Arden Cho and EJAE Celebrate ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Record Wins and Korean‑American Representation

When Arden Cho, actress and martial‑arts black belt, teamed up with singer‑songwriter EJAE for KPop Demon Hunters, Netflix’s newest animated blockbuster, the duo sparked a wave of excitement that’s breaking records worldwide.

The film premiered on Netflix on March 22, 2025, and within weeks it topped the platform’s global charts, shattering viewership numbers previously held by major animated releases. In an exclusive interview with Variety, the two Korean‑American stars unpacked why the movie matters beyond its box‑office glory: it’s the first major animated feature to showcase Korean‑American culture in a way that feels authentic, not token.

Historical Context: Korean Culture in Western Animation

Animation has long flirted with Asian aesthetics—think of the 1998 film Spirited Away or the recent Turning Red—but few have centered Korean identity. The 2020s saw K‑pop and Korean dramas explode overseas, yet representation lagged behind the music charts. That gap set the stage for KPop Demon Hunters to become a cultural milestone.

Industry analysts note that when Netflix invested in the project in late 2023, executives hoped to ride the Hallyu wave, but they also wanted a story that resonated with diaspora audiences. The result is a film that weaves Korean language, traditional pansori vocals, and contemporary pop beats into a single narrative thread.

Film Details and Record‑Breaking Success

According to Netflix’s internal metrics, KPop Demon Hunters racked up 250 million household views in its first month, surpassing the previous record held by Spider‑Man: Across the Spider‑Verse. The soundtrack streamed over 150 million times on Spotify, with the track “Golden” entering the Billboard Global 200 at #12.

Co‑director Maggie Kang insisted on bilingual songs, a move EJAE says was “a great learning experience.” The film features a dozen musical numbers, each blending English verses with Korean choruses. One standout, “Hunter’s Mantra,” incorporates pansori—a traditional Korean vocal style—spiced up with modern beats produced by the powerhouse label Black Label.

• Release date: March 22 2025
• Global views (first 30 days): 250 million households
• Soundtrack streams: 150 million+
• Billboard Global 200 peak: #12 ("Golden")
• First animated film to feature Korean‑American cultural narrative

Voices Behind Rumi: Dual Performance Magic

Rumi, the film’s heroine, is voiced by two talent powerhouses. Arden Cho handles every spoken line, delivering a performance that mixes grit with humor. Meanwhile, EJAE sings every song, pouring personal experience into each note.

"We broke many records; I feel so proud," EJAE told Variety. "We wouldn’t have done it without the collective alchemy of the filmmakers and animators." The term “collective alchemy” captures the chemistry between Cho’s dialogue, EJAE’s vocals, and Kang’s direction.

Both performers stressed how the film mirrors their own journeys. Cho, who grew up watching Western animation that never looked like her, said, "Who would have thought animation would be the first big movie that highlights Korean Americans, our culture?" EJAE added that seeing "little girls singing Korean" at a recent sing‑along made her childhood wish come true.

Producer Mark worked closely with EJAE on songwriting. Together they crafted “Golden,” an anthem that fuses synth‑pop hooks with Korean lyrical phrasing. Their collaborative process involved late‑night Zoom sessions, swapping demo tracks, and testing vocal runs until the bilingual verses felt seamless.

Cultural Impact and Representation

The film’s success isn’t just about numbers; it sparked conversations in classrooms and community centers worldwide. After the March 30 Netflix Party in Seoul, a teenage fan posted a video of her and friends chanting the Korean chorus of “Hunter’s Mantra.” The clip went viral, racking up 3 million views on TikTok within 48 hours.

Educators report that students are now requesting Korean language electives, citing the film’s catchy lyrics. "People didn’t know where Korea was," EJAE said, recalling her own upbringing watching cartoons set in far‑away lands but never seeing her own heritage on screen.

Critics have praised the authenticity of the music. Musicologist Dr. Hana Lee of UCLA notes that the pansori elements in “Hunter’s Mantra” are “faithfully rendered, not merely sampled,” highlighting EJAE’s dedication—she spent weeks studying traditional vocal techniques before recording.

Future Outlook: What’s Next for the Franchise?

Netflix has already announced a spin‑off series focusing on Rumi’s mentor, a mystic shaman voiced by veteran actor Lee Joon‑woo. The series aims to delve deeper into Korean folklore while maintaining the musical flair that made the film a hit.

Both Cho and EJAE are slated to appear at the upcoming Korean‑American Film Festival in Los Angeles in October 2025, where they’ll discuss the film’s production challenges and its impact on diaspora storytelling.

For now, the duo’s message is clear: representation matters, and when artists get the chance to tell their own stories, the results resonate far beyond the screen.