"K-Pop Demon Hunters (KDEH) was a love letter to Korea," said director Maggie Kang.

Kang appeared on Arirang International Broadcasting's special program K-Pop: The Next Chapter, alongside President Lee Jae-myung, TWICE's Jeongyeon and Jihyo, producer R.Tee, and critic Kim Young-dae.

Having moved to Canada at age five, Kang recalled, "When a teacher asked where I was from, I said 'South Korea,' but no one could locate it on the map. That's when I wanted to make our country known."

The result was KDEH. Kang emphasized her goal of showcasing Korean culture authentically, featuring distinctly Korean elements such as the tiger character "Theppy" and a magpie wearing a traditional hat, leaving a strong impression on international viewers.

She explained the concept: "I thought the imagery of goblins, water spirits, and death messengers was unique. Naturally, the story of demon hunters emerged, and adding K-pop made the concept fun."

Kang highlighted the limitless potential of Korean culture. "There is no ceiling for Korean cultural content. While researching KDEH, I realized how much of our culture remains unknown. There is still so much the world can see."

She shared behind-the-scenes details: "When creating the character Lumi, I was actually pregnant with my daughter, whom I also named Lumi. She even voiced and sang as young Lumi in the film."

Jeongyeon and Jihyo performed HuntRix's "Takedown," a track that reached No. 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Jeongyeon recalled fans singing along during world tours, while Jihyo noted the authenticity of the scenes, including moments like wearing pajamas at the dormitory and visiting Korean clinics.

President Lee highlighted his favorite scene: "The scene adding radish kimchi to seolleongtang was hilarious. The cute depiction of Theppy and turning a death messenger into an idol were also impressive." He added, "The most Korean things are often the most global. For K-pop to remain a key industry, it needs strong roots, and the government will support that environment."

Kang's message emphasized confidence in sharing Korean culture and the growing potential of Korea's cultural industry under the new government.

She also participated in filming for tvN's You Quiz on the Block, which will air on August 27.