President Lee Praises ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Success, Backs Stronger Korean Content Industry

SEOUL, Aug 21 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has pledged to develop South Korea’s cultural sector into one of the nation’s core industries after meeting the creatives behind the hit Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters, Yonhap news agency reported.

Lee appeared on Arirang TV’s prerecorded programme K-Pop: The Next Chapter, aired Wednesday, where he sat down with Korean-Canadian co-creator Maggie Kang, members of TWICE Jihyo and Jeongyeon, DJ and music producer R.Tee, and music critic Kim Young-dae.

“The opportunity to show the power of Korean culture is beginning in a full-fledged manner,” Lee said. “By building solid foundations, we will make (the cultural sector) a key industry.”

He acknowledged concerns that the industry may appear vibrant on the surface but lack depth.

“I agree with concerns that South Korea’s cultural industry may appear glamorous on the surface but is void inside with its roots decaying. The government will build strong foundations, starting now,” he said.

Lee stressed that politics should not interfere with culture, in an apparent reference to past blacklists excluding critical artists from state support.

“It is the government’s duty to create a free environment,” he said, warning that surveillance and regulation could harm the sector.

The global success of KPop Demon Hunters, produced by Sony Pictures Animation and distributed by Netflix, has fuelled calls for greater support for Korean firms in developing original content and intellectual property rights.

Lee noted that one of the film’s standout characters was Derpy the tiger.

“(The film) has transformed the tiger, one of the animals most feared by the Korean people, into something lovable and cute,” he said.

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP