KPop Demon Hunters: Corny or Cultural?

As the Western entertainment industry has expanded, the influence of Korean culture has become more distinct in its music industry, entertainment, and beauty lifestyles. One of the most prominent examples can be the undoubted success of the Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters (KPDH), which broke Netflix viewing records and had a theatrical debut. 

KPDH has been a massive global hit, with its songs topping the charts from all over, as well as one of its main tracks, “Golden,” being nominated for the “Song of the Summer” VMA. Spread through word-of-mouth, the film went viral on all platforms and reached beyond its targeted audience of younger viewers. The confirmation of a second movie, along with other rumored additions such as a musical and live action, truly shows how far this movie has reached. This movie connected with large audiences because of the different appeals: dancing, singing, animation, all with the goal of celebrating Korean culture through music.  These factors have proven KPDH to be a profound influence in Western entertainment and have introduced many to K-pop, or fans that want more K-pop inspiration in entertainment, and are here for it. 

This is also a symbol of how the genre of K-pop has grown within the industry. If you’ve heard of the word K-pop or just simply know what it is, there was once a time when music solely made by BTS, Blackpink, or TWICE was known. However, similarly to KPDH, the influence of Korean culture can be reflected in the formation and popularity of KATSEYE, a global girl group with hits such as “Gnarly” and “Touch,” that combine Korean and Western influences to create a new sound that is not even K-pop, but generally K-pop-inspired. KATSEYE is only one of the many groups riding the wave to break into their Western audiences, as many groups have begun tours or shows in North America to broaden their horizons. K-pop has grown to the point where groups are performing at Western music festivals, such as ATEEZ and ENHYPEN at Coachella, as well as TomorrowXTogether, New Jeans, and TWICE at Lollapalooza. 

ILLIT, another successful girl group that debuted in 2024, has also had some massive, viral smash hits like “Magnetic,” “jellyous,” and their latest most popular song, “Do the Dance,” a leading single from their new album Bomb, which was released in mid-June with over 663M streams, and has amassed over 30M streams on its music video. As follows, TikTok dances have made their way into the mix too, with influencers attempting the difficult, fast-paced dances from ILLIT’s “Magnetic” with its complex hand movements. Dancing also correlates to KPDH’s rising fame, and fans are highly accountable for it as they have been inspired to do the “Golden” or “Soda Pop” dances. Clearly, this wave into a new cultural genre helped set the stage for KPDH’s success. 

This is not limited only to music, as Korean influence can be seen in TV shows as well.

The record-breaking show, Squid Game, became a global phenomenon, not only in the US but worldwide. It holds the record for the most viewed K-drama globally and achieved the No. 1 spot in the U.S. on Netflix for a non-English TV show. It has set the bar high for Korean entertainment and American viewership, earning its well-deserved recognition. Another large symbol of influence is seen in XO Kitty, another teen drama that is an extension of the To All The Boys I’ve Loved films. XO Kitty utilizes a combination of K-drama-esque filmmaking and Western drama entertainment, a direct show of Korean cultural impact. 

Whether you are just realizing these Korean-inspired elements, it is important to recognize the cultural influence and further celebrate it. Let us, as a diverse community, support the beautiful cultures that create something remarkable to share with the world.