"Andrew Choi was Jinwoo himself." (K-Pop Demon Hunters production team)

At the center of Netflix's K-Pop Demon Hunters success stood Andrew Choi. He completed the voice of Jinwoo, leader and main vocalist of the fictional group Lion Boys.

Andrew is a veteran producer who has composed hit songs for SHINee, EXO, Red Velvet, and NCT. He has also worked as a vocal trainer at SM Entertainment.

He is a singer who gained recognition through SBS-TV's K-Pop Star Season 2 (2012), where he placed in the Top 3 alongside Akdong Musician and Bang Ye-dam. Now, he has taken on a new challenge beyond the familiar realm of music production.

As the producers put it, he breathed in a voice fitting for a grim reaper. More than just singing, he "acted" the role to bring the character to life. This experience became a major turning point in his music career.

Dispatch recently conducted a written interview with Andrew Choi. He opened up about how he joined K-Pop Demon Hunters and the passion he poured into the project.

◆ "I'm Jinwoo?"

Andrew's involvement began with a recommendation from vocal director Lee Jae (who voices Lumi in Huntrix). Sony asked Andrew to submit a demo of "Soda Pop," and he quickly sent in his recording.

After some time had passed, Sony contacted him again with a proposal to take on a Lion Boys character. Andrew immediately responded with an enthusiastic "Okay!"

But on the recording day, he learned for the first time that he had been cast as the protagonist, Jinwoo. The songs "Your Idol" and "Free" were also presented to him that very day.

"The songs were so difficult that I was momentarily intimidated," he admitted. "But the K-pop industry is full of surprises. It's natural to adapt to whatever comes your way."

The recording took place in Korea under the direction of Ian Eisendrath, the overall music producer. "He explained in detail how to convey the emotions behind the song. By trusting and following his guidance, everything flowed naturally," Andrew recalled.

"To deliver the intended meaning, I would sing a single word dozens of times. It wasn't just about hitting the right pitch but about expressing the emotions hidden inside. It was an eye-opening experience."

He also shared an anecdote from the recording. "During 'Free,' Lee Jae sang just a few lines, and the entire track became special. It added pressure on me to do even better," he confessed.

◆ One Line of Song, One Step of Growth

In 2012, Andrew appeared on K-Pop Star Season 2, finishing in the Top 3. Afterward, he pursued a career as a composer, believing that creating songs behind the scenes better suited his personality.

His representative works include SHINee's "Beautiful," EXO's "Baby Don't Cry," and NCT Dream's "Chewing Gum." He also wrote Red Velvet's "Stupid Cupid" and NCT Wish's "Melt Inside My Pocket."

K-Pop Demon Hunters marked a new challenge. "The biggest difference between producing and dubbing was the 'acting.' While singing always involves performance, singing in a film required far deeper, more nuanced emotions," he said.

Every line, every word had to carry emotion. He needed to exist not just as a singing voice but as the character itself. Through this process, Andrew said he grew as an artist.

"It was connected to my main profession as a producer, but it also opened up a completely different field. It was enjoyable to contribute to another area, build new relationships, and open doors of opportunity. It was a valuable experience."

◆ "I Still Have More to Show"

After the release of K-Pop Demon Hunters, curiosity about Andrew skyrocketed. Fans flooded his Instagram with comments like "Please release Lion Boys' second album" and "Make a comeback." His past K-Pop Star performances resurfaced online.

"Even though I don't use social media often, I received an overwhelming amount of supportive messages," he said. "At first, they came from international viewers, but soon I could feel the excitement from Korean fans as well."

"What touched me most was hearing stories of parents and children watching the film together and finding common ground. I was grateful to receive such heartwarming feedback."

He also reflected on the secret to the project's success: "The message of hope for salvation, sacrifice for love, and even superheroes who fight evil through music—all the elements that move people's hearts were there in balance."

Recently, Andrew released his single "Under Your Skin" and participated in the theme song "Beyond the Blue" for the simulation game inZOI.

Despite his busy music schedule, Andrew still dreams of new opportunities. "If I'm ever given another chance to dub, I would be thankful to participate again," he said with determination.