Director Maggie Kang made an appearance at the Busan Film Festival.
On the 21st, an outdoor stage greeting for the Netflix film ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ (hereafter referred to as K-Demon) was held at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan.
‘K-Demon’ tells the story of the K-pop idol group HuntRix fighting evil spirits and protecting the world with their songs. It features high-quality music and choreography reminiscent of actual K-pop groups, prominently showcasing Korean elements such as the tiger character Duffy and a magpie wearing a hat.
On the 17th, it recorded a cumulative view count of 314.2 million on Netflix, achieving the highest figure among all movies and shows released on Netflix to date. It was screened in a sing-along version for the first time in Korea at this year’s Busan Film Festival, receiving a positive response.
In response, Director Maggie Kang said, “I don’t often get the chance to meet young fans, but yesterday I received questions from child viewers. They were so cute. I was asked, ‘Why did you kill Jinwoo? Was there originally a kiss scene between Lumi and Jinwoo?’”
She continued, “For the first month after the film's release, I sent messages and checked frequently whenever records were broken. After two months, it became so much that Director Chris said it felt like we were raising a child and sending it out into the world. At first, I was anxious about how it would do and whether people would like it, but seeing it grow, I felt like, ‘Keep growing, live well,’ and I think I started to watch it from a distance.”
When asked about the motivation behind starting ‘K-Demon’, Maggie Kang said, “I have worked in Hollywood for over ten years as a Korean. I wanted to showcase Korean culture. However, such films were not being made, and with K-content and idols becoming famous and spreading widely in the U.S., I felt this was the opportunity. I thought about making a film that reflects Korean culture. I wanted to see animations about grim reapers, goblins, etc., and that became ‘K-Demon’, with K-pop added at the end.”
Regarding the character creation process, she stated, “It is important in film production. I gave Lumi the identity of a demon from the beginning. Not only Lumi but each character fights their own demons. Everyone has their own anxieties and weaknesses. However, I wanted to depict the process of embracing and overcoming these. All characters overcome in their own ways, which is why many people liked it. It’s because they can empathize not only with Lumi but also with other characters.”
Director Maggie Kang expressed her admiration for Bong Joon-ho, saying, “I really like Director Bong Joon-ho. I have drawn a lot of inspiration from his works, especially ‘Memories of Murder’, which is my favorite.”
When asked about her experience collaborating with Netflix, she replied, “The collaboration was very good. It gave a lot of strength in producing a film rich in Korean culture. I believe Netflix understands the value of Korean culture and how much it resonates with people.”
When asked about her plans for her next project, Maggie Kang said, “I have many ideas I’ve been thinking about for a long time. I want to make animations, live-action films, and try everything.”
Additionally, when asked what kind of stories she likes, she said, “I like stories that twist familiar elements. Storytelling has certain limitations, but there are no limits to the methods. ‘Little Women’ can create different feelings and atmospheres depending on the director. I believe the difference in perspective and personal viewpoint is important.”
The Busan International Film Festival, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, will be held until the 26th at the Busan Cinema Center.
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
