K -pop, which can no longer be dismissed as a ‘flash in the pan’, is expanding into the ‘core material’ of global large-scale content.Global video content production, including Hollywood, is continuing with K-pop as a material, from animation to movies and dramas.

A representative example is the global OTT Netflix animation ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters ‘, which will be released in 190 countries around the world on June 20th.As the title suggests, it is a work featuring a’ K-Pop idol ‘as the main character, and was produced by Sony Pictures, the major Hollywood studio that produced the Oscar-winning’ Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse ‘.

The film is about the members of the globally popular K-pop girl group’ Hunttrix ‘secretly fighting against an evil force that threatens their fans.Not only Korean actors who are active in Hollywood, such as Aden Cho, Ken Jeong, and Daniel Dae Kim, but also Chungmuro stars such as Ahn Hyo-seop and Lee Byung-hun participated in the voice acting.

In particular, as it is a work that deals with a’ global K-pop girl group ‘, Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung, members of the’ real global girl group ‘Twice, participated in the OST, raising the expectations of K-pop fans around the world.

Recently, British production company Imaginerium Productions, co-founded by actor Andy Serkis and’ Bridget Jones ‘series producer Jonathan Cavendish, has officially announced the planning and development of a K-pop film titled’ Secret Idol ‘(tentative title).

It is a spy action film that tells the story of a secret agent who goes undercover as a K-pop trainee and fights against a global criminal organization.It is said that Artist Studio, led by Lee Jung-jae of’ Squid Game ‘, will also be participating in the production of’ Secret Idol ‘, adding to the buzz.

Not only production companies, but even famous Hollywood actors are jumping into the production of K-pop related content.

Actress Rebel Wilson, widely known for her role in the Netflix film “Somehow Romantic,” recently revealed that her first directorial film is titled “Seoul Girls,” drawing attention.It’s a comedy about a Korean-American high school girl who participates in a competition to choose the singer who will open the stage for a K-pop boy group concert, and the script is written by Kim Young-il, who worked on the popular American drama “Billions.”

Korean-American actor Will Yun Lee is producing a drama based on Rachel Van Dyken’s romance novel “My Summer in Seoul, “ which follows a Korean-American female protagonist who works at a Korean record label and develops love and friendships with members of a K-pop group.


Reporter Seungmi smlee@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.