The global sensation “KPop Demon Hunters“ has won fans with its music, animation, and deep cultural references—including mouthwatering Korean dishes like naengmyeon, seolleongtang, gimbap, ramen, eomuk, and hotteok. But one iconic Korean food is missing: kimchi.
Director Maggie Kang recently confirmed this was no accident. In an interview with Salon.com, she revealed that kimchi was intentionally left out to challenge stereotypes about Korean cuisine.
“I told the production team never to put kimchi on the table. We banned it from being mentioned or shown,” Kang said.
She explained that kimchi often overshadows other Korean dishes in global media. By excluding it, she wanted to highlight lesser-known but equally important foods.
The Cultural Significance of Food in “KPop Demon Hunters”
The film carefully selects dishes that reflect Korean culture and personal stories. Naengmyeon, a cold noodle dish, holds special meaning for Kang and co-director Chris Appelhans.
“Naengmyeon is originally a North Korean dish. My father is from the North, and so is Chris’s father-in-law. It’s a symbolic dish for both of us,” Kang shared.
Another key scene features seolleongtang (ox bone soup), which Kang describes as true Korean comfort food.
“For Koreans, comfort food means soups, stews, and broths. In the scene, Rumi eats seolleongtang to load up on carbs before hitting a high note at AnyZOne,” she said, mixing humor with cultural insight.
Authentic Details That Impressed Korean Audiences
Korean viewers praised the film’s attention to small but meaningful details, like:
- The sesame oil aroma in gimbap.
- The garnishes on seolleongtang.
- The green melamine bowls commonly used in Korean restaurants.
“I was so happy when Korean audiences commented on the authenticity of these little things,” Kang said.
Fan Reactions to the Missing Kimchi
Many fans noticed the absence of kimchi and shared mixed reactions:
“So that’s why!”
“More detailed than I expected.”
“They should’ve included kimchi.”
“Seolleongtang is true soul food.”
“Where’s the soju?”
“This is an animation for grown-ups too.”
“The songs are stuck in my head.”
“Respect for the gimbap sesame oil detail!”
“KPop Demon Hunters” Continues Its Global Success
The film’s popularity keeps growing. Its original soundtrack, “Golden,” recently hit No. 3 on the Billboard 200, selling 89,000 copies in one week—its highest sales yet.
The movie’s unique approach to Korean culture, music, and food has made it a standout hit worldwide.
Credits: Sources from Salon.com, Daum, and fan reactions.
