‘KPop Demon Hunters’ becomes global hit with Billboard chart-topper Golden and powerful celebration of Korean culture 

LOS ANGELES — The animated movie juggernaut, “KPop Demon Hunters” has gone “up, up, up” from surprise summer hit to cultural phenomenon.

It’s the most popular movie ever on Netflix and features a chart-topping soundtrack too.

This week, the single “Golden” by the film’s fictional girl group Huntr/x sits atop the real-life Billboard Hot 100 for the seventh consecutive week, and for the three talented vocalists behind the film’s demon-battling pop stars, it’s a “golden” opportunity to honor their Korean culture.

“Golden’s a great song about hope but it also has lyrics in Korean in the hook,” lead singer EJAE, the singing voice of Rumi, told On The Red Carpet.

“This movie is for everybody but especially the stories when kids are connecting more to their own culture, that’s the stuff that really gets me, said AUDREY NUNA who voices Mira.

REI AMI who voices Zoey added, “It’s not just about K-pop, but it’s truly about Korean food and aspects of Korean culture that aren’t really viewed as trendy, but, like Korean art you see plastered throughout this entire movie. The beautiful city of Seoul. The beautiful landmarks like the Namsan Tower, like all these things are so Korean.”

Three months after its initial release the movie is still number one on Netflix and a singalong version released in theaters became Netflix’s first-ever number one film at the box office.

“I think for me, when I was in the singalong,” EJAE told On The Red Carpet, “Seeing all kids, not just Koreans, (but) non-Koreans, all races, all genders, all ages, singing the words of Korean lyrics, together was so iconic.”

Meanwhile, the directors of “KPop Demon Hunters” have been hearing from the film’s millions of fans as well.

“And not just from kids,” director Maggie Kang said. “But people who are like my age, our age. You know, thanking us for just that representation — the type of movie that they wish they had seen growing up and really dreamt about and to finally see it and then, if they have kids, they’re able to share that with their children.”

Her fellow director Chris Appelhans added, “The film’s about acceptance. It’s about identity. It’s about loving all parts of yourself and taking pride in them.”