President Lee Jae Myung met with the creative team behind the globally successful Netflix animated film "K-Pop Demon Hunters" and announced his commitment to transforming South Korea's cultural sector into a cornerstone industry for the nation's future economic growth. The meeting took place during the recording of Arirang TV's program "K-Pop: The Next Chapter," which aired on Wednesday evening.
The discussion featured an impressive lineup of entertainment industry figures, including Maggie Kang, the Korean-Canadian co-creator of the internationally acclaimed animated phenomenon. The panel also included prominent K-pop stars Jihyo and Jeongyeon from the popular girl group TWICE, along with renowned DJ and music producer R.Tee, all of whom contributed to the film project. Music critic Kim Young-dae joined the conversation to provide additional industry perspective.
"The opportunity to demonstrate the true power of Korean culture is now beginning in earnest," President Lee declared during the program. "Through the establishment of solid foundational structures, we will transform the cultural sector into a key pillar of our national economy." His remarks emphasized the government's recognition of culture as a vital component of South Korea's future economic strategy.
The president acknowledged existing criticisms about the current state of the Korean cultural industry, expressing understanding of concerns about its structural weaknesses. "I share the concerns that South Korea's cultural industry may present a glamorous facade on the surface while being hollow internally, with its fundamental roots beginning to deteriorate," he stated. "Starting immediately, the government will focus on building robust foundations to address these underlying issues."
In a significant policy statement, President Lee emphasized the importance of maintaining government neutrality in cultural affairs, making what appeared to be a reference to past controversies involving political interference in the arts. "The creation and maintenance of a free creative environment is fundamentally the government's responsibility," he explained. "History has shown us that excessive surveillance and regulatory control can severely damage the cultural sector's ability to thrive and innovate."
The global success of "K-Pop Demon Hunters," which was produced by Sony Pictures Animation and distributed through Netflix's worldwide platform, has sparked increased discussions about the need for expanded government support for Korean companies developing original content and intellectual property in the cultural industries. Industry experts view the film's international reception as proof of Korean creative content's potential for global market penetration.
During the program, President Lee shared his personal impressions of the animated film, particularly highlighting one character that caught his attention. "One of the most impressive and memorable characters in the entire film was Derpy the tiger," he noted with enthusiasm. "The creators have successfully transformed the tiger, traditionally one of the animals most feared and respected by the Korean people throughout our history, into something endearing, lovable, and universally appealing."
The meeting represents part of a broader government initiative to elevate South Korea's cultural exports and creative industries as major contributors to national economic growth, building on the international success of K-pop, Korean dramas, and films in recent years.
