K-POP Demon Hunters Celebrates in New York

The excitement is palpable. “KPOP Demon Hunters” Fever has taken New York by storm, and on Friday, the star of the popular animated films illuminated the Empire State Building.

Debuting on Netflix in June, the film swiftly gained international acclaim, and this weekend sees the launch of a singing version at the Big Apple Theater.

The production features a chart-topping soundtrack and follows the K-Pop Band Huntr/X as they take on demon-hunting duties, shielding fans from supernatural threats.

In the storyline, Huntr/X must thwart the K-Pop boy band Saja Boys, who are trying to steal their fans’ souls.

This weekend’s festivities, dubbed “K-Pop Demon Hunters Golden Weekend,” kicked off with a sunrise lighting ceremony at the Empire State Building, attended by the film’s stars: Arden Cho, May Hong, and Rei Ami.

Chris Applehans, co-writer of the film, spoke about building a vibrant world during the ceremony. He expressed gratitude, stating that it was the voices of the talented women that brought the characters Rumi, Mira, and Zoe to life, marking the film as a source of connection and joy.

He remarked, “It’s wonderful to see the Empire State Building lit in gold, uniting everyone through music.”

The action-packed musical currently ranks as the second most-watched film on Netflix, amassing viewership of 210 million globally.

Suzanne Lew, senior vice president of Empire State Realty Trust, shared that “K-Pop Demon Hunters” is the most viewed original animated film on Netflix ever, highlighting Huntr/X as the first female K-pop act to reach the top of Billboard’s Hot 100.

Both Huntr/X and Saja Boys stand as leading K-pop groups, alongside real-life sensations like BTS and BlackPink.

On Saturday, Cho took to Instagram to share her excitement, describing it as a “golden night.” She celebrated their film and the significance of the moment, urging everyone to unite as they gear up for a sequel. “We are making history!” she enthused.

Ami added her thoughts, echoing the sentiment of the night.

Earlier this month, the voice actors hinted at a possible sequel. Yu expressed eagerness, saying, “Yes, call us! We’re waiting.” Hong chimed in, wishing for deeper backstories of the characters.

Cho pointed out the unique personalities of the characters, suggesting that exploring those differences could make for an engaging continuation of their story.