Le Sserafim teams up with Sanrio
The group uploaded the video for 'Kawaii (prod. Gen Hoshino)' on Wednesday featuring the five members roaming around the Sanrio theme park in Tokyo and singing about how cuteness can transform anyone's character into a positive strength.
The single was chosen as the theme song for the show 'My Melody & Kuromi,' which starts streaming on Netflix on July 24. Heo Yunjin wrote the English lyrics for the catchy tune that made Oricon's Weekly Digital Single Ranking and Billboard Japan's Top Download Songs chart.
The quintet concluded the Japan leg of its international tour last month, visiting four cities in the country for nine shows. It will return to Japan in November for an encore concert at Tokyo Dome.
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![[Grace Kao] Real K-pop idols cover animated ‘KPop Demon Hunters'](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimg.heraldcorp.com%2Fnews%2Fcms%2F2025%2F07%2F28%2Fnews-p.v1.20250728.95335b82dc6348e4940ad63239b7362d_T1.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
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Korea Herald
2 hours ago
- Korea Herald
[Grace Kao] Real K-pop idols cover animated ‘KPop Demon Hunters'
What does it mean when real-life K-pop idols cover songs from an animated film about K-pop demon hunters inspired by K-pop? A lot, actually. The Netflix film 'KPop Demon Hunters' has just reached a new milestone. It is the first Netflix film to hit a new weekly viewing high more than a month after its initial release. In week 5, it garnered 25.8 million views, its biggest week ever. It's No. 1 among Netflix films in the US as I write. It is on its way to being one of the top 10 most-watched Netflix films of all time. Moreover, eight of its singles are on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart — the lead single, 'Golden' (by the fictional group Huntrix, composed of singers Ejae, Aundrey Nuna and Rei Ami) is at No. 4 on the chart. 'Your Idol' (by fictional group Saja Boys, with singers Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo and Samuil Lee) is at No. 14, 'How It's Done' is at No. 23, 'Soda Pop' is at No. 25, 'Free' is at No. 41,' 'What It Sounds Like' is at No. 43, and two versions of 'Takedown' (Huntrix's version is at No. 51 and Twice members Jeongyeon, Jihyo and Chaeyoung is at No. 90). Note that this is Twice's first appearance on the chart, a decade into its career. Not even K-pop idols can resist the film's catchy songs and dance moves. I first noticed it on YouTube when the voice actor for Jinu, Ahn Hyoseop, sang 'Free.' That made a lot of sense since he played the character. I think it still counts as a cover, but it was his character in the film. Kevin Woo (formerly of U-Kiss) was the singing voice behind Mystery Saja, and he released a YouTube short with a dance cover of 'Soda Pop.' He also posted a cover of his dancing to 'Your Idol,' which has 2.5 million views. Are these covers? It's debatable. The first definite cover I saw was Wonho performing 'Soda Pop' and 'Your Idol' in full costume. It was great and true to the source material, and it was released on July 9, 2025, just a couple of weeks after the film's release. It has since received 4.2 million views. I then saw BTS's Jungkook singing along to 'Soda Pop' and 'Your Idol' during a livestream. Some have speculated that he is one of the inspirations for Jinu of the Saja Boys, so that certainly seems apropos. Members from Enhypen, Le Serrafim, Ive, Itzy, BoyNextDoor, Ateez, Cravity, Oneus, ONF, Evnne, Plave and others have uploaded dance or song covers of 'Golden,' 'Soda Pop,' 'Your Idol' or 'Free." Plave is itself an animated group, but a cover is a cover. Junhee of A.C.E has a popular rendition of 'Your Idol,' which has 3.6 million views, and his cover (with Alexa) of 'Free' has 2.5 million views. Astro's Cha Eunwoo danced to 'Soda Pop' and performed 'Free' with Arden Cho (the speaking voice of Rumi in the film). More recently, Ryeowook of Super Junior posted a ballad version of 'Golden.' After digging around, I found that An Yujin of Ive, Lily of Nmixx, Solar of Mamamoo, Urban Zakapa and many others have covered "Golden.' An YuJin's cover has 3.4 million views. Solar's version has 1 million views, but the short has something around 4 million views. Yeji of Izy did a dance cover of 'Golden.' Tomorrow x Together even released a hanbok version dance practice of their B-side 'Eternally,' recorded in 2022, and gave the dance videos the moniker 'Demon Hunters ver.' Usually, singers and dancers cover songs that are better known than their own body of work — this is how one might attract new fans. Award shows and fanmeets regularly include at least one cover stage. Lesser-known groups will likely have to do more covers, and at their concerts, they often perform well-known songs to balance out their limited discography. However, what does it mean when an animated film inspired by K-pop and Korean mythology produces a soundtrack that compels K-pop stars to cover it? It implies that the songs have arrived. The choreography to 'Soda Pop' is recognizable to fans, both because of its similarity to actual dance moves by K-pop groups and because of its distinctive point moves. It's hard not to sing along with 'Golden' or 'Free' — just ask my sister and her kids. The often incomplete quote, 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,' suggests that the value of the source material is demonstrated by inspiring others to copy it. The actual quote from Oscar Wilde is: "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness,' which slights the imitator. In this case, I think the incomplete version applies best; K-pop idols inspired the animated K-pop demons and demon hunters, and they, in turn, have inspired real-life idols.
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Korea Herald
2 hours ago
- Korea Herald
[Paul Joseph Junhwan Kang] K-dash leads Korea's cultural future
Korea stands at a crossroads. Twenty years ago, few could have predicted that a small peninsula would become the epicenter of global cultural fascination. Today, the "K" prefix has become synonymous with excellence across industries — from entertainment to beauty, from technology to cuisine. But success breeds vulnerability, and Korea's cultural dominance now faces its greatest test: how to evolve before others replicate what made it special. The answer lies not in protecting the K-brand, but in transforming it. It's time for K-dash. Korea's cultural exports have become so successful that they've spawned a global industry of imitation. Japan has reactivated its soft power playbook, studying Korean strategies with characteristic precision. China leverages its massive domestic market to scale K-style content at unprecedented speed. Even more telling, countries from Thailand to Mexico are producing their own K-inspired content, proving that the formula has become replicable. This isn't criticism — it's inevitability. Every successful cultural movement eventually faces a moment when novelty becomes template, when innovation becomes industry standard. The question isn't whether others will copy Korea's playbook, but whether Korea will evolve beyond it. K-dash represents Korea's next evolutionary leap — from cultural origin to cultural catalyst. The dash symbolizes movement, connection and transformation. It acknowledges that Korea's future influence won't come from producing more K-content, but from becoming the strategic center of global cultural convergence. This means embracing flexibility over formula. Instead of asking "How do we make this more Korean?" the question becomes "How do we make this more connected?" K-dash envisions Korean creativity as a bridge between traditions, a translator between cultures, a catalyst for unprecedented collaborations. Imagine K-pop producers collaborating with Afrobeat artists to create entirely new genres. Picture Korean urban planners integrating Nordic sustainability principles with Asian density solutions. Consider Korean beauty brands co-creating wellness experiences with Middle Eastern traditions. This isn't cultural appropriation — it's strategic cultural orchestration. We're witnessing the emergence of what might be called "digital continents" — fluid zones of culture and commerce that form across platforms rather than borders. Korea is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation, having mastered the art of creating culturally specific content that resonates globally through digital platforms. Netflix didn't just distribute Korean content; it became the infrastructure for Korean cultural influence. YouTube didn't merely host K-pop; it became the stage for Korean creativity to reshape global music culture. Korea understands that in the digital age, platforms are the new territories, and cultural relevance is the new sovereignty. K-dash leverages this understanding to create hybrid ecosystems where Korean cultural DNA becomes the connective tissue linking diverse global traditions. Rather than competing with other cultures, Korea becomes the platform where different cultures converge and co-create. This evolution transcends traditional concepts of soft power. While soft power seeks to attract and persuade, strategic power seeks to connect and catalyze. Korea's K-dash future lies not in being admired from afar, but in being essential to global cultural innovation. When Korean companies don't just export products but co-design solutions with local partners, that's strategic power. When Korean creators don't just produce content but facilitate cross-cultural storytelling, that's strategic power. When Korea becomes indispensable to how the world creates, collaborates and connects, that's the ultimate form of influence. Korea faces a critical window. The K-brand remains globally powerful, but competition is intensifying and formulas are being reverse-engineered. This moment — Korea's golden hour — demands bold evolution rather than defensive positioning. K-dash isn't about abandoning what made Korea successful. It's about leveraging that success to become something even more valuable: the world's premier cultural connector. Instead of being the source of the next big trend, Korea can become the architect of how trends emerge, evolve and spread. This transformation requires courage. It means embracing uncertainty over formula, collaboration over control and evolution over preservation. But for a nation that turned economic devastation into cultural dominance in just two decades, such courage should feel familiar. Korea began this century as an economic miracle. It mastered the last decade as a cultural phenomenon. Now, with K-dash, it can define the next era as a strategic catalyst for global creative convergence. The world is watching. The moment is now. It's time to evolve from K to K-dash — and lead the future of cultural influence into uncharted territory.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Korea Herald
K-pop meets local lore: Hidden gems in 'KPop Demon Hunters'
Behind the animation's K-pop flair, the film is a rich blend of Korean culture and traditions woven into the story and characters "Listen 'cause I'm preachin' to the choir. Can I get the mic a little higher? Gimme your desire, I can be the star you can rely on." Yes, what is easier than stealing the souls of K-pop fans already under a spell? Many of you might have fallen head over heels for the Saja Boys — the Korean grim reapers who also top charts — like Abby, whose muscles pop shirt buttons, and Jinu with his charming smile. The group is a five-member fictional boy group created for the Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," and they're not just taking the fictional world by storm — they're stealing the hearts of real-life K-pop fans, too. But behind the animation's glittering visuals and K-pop flair, the film packs something even more powerful: a rich blend of Korean culture, age-old traditions and shamanistic elements woven into the story and characters. It is not just eye candy; it's a cultural deep dive wrapped in pop perfection. The term "Saja" translates to "lion," so people might assume the boy band chose the name to symbolize strength and power, like the lion itself. But there's a twist: The boys aren't just charming idols. "Jeoseung-saja" also refers to a grim reaper-like mythical figure who guides souls to the afterlife. In this case, the boys are demons sent to the human world to steal their fans' souls. The blending of spiritual tradition with pop spectacle is also reflected in the trio girl group Huntrix, comprising Rumi, Mira and Zoey, who are demon hunters sworn to protect their fans from supernatural threats. Huntrix's performances help to seal the "Honmoon," a mystical gate or barrier that separates the human world from the demon realm. The word is a combination of "hon," meaning soul, and "moon," meaning door, which is a traditional Korean shamanic "gut" ritual reinterpreted in a flashy way. In real life, such Korean rituals are performed by shamans, or "mudang," to drive away evil spirits, bring good fortune, resolve misfortune and foster harmony between the human and spirit worlds. The rituals combine music, dance, costume and spoken incantations. So when Huntrix begins using its music to seal off the demon realm, its ruler Gwi-ma strikes back by sending the Saja Boys to weaken the Honmoon by dominating music charts. Although produced overseas, these hidden cultural elements reflect director Maggie Kang's desire for the film to be "as Korean as possible," as she said in a Q&A video released to the press on June 26 — a vision that comes to life in every frame. Also, each Huntrix member carries a weapon with deep cultural roots, as each blade is inspired by traditional Korean weaponry and shamanic instruments. Rumi's sword, known as the "Quadruple Tiger's Evil Slayer," or the Four Tiger Sword, is a ritual blade dating back to the Joseon era (1392–1910). In Korean cosmology, each of the four cardinal directions is guarded by a mythical tiger, believed to protect the world from harm. Similarly, Rumi uses the sword to shield human souls from the demons, embodying the same protective spirit. Initially mistaken for a Chinese guandao — a type of Chinese pole arm — Mira's sword, known as "gokdo," is also inspired by the Cheolyeomchu, a curved pole arm from Goguryeo Kingdom (37 BC-668 AD), which gives the weapon a distinctly Korean identity. The spirit knife wielded by Zoey is the "shinkal," which is used during the gut ritual to fight evil spirits. Her blade is adorned with a "norigae," a traditional Korean pendant accessory worn by women, rich in both aesthetic beauty and emotional symbolism, reflecting the grace and spirit of women from the Joseon era. But the animation is not only about mythical themes and traditional Korean elements. The film also does an excellent job of portraying modern-day Korea. For example, in a scene where the members of Huntrix eat gukbap — a bowl of rice and boiling soup — tissues are placed under their spoons, reflecting Korea's dining etiquette. As the film and its spotlight on Korean culture continue to captivate audiences worldwide, pop culture critic Jung Duk-hyun noted that Korean culture is now seen as "hip" on the global stage, adding that it is one of the key reasons it resonates so strongly with international viewers. "The success of 'KPop Demon Hunters' serves as clear evidence that stories rooted in Korean traditions, music and lifestyle can capture global attention and serve as the core of a compelling film. It highlights the strong potential of Korean culture to inspire and shape not only movies but a wide range of creative content in the future," Jung told The Korea Herald on July 15. Yoo Seung-chul, a professor of media convergence at Ewha Womans University, echoed the sentiment, saying that the incorporation of Korean elements adds depth and richness to the film's details. "The film takes elements audiences already recognize from K-pop, along with familiar storytelling techniques, and creatively blends them," he explained.
