Netflix hit Kpop Demon Hunters explores shame, identity and food

Netflix's K-pop fantasy hit “KPop Demon Hunters,” on course to be its most-watched original film, is an attempt to tell a universal story about shame and acceptance, its Korean-Canadian director said.

- 

The film about a K-pop girl group descended from demon slayers is Netflix's most popular animated film to date and ranks as the platform's second most-watched movie overall. Numbers from its soundtrack are also dominating Billboard's Streaming Songs chart.

“KPop Demon Hunters” was launched in June and follows the critical success of other works exploring Korean culture and experiences, such as “Parasite,” “Squid Game,” and “Pachinko.” It revolves around group member Rumi, who feels pressured to hide her secret dual identity as her group battles a boy-band rival made up of demons.

Director Maggie Kang moved from South Korea to Canada at age five and said she wanted to portray Korean culture authentically, and explore how people “hide parts of themselves or feel ashamed of something.”