netflix sensation ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ during her press conference in Yongsan, Seoul.

On the 22nd, a press conference for Netflix’s animated action-fantasy film ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ was held at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall in Seoul, with director Maggie Kang in attendance.

‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ follows K-pop superstars Lumi, Mira, and Joy, who double as secret heroes protecting the world behind the glitz and glamour of the stage. Since its release, the film has consistently held its spot on Netflix’s Global Top 10 English-language films list.

Basking in the film’s explosive popularity, Maggie Kang expressed her gratitude, saying, “It still feels unreal. I can’t quite believe it. I’m so thankful to all the fans.”



She went on to share, “For the first ten days after the movie was released, my husband and I couldn’t stop scrolling through Twitter and Instagram, even until 2 or 3 in the morning. As the hours passed, I noticed Twitter slowly filling up with Korean posts, thanks to the time difference. That’s when I realized, ‘Wow, this really is a global phenomenon.’”

‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ has resonated worldwide, thanks to its addictive soundtrack and the authentic details of Korean culture woven throughout the film.

Born in Korea but raised in Canada from the age of five, Maggie Kang recalled being shocked by Canadians’ limited awareness of Korea during her childhood. “My teacher couldn’t even find Korea on the map, and the country was marked in a different color, labeled as underdeveloped. That’s when I first felt a desire to represent my country in a positive light,” she shared.



She added, “When I see Korean content made overseas, there are often so many inaccuracies. For example, even in ‘Mulan,’ which is a Chinese story, the characters wear kimono-style outfits—that kind of thing can be upsetting as an Asian. I wanted to create a truly Korean film, capturing our culture and details as authentically as possible.”

The film’s original soundtrack has also captivated a global audience. The track ‘Golden’ even soared to No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, setting a new milestone.

Maggie Kang revealed, “‘Golden’ was the most challenging song to create. I realized late in the process that it needed to embody Lumi’s wishes and desires—it had to be her signature song. Musically, it needed to be difficult to sing. Since the film’s main theme is the power of music, I wanted the song’s soaring high notes to truly stir the audience’s hearts.”



She continued, “We went through seven or eight versions before settling on the final one. The first time I heard the demo, I was moved to tears. I just knew, ‘This is it.’”

With ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ taking the world by storm, major US media outlets have even named it a strong contender for the Oscars. Asked about her hopes for awards, Maggie Kang replied honestly, “I don’t think anyone creates art just for the sake of winning awards. But if our work is recognized in any way, it would be incredibly meaningful and a tremendous honor.”

Photo Credit: Netflix
 

This article is a translated version of the original Korean article published by Xportsnews, originally written by Kim Yeeun. This article was translated from Korean using AI-assisted tools and human review to deliver an accurate and culturally appropriate version for international readers.