K-Pop Demon Hunters’ Hits No.1 in 41 Countries, Ahn Hyo-seop's Global Voice Acting Gains Praise
Jun 27, 2025
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Netflix's animated film 'KPop Demon Hunters', in which Ahn Hyo-seop participated in voice acting, entered the top 10 in 93 countries immediately after its release, ranking first in 41 countries.
K-pop Demon Hunters' is a production of Sony Pictures Animation, which produced world-famous hits such as `Spider-Man: New Universe', and Korean director Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans of 'Wish Dragon' co-director are drawing attention for their contents that capture the identity and global sense of Korean culture at the same time. Global stars such as Arden Cho as Rumi, Ken Jeong as Bobby, and Lee Byung-hun as Gwimma were named as major casts, adding to the buzz.
Regarding the success of the work, agency The Present Company reported that "K-POP is now a symbolic example of its position as a central element in designing the structure of global content beyond just the genre of music.'
In the play, Ahn Hyo-seop played the role of a member of the K-pop idol group 'Lion Boyz' and performed a high-level performance that digested all lines in English and expressed the delicate texture of emotions only with his voice. His sensuous performance drew rave reviews from viewers around the world, further enhancing the immersion of his work. Thanks to this popularity, some interview videos are released on Netflix's global official channel, adding to their meaning.
Ahn Hyo-seop, who captured the hearts of global fans by not only acting but also voice acting, proved a wider spectrum and immersion through this work. In particular, the later story that Maggie Kang, a Korean-American director who co-directed, sent a casting proposal in a handwritten letter shows the production's deep trust and affection for him.
Meanwhile, Ahn Hyo-seop is scheduled to release the movie `Omniscient Reader's View' on July 23, and the new drama ' has sold out today as well' Filming is also in full swing.
The following is the full text of Ahn Hyo-seop's Q&A
- What made you participate in 'K-pop Demon Hunters'.
▶ I was curious about the new genre, the way voice acting works. And I wanted to leave a good memory for the fans who are showing great love from overseas. The way the work conveys the message of 'love' through music and K-pop also came to me in a unique way. Before I participated in the project, director Maggie Kang sent me a letter, and I could feel a warm interest in me and a deep affection for the work. I believed in that sincerity, and I naturally felt that I wanted to make good results together.
- What kind of work is 'K-Pop Demon Hunters'.
▶ It's a work that has a lot of charm. This work is a fantasy and a story that touches our reality. One of my favorite Korean words is "Beautiful", because it also means "I'm beautiful". This work also contains the message of accepting each person's unique beauty, acknowledging their own speciality, and loving themselves as they are.
- What kind of character is the character 'Jinwoo' that you played.
▶ Jinwoo makes the risky choice of dealing with the earwax to be with his family, and in return, he loses his soul. Nevertheless, I think he is a person with warmth who lives with affection and warmth for humans. In that sense, I think viewers can feel compassion and love together.
- The recording method is special.
▶ I was in Korea (except for the first meeting) and the production team was in the United States, so I worked on it by video. At the time of recording, I put a camera next to the microphone and filmed not only my voice, but also my facial expressions and movements. The reference video recorded like that was reflected in the detailed description of the character's facial expressions, emotions, and movements when creating the character Jinwoo. Actually, Jinwoo's face and style are based on my appearance. Even clothes like hoodies. It was a work where the body and facial expressions melted together beyond just voice acting, and I think these processes played an important role in bringing the character to life. I think Jinwoo and I were able to synchronize through all these processes and the efforts of the production team.
- How was your work with Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans.
▶ It was a great honor to work with Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans. The genre of animation itself was a new way of working for me for the first time, so there were unfamiliar and difficult parts. Whenever that happened, the directors led me delicately and warmly, so I was able to adapt quickly.
For example, how to convey the flow of emotions with just your voice. It was impressive that you helped the character survive in a much more three-dimensional way even in animation by trying various emotions, speed of speech, and spacing even in the same scene, and thank you for creating an open environment to express freely.
- What does Jinwoo's inner devil look like.
▶ Jinwoo's inner devil is made of pain, guilt, and pain and regret from his inevitable choice. Even though it was an inevitable decision, those memories continue to haunt him. My inner voice comes as a low, heavy whisper, always disturbing and shaking in the right direction. It's never easy to face and accept this inner darkness, but I think it's a process that we all end up going through. I believe that you can face yourself through those times and move forward as a more solid person.
- What kind of world is the background of this movie.
▶ It looks like a fantasy, but if you look closely, it looks like the world we live in. It's a place where good and evil coexist, and people's desires and sacrifices collide. I think K-pop acts like a symbol of hope in it.
- How did you feel when you first saw this movie.
▶ I felt like my heart was full beyond words. I found it interesting while reading the script, but the genre of animation itself was not familiar to me, so I couldn't imagine how it would be implemented. But when I saw the finished movie, it became an incredibly beautiful and moving work that went far beyond what I imagined. Each scene felt like a dream. Above all, if there are any of my fans who will see this work, I would like to share this joy with them. I hope you will fall into this story like me and feel the fun and emotion in it together.
- What is the most different part of this movie from the animations you've seen so far.
▶ I think the biggest difference was that it was an animation centered on emotions. Usually in animation, music often exists as a background, and this work felt like a stage because music, story, and emotion were organically connected, and at the same time, it came as a movie and performance. This composition was very new and impressive to me.
- What message do you want to convey through this work.
▶ I want the message to be conveyed that everyone has their inner darkness, and sometimes they need the courage to acknowledge it and face it. And in the end, I hope it will be comforting and courageous for many people in that it is a story that believes in their own voice and gains strength to move on.
- What do you think about the power of imagination of an animated movie or series.
▶ I think animation is a genre that goes beyond the limits of imagination. You can visually implement everything that comes to your mind without the constraints of reality. And it can contain very deep emotions, philosophy, and messages. Whether you're an adult or a child, I think that's the power of animation. As a long-time Sony Pictures fan and animation lover, it was really nice and meaningful to be able to participate in this work. I'm so happy to meet you through Netflix.
lunamoon@sportschosun.com
