G-DRAGON 2025 WORLD TOUR [Übermensch] Global Icon to Embark on Highly Anticipated Tour Across Multiple Cities Worldwide
A pioneering member of BIGBANG, G-DRAGON has long been a driving force in the global K-POP industry, celebrated for his boundary-pushing music and trendsetting influence in fashion. After a seven-year hiatus from solo projects, he made a monumental comeback in 2024 with the release of his single 'POWER'. The track quickly soared up the charts, earning widespread acclaim.
Building on this momentum, G-DRAGON unveiled his highly anticipated third studio album, 'Übermensch,' on February 25, 2025 – his first full-length solo project in over 11 years. The album, particularly featuring the tracks 'TOO BAD' and 'DRAMA', has been met with overwhelming praise from both fans and critics. 'Übermensch' marks a bold new chapter in G-DRAGON's career, solidifying his legacy as an artist who continues to evolve and push creative boundaries.
G-DRAGON 2025 WORLD TOUR [Übermensch] Tour Dates
29 & 30 March Korea Goyang Stadium
10 & 11 May Tokyo Tokyo Dome
17 May Bulacan Philippine Arena
25 & 26 May Osaka Kyocera Dome
7 & 8 June Macau Galaxy Arena
12 & 13 July Taipei Taipei Arena
19 & 20 July Kuala Lumpur Axiata Arena
26 July Jakarta Indonesia Arena
9 & 10 August Hong Kong AsiaWorld-Arena
About G-DRAGON
G-DRAGON is a global cultural icon. As a member of the popular K-pop male group BIGBANG, he helped redefine the Asian music scene with his innovative music, bold fashion choices, and charismatic stage presence. Known for his genre-blending sound and experimental approach to music, G-DRAGON has released several successful solo albums, earning critical acclaim and commercial success. His influence extends beyond music, with a lasting impact on fashion and culture, often regarded as a trendsetter in both South Korea and internationally.
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G-DRAGON Official Weibo (@GDRAGON_OFFICIAL)
About AEG Presents
Combining the power of the live event with a focus on true artist development, AEG Presents is a world leader in the music and entertainment industries. Operating across four continents, the company has an unparalleled commitment to artistry, creativity, and community. Its tentpole festivals and multi-day music events — which include the iconic Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and the legendary New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival alongside American Express Presents BST Hyde Park, Stagecoach, Hangout Festival, Electric Forest, and Firefly — continue to set the bar for the live music experience. AEG Presents promotes global tours for artists such as The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Taylor Swift, Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, Kenny Chesney, Paul McCartney, and Katy Perry, in addition to — through its network of clubs, theatres, arenas, stadiums and renowned partner brands such as Goldenvoice, Messina Touring Group, Concerts West, The Bowery Presents, PromoWest Productions, Marshall Arts, Madison House Presents, and Zero Mile Presents — creating and developing an unmatched infrastructure for artist development and audience reach. More information can be found at www.aegpresents.com.
TME live is a diversified business brand centered on live performances created by Tencent Music Entertainment Group, a leading music entertainment service provider in China. TME live creates an all-around music entertainment performance experience by combining online and offline performances, utilizing an innovative performance model and extremely fast, ultra-high-definition digital audio-visual technology.
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Buzz Feed
8 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
35 Random Products You'll Be Happy To Know Exist
Vlasic's Pickle Balls, a flavored puff with a cult following so feral that the last place I'd want to be is in between one of these bags and a fan. If you're a pickle fan, this will be a low-risk, high-reward buy that might just reach your Snack Pantheon, too. A 3-in-1 charging cord to juice up your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at the same time. (It's giving witchcraft??) This just solved all your "welp, everything's dying and there's only one outlet in this car/on this flight/in this teensy hotel room" problems for good. Dr. Melaxin "Peel Shot," a K-beauty staple for serious exfoliation that will buff out dead skin and leave your complexion looking glowy and refreshed. If you're looking for an effective way to kick dead skin cells, blackheads, and sebum to the curb, this deeply penetrating rice water extract formula is just the ticket. A limited edition (!!) Eos 'Nilla Milkshake Flavor Lab lip balm set from the brand's "secret menu" complete with Marshmallow Fluff, Vanilla Creme, Salted Caramel, and Vanilla Toffee for the ultimate in lip care luxury. Adorable bonus — it also comes with teensy stickers to decorate your balms in the most nostalgic way possible! A delightfully affordable instant foot peeling spray so you can go full YEEHAW!! on an at-home pedicure without the big salon price tag. This not only helps gently remove dead skin, but moisturizes dry and cracked heels, so you'll really get some refreshing bang for your buck. A "Skoy Scrub," aka the secret weapon in your cleaning arsenal — this reusable, dishwasher-safe scrub will be tough as nails on stains and grime, but safe to use without scratching or damaging non-stick pans, ceramic, glass, and cooktops. Gold Bond's firming neck and chest cream your skin will be SO happy to soak up — this is formulated with aloe, salicylic acid, and jojoba oil to help hydrate, tighten, and gently exfoliate your skin so effectively that you should be able to see early results in two weeks — all for a FRACTION of the price of its competitors. (For some reviewers, results only took a few days!) A teensy two-in-one nausea relief inhaler that can help with spontaneous nausea, motion sickness, morning sickness, and general queasiness (having a human body is hard). You can either use it as a scent inhaler or rub it directly on the tip of your nose for relief. A holy grail 5-in-1 Edgelift Curl Brush to define curls, waves, and coils, help prevent frizz, and create precise parts and sections. Reviewers of all curl and wave types are just short of shouting in the comments about how they never found a brush that worked as well as this one, and parents are especially grateful for how easily this untangles their kiddo's hair! A "spray and go" enzyme-based laundry stain remover — all you do is spray the offending spot, rub it into the fabric, and leave it in your hamper until the next wash. It'll get the stain out during the washer cycle with NO other effort from you, and works on everything from discolored dried sweat to oil stains to grass stains to mud. Dr Teal's "Hawaiian Bliss" Epsom salt magnesium soak, a ~limited edition~ blend of red sea salt, papaya, and hibiscus, reviewers are so in love with that a ton of them are buying extra bags (or literally hoarding them) before the brand runs out. One reviewer went so far as to call it "heaven in a bag!" A TikTok-beloved "Soft" perfume rollerball that honestly has no right smelling so delectable and layering so well considering it's only four cash dollars. Reviewers are obsessed with the scent's warm sweetness with a hint of citrusy zest, comparing it to waffle cones, lemon pound cake, and warm vanilla scones ... and this $65 bottle of Pink Sugar 👀. A cult-favorite ~secret~ popcorn salt anyone in the movie theater industry will tell you is a perfect copycat for that oh-so-savory buttery goodness you love to inhale before the previews begin. Not to be dramatic about popcorn on main, but this stuff is game changing. An SPF 50 Airy Sunstick Smoothing Bar, a K-beauty staple with a curved balm stick style that will make it super easy to apply, and a non-sticky, white cast-free formula that will play ABSURDLY well with makeup. If you're looking for a lightweight "soft matte" sunscreen to protect your skin, this is your new BFF. Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener, which will be your holy grail for concealing and brightening dark circles under your eyes when your summer schedule is throwing you for a loop. This lightweight, color-adapting formula is designed for truly ~invisible~ coverage that makes a drastic difference — one that a lot of reviewers compare to the $33 Becca version. A mini Bob Ross paint-by-numbers kit for anyone on their "happy accidents" beat — this itty bitty set comes with everything you need to create three tiny masterpieces of your very own. L'Oreal Paris Infallible Blur-fection Longwear Loose Setting Powder, which will knock all your other setting powders out of the water — this lightweight blend will help matte-ify your skin without taking its natural ~glow~, and will be an absolute champ at blurring pores and fine lines without caking. (Psst — this is giving the same energy as the viral $25 Laneige Neo Blurring Powder!) A set of cheerful Lego botanical "happy plants," aka your new favorite coworkers. How can capitalism bring you down when these two are smiling up at you all day long? All the joys of having an office plant without the shame of your coworkers being like, "Shouldn't you ... maybe ... water that??" A super effective and strangely whimsical foaming drain cleaner for anyone who wants to make cleaning a whole aesthetic. This gentle but powerful foam will pull up gunk and clean out drains in sinks, bathtubs, and floor drains, helping prevent plumbing issues and making everything smell ~squeaky clean~. A deliciously moisturizing K-beauty strawberry milk cleanser to hydrate and soften skin like a daydream. Reviewers especially love how this captures the essence of strawberry without the cloying, chemical sweetness of most strawberry-scented products, and how soft their skin feels after using it. A Jellycat-inspired coffee mug so precious that you'll shed a tiny tear into your coffee every morning, overwhelmed by its cuteness. Look at those itty bitty legs and that wee happy smile!! A wooden scalp comb massager to keep by your bedside table for a well-deserved "ahhhhhhh" of relaxation after a long day. A set of espresso martini instant cocktail tea bags — all the sophistication of tea, the zing! of coffee, and the 😜 of a cheeky cocktail, without the exorbitant bar price tags. All you have to do is add three ounces of cold water, 1.5 ounces of hard liquor, and the tea sachet into a glass, and you'll have a delicious cocktail in one minute. Nyx's brand new "Smushy" Matte Lip Balm made with mochi rice powder (!!) for the ultimate subtly blended soft matte look. Reviewers love that it's buildable, moisturizing, gives their lips a ~natural~ look, and comes in delicious flavors like cherry pie and raspberry sorbet 😋. A light-up solar frog figurine for your garden or porch so when you come home from that "just one drink" dinner past midnight, this croaky lil' fella can lovingly judge you for it. Dae's Hair Cactus Fruit 3-In-1 Styling Cream & Taming Wand, which is basically the brand's "holy grail," TikTok-famous styling cream in the form of a mascara wand. This versatile lil' tool will help you carefully target flyaways, style edges, and smooth frizz. Built's "Puff Protein Bars" that are basically chocolate-covered marshmallows that also, by some witchcraft, have 17 entire grams of protein in them?? And NO weird aftertaste. If you are also someone who is in a perpetual state of "I need protein or I will bite someone's brain off," I am telling you, nothing in this WORLD will feel better than pulling one of these out of your bag. A set of "wine wands" to remove sulfates and histamines from your beloved cheap Pinots in as little as three minutes, basically making "not getting a hangover" your new superpower. An Airplane Pocket tray cover that will slide seamlessly over an airplane tray to create an instant, deeply convenient hub — this comes with a number of pockets so you can keep track of all your devices, snacks, and other odds and ends without rooting around for them in the gross back pocket or your carry-on the whole flight. Bonus: This bb is an excellent way to prevent touching a germ-y tray, and it's fully machine washable. A stress-relieving mini bookshelf full of itty bitty little books you can pull out individually and reorganize to your precise liking. The world may be vast and out of control, but everything is juuuust so in your happy little library. Kitsch's flat claw clip designed not just for aesthetic, but for function — the design will make it easier to lean back on chairs, since the claw won't dig into your head. Reviewers are especially impressed by how strong these little clips are, and how much hair they can hold! A fully wireless (Shark Tank–featured!) stick-on "Poplight" sconce so easy to install that you can literally just charge it up and stick it to the wall with non-damaging adhesive. It is a renter and indecisive decorator's DREAM — all the whimsy and function of a cute sconce with none of the effort!! HGTV nerds all over the world are shaking. A flowerpot-shaped lemon juicer designed to flex on all your other kitchen tools — it will not only be amazing at its job, but look gosh darn adorable doing it. A set of Victoria's Secret–inspired seamless "invisible" underwear so soft and stretchy your butt will want to *sing* when you slide them on. This is a true holy grail underwear that doesn't show, doesn't ride up, and somehow manages to look cute all at the same time. A jewelry-cleaning stick with cleansing solution on a brush designed specifically to get in the nooks and crannies of your jewelry, so you can dig out all the grime that's accumulated over the years on the cheap instead of taking it to the jeweler.


CNBC
8 hours ago
- CNBC
Netflix wanted to beat Disney in family animation. 'KPop Demon Hunters' is its best chance
"We want to beat Disney in family animation," then Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said in an interview in September 2020. At the time, anyone would say that was a tall order. Disney has almost a century of experience of producing animated films, dating back to 1937's "Snow White." Since then, the studio has produced hits that many kids would be familiar with. Think "Cinderella," "Alice in Wonderland" and "Sleeping Beauty." Add to that Pixar's "Toy Story," "The Incredibles" and "Inside Out" and it's not hard to see that Hastings had his work cut out for him. And then came the massively popular "Frozen," the animated musical that was not only the highest-grossing animated film of all time from 2013 to 2019, but whose merchandise and songs were in every toy store, Disney theme park, and car media system when the kids wanted their 30th replay of "Let it Go." But now, Hastings — now Netflix executive chairman — may finally have his goal in sight. That comes in the form of "KPop Demon Hunters," a family-friendly animated musical adventure about a world-famous K-pop group trying to save the world from demons. How it's done (done, done) The film, released on June 20, has made streaming, music and movie history on the platform. It has become Netflix's most-viewed animated film of all time, and its second-most viewed movie ever. According to numbers from Netflix, the film has amassed more than 184 million views since its release. The film's success also extended to music charts. On Tuesday, the song "Golden" from the film topped the Billboard Hot 100 , the ninth song associated with K-pop to conquer the Hot 100 — and the first by female lead vocalists, according to Billboard. In the U.K., "Golden" became the first K-pop song to hit No. 1 on the Official UK Singles Chart in 13 years, following PSY's "Gangnam Style" in 2012. Statistics that Spotify provided to CNBC revealed that the movie's soundtrack has counted over 46 million monthly listeners as of Tuesday, and the album has topped Spotify's Weekly Top Albums Global Chart for every full week since its release, barring a dip to No. 2 for the week of July 17. "KPop Demon Hunters" was released with a single trailer, a far cry in terms of marketing compared with "Squid Game 3," which was out a week later and had a slew of publicity events, social media marketing, and even live appearances from the actors promoting the series. Iltaek Hong, lead editor at Spotify Korea, told CNBC that "K-Pop is more than just music. It's a rich cultural experience built around sound, storytelling, performance and deep artist-fan connections." "That's exactly what K-Pop Demon Hunters captures, and it's why both the film and its music have resonated so strongly with global audiences," he added. Going up, up, up But animated musical movies are not new, so what makes "KPop Demon Hunters" stand out? What fueled its millions of views, week after week? Bernie Cho, president of South Korean artist services agency DFSB Kollective, explained that while the film did not have much marketing on traditional media, it was gaining popularity on social media. KPop Demon Hunters was art imitating life that was imitating art. President, DFSB Kollective Bernie Cho "The movie played into the K-pop playbook of viral videos, of infectious memes, user-generated content. People basically promoted the movie because of its originality and its authenticity. No different than a K-pop boy band or a girl band," he said. The film has spawned hundreds of shorts on YouTube, from highlights to dance challenges, and even covers of the soundtrack by active K-pop idols. Spotify's Hong said that level of interaction is what makes K-pop unique and the film's soundtrack stand out. "It's not just being listened to, it's being lived." "K-pop Demon Hunters was art imitating life that was imitating art," Cho quipped, referencing the plot point of how Huntr/x — the K-pop group in the movie — draw their power to seal demons from their fans. Cho worked on the film as a music licensing consultant. In an illustration of that full circle, Billboard even came out with their list of top 5 covers of "Golden" from K-pop idols. Director Maggie Kang had said the K-pop groups in the movie were inspired by a multitude of artists, and Cho said, "You have K-pop artists that inspired the movie, now reinterpreting their favorite parts, their favorite scenes, their favorite dance moves, their favorite tracks." Gonna be, gonna be, golden "It is a potential gold mine. Can Netflix mine all that gold out? That's the question." director of insights and content strategy, Greenlight Analytics Brandon Katz But it's not about the views and streams alone — "KPop Demon Hunters" gives Netflix "their first real, organic, mega hit animated franchise," said Brandon Katz, director of insights and content strategy at Greenlight Analytics. That gives them the opportunity to show that the platform can develop and expand this intellectual property at the same level of Disney, he added. For starters, Netflix has moved quickly to extend the longevity of the film's influence. The studio has announced a "sing-along event" for U.S. and U.K. audiences in selected theaters later in August, and the merchandise page for "KPop Demon Hunters" has 187 products, more than Squid Game 3's 139 products. An exclusive report from The Wrap on July 31 revealed that Netflix has more plans, and is considering two sequels, a short film and a stage musical for the franchise. It is important to develop he emotional ties an audience has with a piece of IP, Katz said, "because the more emotionally invested they are in a franchise, the greater the likelihood that they'll spend money on it." "KPop Demon Hunters" has been Netflix's "biggest home run" in original animated movie-making, Katz said. The way Netflix responds to this phenomenon — such as how it crafts a long-lasting franchise across multiple distribution pathways and how it captures consumer spending — will be critical to maximizing the potential of the film, he added. "It is a potential gold mine. Can Netflix mine all that gold out? That's the question."
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘I felt my organs shut down': Stars of ‘KPop Demon Hunters' on getting love from BTS, contending for Oscars, and becoming a cultural sensation
KPop Demon Hunters is officially historic. The animated Netflix hit, which has been breaking records for the streaming service since its June 20 release, just notched a No. 1 entry on the Billboard Hot 100 for one of its several trending songs, "Golden." It marks the first time a K-pop girl group (albeit a fictional one, in this case) has topped the chart. The film itself, meanwhile, has become Netflix's biggest animated original feature ever and the second most-streamed English original movie of all time. A sing-along theatrical release is set for Aug. 23-24. KPop Demon Hunters' monumental success shows no signs of stopping, much to the delight and shock of the film's stars. More from Gold Derby 'We're in the club forever': First-time Emmy nominees celebrate their moment in the spotlight 'Landman' Season 2: Everything to know about Billy Bob Thornton series as teaser trailer, return date revealed Arden Cho, May Hong, and Ji-young Yoo, who provide the speaking voices for the demon-hunting girl group Huntr/x, are still wrapping their heads around suddenly being part of a cultural juggernaut. On a busy press day, the actresses sat down with Gold Derby to talk about being noticed by BTS, awards possibilities, and what it's like to suddenly have fans of every age group. Gold Derby: Congratulations. This movie has been such a massive success and has managed to shock the industry, and now it's even an Oscar contender. What would it mean to the three of you to see get that kind of awards recognition? Arden Cho (voice of Rumi): I mean, it would be such an honor. We feel so lucky just to be here and to be receiving all this love. It's amazing to be part of a movie that makes everybody feel good. May Hong (voice of Mira): I only found out a couple of weeks ago that that was a possibility, and I don't really think I can wrap my mind around what that means. A.C.: It's still registering! Ji-Young Yoo (voice of Zoey): I think we long passed the point where I was able to understand any of what's been happening, so I think the fact that we went from making a movie that I think we all really loved and cared about to it developing into this phenomenon worldwide, to what is quickly becoming an Oscar and awards run. … I'm just along for the ride and I'll process it all after. So many K-pop idols have shown love to the movie and chimed in about the accuracies to their real life, and groups covered the songs at KCON this past weekend. What's been your reaction to BTS, Seventeen, and some of the biggest music acts in the world right now embracing this film? A.C.: That stamp of approval! We're like [pumps fist]. Yes, we did it! M.H.: When I see that they all have millions and millions of followers, I also can't wrap my mind around that they're so into what we have done. Obviously we didn't sing or dance personally, but still. Even with Lee Byung-hun [Squid Game's big bad Front Man who voices Gwi-ma, the king of demons], it's like, so that person knows I exist? A.C.: I think we're just so thankful because all of these idols and artists who are loving the movie have really helped us get here, right? I mean, it is thanks to the fans and the viewers and, in a sense, our colleagues, people in the industry. Again, all of us cared about this so much, but especially our writers and directors and producers really worked hard to make this such an accurate and beautiful depiction of Korean culture and music and fashion and all of it. … I'm so grateful. J.Y.: I think it's something that was a concern amongst all of us when we were making the film. We wanted to make sure we got Korea right, that we got the culture right. All of us were like, 'Will they approve? Will they accept it?' So to see them not just accept it but embrace it, and support it, and give us so much love, is just the biggest sigh of relief. The warmth that spread through our bodies when all of this started happening was really just wonderful, and as an ARMY [short for "Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth," BTS' fandom name] for 10 years, going on 11 now, there's no words. I felt my organs shut down [when BTS mentioned the film]. A.C.: All of our phones were blowing up. Everyone was like, 'Did you see it?' JY.: Everyone kept asking me what I thought and there's no thoughts. I thought I might faint. Did you have a moment while recording your lines where you realized the incredible potential this film had to be huge? A.C.: I think for me, it was when I saw the animations really develop and saw the moment where the Saja Boys are introduced, and the girls are being girls and they're like, "Ugh, they're not even good." That whole scene was one of my first times seeing the girls and their reactions, and I was like, "Why are they so stinking cute?" And then the boys. … Like, the popcorn eyes? We were all feeling it in the room and Maggie [Kang, codirector] was like, "We're working so hard to make them so hot." We were seeing these little moments, and of course Maggie and Chris [Appelhans, codirector] saw the vision the whole way, and I'm so thankful that they had this world in their minds to create this. But I think for me, as the sessions went on, I was so, so excited and by the time I watched the screener I was running around like, "Guys, this is going to be incredible. This is going to be so big." We get to show the world Korea and our culture and our food, our music, our fashion, and we're so proud of it. I also love the Konglish [a colloquial mix of Korean and English] that we get to sneak into the movie and not really explain. J.Y.: I think all of us knew that we made something great, and we were all really proud of it and knew it would find an audience, but there's a difference between finding your audience and a success, and what's happening right now. I just don't think anyone was thinking, "Oh yeah, we're going to become the No. 1 most watched animated film on Netflix of all time." We're No. 4 for English language right now and we're still climbing. None of these are things that I think anyone, even the most industry veteran expert, could have foreseen. It's just very special. M.H.: I think my nearest and dearest called it first. I think my most loved ones, when they got to see it early, said, "This is going to be it." I was like, "I mean, I think it's amazing, so I hope so…" J.Y.: My litmus test is my dad. My dad tends to have a very honest take, so he'll always tell me if he thought a project I was in was boring. He'll say, "Oh, I kind of fell asleep in this part." He has rewatched this film almost daily, and he's a 55-year-old lawyer. He was not the target audience for this, so I think the fact that he was connecting to it so much and was so enthusiastic about it made me be like, "Oh, this has a crossover appeal. If we can get it right, it'll spread." And it has. AC: It's the emotional rollercoaster the movie takes you on. I don't think so many people expected to cry or feel all the feels. It's healing. That brings me to my next question, because in the movie there's an important quote: 'Our faults and fears must never be seen.' In the film's context it's technically about being hunters and idols, but obviously so many women and girls can relate to feeling that way. Have you received messages from fans of the film about what Rumi going against that sentiment in particular meant to them? AC: For me, that message hit so close to home, and I think as a woman in the industry, and as an Asian American and a Korean American, I feel like there's so many layers to that. Culturally we've talked about this a lot where I feel like the Asian culture is a lot about not talking about the things that might be embarrassing or shameful, or your struggles. We only want to show the good moments, the pretty moments, and I think there's this expectation to be so perfect. At least on myself growing up, I felt like, as an immigrant family, you're here, so you've got to be the best, be perfect, be great, and be better because of this opportunity, but that's a lot of pressure. Then again, as women, why can't we be goofy and make ugly faces and make funny sounds and not always be attractive? … I think it's been so healing seeing people really let down their guards and saying, "This is who I am." ... I feel like as actors we have an even greater pressure, and I'm sure as idols that pressure is something we can't even imagine. I think that's why we felt this responsibility because as K-pop lovers, and people who respect this industry too, we know that K-pop is a whole other thing. That world is a high bar. J.Y.: Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Beautiful! J.Y.: That's not mine. I took that from someone. [laughs] Your characters go through a wide range of emotions and I imagine that's not always easy to express through the voice. Were there any scenes that were particularly challenging to record? A.C.: It was so much fun, but the beginning was a little bit awkward because we're actors, and we're so used to playing together. … Oddly enough, the easiest thing was all the emotional stuff for Rumi because I feel like everything she was saying, whether it was to Celine or when she felt like Jinu betrayed her, I felt like all those moments. … It was almost weird where it felt like if you'd been with an actor, it would've almost been too vulnerable, but in a weird way I was like, "Oh, this is my first time doing this to no one," and it felt oddly healing and nice for me. M.H.: That's so interesting. I think that there definitely is an emotional intimacy that you're able to access when you're alone and without the influence of somebody playing with you. It's almost like being in your diary as you're reading lines, like you're referring back to something that really is personal to you rather than being there and playing a scene. A.C.: Yeah, and now I'm thinking about how in some of those big scenes Maggie and Chris would look away and give me privacy. I would come back and I was crying and I was like, 'Oh, thanks, guys.' It was also cool to see their response because they were like, 'I'm in this very intimate moment with you.' And then you see the world and the art. M.H.: But I didn't feel watched! A.C.: Yeah, that's great directing. They provided us a safe space to create together. Aw, that makes me sad. I want to go back! M.H.: Yeah, take us back! A.C.: C'mon, sequel! What's the experience of being part of this cultural juggernaut of a film taught you about yourself? A.C.: I think there's a lot of confirmation. I think that so much of my life I tried to be what people wanted me to be. I tried so hard to be this perfect version and obviously we're all so imperfect, so I think I was so unhappy for so much of my younger years fighting myself in a sense. I feel like in my 30s, I was just like, "I'm going to do my best to love who I am, my flaws and everything, and to just be," and I feel like this movie is that message. To know that that's what resonates with people, and that's what makes people connect… Then on top of that, I've been on this journey of seeking projects that make me really happy and proud to tell a story, whether it be something that has a touch of Korean culture or a little Asian American identity without being so in your face about a specific message. ... It just shows that we shouldn't be scared to tell stories that haven't been told before. I really hope this movie is just the beginning of so many more incredible stories for people like us. J.Y.: I think artistically I've long held an opinion that has been certainly confirmed by this movie. During the campaign for Parasite, and I'm sorry because I'm definitely going to butcher this quote, director Bong [Joon Ho] had a really great quote where he said, "If you can get over the barrier of one-inch subtitles there's a whole world of international cinema waiting for you." I've always felt that good art comes from anywhere, and art that is specific and nuanced and complex is universal regardless of where you come from. I think this movie is absolute proof of that. I think lots of people maybe have preconceived perceptions of what KPop Demon Hunters is, and ultimately it is a great piece of art, and it's really wonderful to see that opinion get confirmed on such a global scale. I'm very excited to see more artists stay true to who they are and make some great films. On a sillier note, which Western celebrities do you think would make good demon hunters? All: Ooh! This is hard! J.Y.: The clips of Destiny's Child reuniting, I mean … demon hunters right there! The lockstep? Yeah. Yes. This is not for the demon hunters, but I feel like Pedro Pascal would be an excellent Bobby. He's such a champion to everyone who knows him, and he's the nicest. I think he has a Bobby heart. A.C.: I thought of Olivia Rodrigo, and I don't know why, but I just thought of Anne Hathaway. J.Y.: She's a singer! She could totally do it. Meryl Streep could do it. She could do anything. A.C.: Lady Gaga! J.Y.: Oh my god, singing "Abracadabra" to seal the Honmoon. A.C.: Kelly Clarkson, I feel like, is always sealing the Honmoon. M.H.: I feel like I'm not thinking of really classic female characters, but Parker Posey? [laughs] Which is totally not what we're talking about, but I would enjoy seeing what that interpretation would be. J.Y.: Along the lines of The White Lotus, Jennifer Coolidge! I'm so with you on this. A.C.: Buffy the Vampire Slayer! Sabrina the Teenage Witch! I'm totally aging myself, but all of that good stuff. Lastly, has anyone come up to you and said they were a fan of the film where you were like, "What do you mean? You know who I am?" Who surprised you? A.C.: This has been happening a lot! I've been traveling a ton and I'm having 6-year-old kids running up to me and grabbing my hand and being like, "You're Rumi! You're the speaking voice of Rumi!" I'm like, "Wait, you're a 6-year-old boy. How do you know me?" And they're like, "I did my research." The mom is like, "Oh yeah, the boys have seen the movie like 17 times. They know everything. They Google you guys. They know your face." I'm like, "What? This is incredible." I feel like I'm really impressed by ages 5 to 7 or 8. So far, I feel like that's my most popular age right now. I've been invited to many 7th and 8th birthday parties. Unfortunately I've been too busy to go, but I feel like we really need to start making some appearances. I feel like the really young fans understand the story. Every once in a while I'm like, "What did you like about the movie?" and I love that one of the best responses I got was from a 7-year-old boy. He was like, "I loved the ending scene where they all come together and they learn that you have to be together. You can do it with each other." I'm like, "Yes, that is exactly what this movie is about." And then, you know, he's with his brother and they're dancing to "Golden" at the same time. … Also, all the 60-plus men and women that are just rocking out to the soundtrack. M.H: I like the converts the most. The dads who are like, "I don't even like K-pop or anything but I watched it six times." There's no target audience. A.C.: The target audience has been human. If you're human and you have a heart and any feeling, you are the target audience. KPop Demon Hunters is streaming now on Netflix. Catch a sing-along version of the film in theaters Aug. 23-24. 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